In Atlanta, today’s young prospective homebuyers want to be in the heart of the city and gravitate toward new construction. according to Blair Huckeba, an agent with Dorsey Alton Realtors.

“Most of my Millennial clients are first-time homebuyers and are looking for low-maintenance places,” Huckeba said. “They’re not really looking for a fixer-upper. Most want to be in-town, so they like condos and town homes. Essentially, they’re looking for functional spaces. They don’t necessarily want the largest home out there, they just want to make sure it works with their lifestyle. We don’t really need a formal living room or dining room because we don’t live like that anymore.”

Today, more people in their 20s and early 30s are renting than ever before. In many cases, they hold large debts in the form of student loans, or their earnings remain low as the economy continues its slow recovery.

The schools research website Niche Ink recently ranked Atlanta at number 25 among its list of the top cities and neighborhoods for Millennials. People age 25 to 34 make up about 15 percent of the population, with Ardmore ranking as the city’s best neighborhood for these young adults and the University of Georgia as a top draw. The website gives Atlanta “average” ratings for its median income of $29,863, median rents of $937 and home values around $184,900.

The publication arrived at its conclusion after surveying 500,000 college students and recent graduates. Factors that were considered in the rankings also included diversity, the unemployment rate and the percentage of the population with a college diploma. The high level of education – 23 percent of Atlanta-area residents hold at least a bachelor’s degree – is partially offset by high crime ratings and an unemployment level that remains stubbornly above the national average at 6.2 percent, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

Young adults in the Atlanta area are eager to purchase homes as the economy gets better, according to Tim Hur, managing broker and president of Point Honors and Associates/Point Horizon Real Estate. Reaching those clients, however, depends largely on mastering current technology.

“Agents have to realize that communication’s going to be a little different for them,” Hur said. “There are going to be some clients who only want to communicate via email or text. You have to work with the technology, and you have to realize that they’re going to do a lot of research. You really have to prove your worth to them.”