One way to help younger generations enter the property market earlier is by enabling parents to invest small, regular contributions—like pocket money or gifts—on behalf of their children. This could allow kids to start building property equity long before they have the income or credit history to qualify for traditional mortgages.

How It Could Work

The idea would likely involve custodial accounts or trusts managed by parents, where funds are used to invest in property or property-linked assets. For example:

• Custodial property accounts: Parents contribute small amounts over time, which are invested in real estate or fractional ownership.
• Co-investment models: Parents and children jointly invest, with the child’s stake growing as they get older.
• Educational tools: Resources to teach families about long-term property investment and financial planning.

Legal structures like trusts or UTMA/UGMA accounts could bypass restrictions on minors owning property directly. The focus would be on starting early, compounding equity, and fostering financial literacy.

Potential Benefits and Stakeholders

This approach could benefit multiple groups:

• Parents: Secure their child’s financial future while potentially enjoying tax advantages.
• Children: Gain early exposure to property ownership without needing income or credit.
• Financial institutions: Attract long-term clients by offering tailored products like "property savings plans" for minors.

Unlike generic custodial accounts or trusts, this idea would specialize in real estate, providing targeted strategies and tools to maximize long-term growth.

Execution and Challenges

A phased approach could start with an educational platform explaining how existing tools (e.g., trusts, REITs) can be used for early property investment. Later phases might involve partnerships with banks or real estate firms to create automated investment products. Key challenges include:

• Legal hurdles: Minors can’t typically hold mortgages, but trusts or co-ownership models could work.
• Liquidity: Property is illiquid, so fractional ownership or REITs might offer more flexibility.

By focusing on education and incremental investment, this idea could make property ownership more accessible to the next generation.