Bernie Sanders

The starter home is starting to look a lot like a midlife purchase.

"Bottom line, economically and politically, the system is broken," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said during an appearance on "On Sunday with Jack Cocchiarella" YouTube show in May.

Sanders argued that decades of wages failing to keep pace with inflation have made it harder for working families to build wealth, delaying milestones like homeownership while leaving many younger Americans increasingly anxious about the future.

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A Dream That’s Slipping Away

"When you have real inflation accounted for, wages not rising over the last 53 years, you tell me whether this economy is working for working families," Sanders said.

He pointed to homeownership as one of the clearest examples of how dramatically the financial picture has changed.

"In 1991, people who were 28 years of age were able to purchase their first home," Sanders told host Jack Cocchiarella. "Now, you got to be 40. So, what the hell is going on?"

Sanders argued the answer isn’t found in small policy tweaks.

"Does anybody really believe that tinkering around the edges is going to bring about the changes that we need?" Sanders said."I think the American people do not. What they want is a bold agenda, and that’s what progressives are offering."

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Sander’s remarks align with a broader housing trend that has pushed the median age of first-time homebuyers to a record 40, making one of the country’s most common wealth-building tools increasingly difficult to reach.

AI Is Adding to the Uncertainty

Sanders said many young Americans aren’t just worried about buying a home—they’re also wondering what artificial intelligence means for their careers.

"I talk to a lot of young people," Sanders said on the podcast. "And they shake their heads, and they talk about AI. What kind of economy is going to exist? Will I have a decent paying job? I can’t afford housing. Certainly can’t afford child care."

Sanders warned that AI has enormous potential but said the technology could deepen inequality if its economic benefits continue flowing to a small group of powerful companies instead of the workers whose jobs may be transformed by it.

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Investing in the AI Economy Before an IPO

While Sanders believes government should play a larger role in addressing those challenges, many investors are looking toward the next generation of technology companies developing tools for an AI-driven workplace.

Immersed is among the startups attracting that attention. The company is building an ecosystem that combines immersive virtual workspaces, its Curator AI assistant and the Visor headset to help professionals replace traditional office setups with expansive virtual displays and AI-powered productivity tools.

Rather than waiting until the company reaches Wall Street, retail investors can already buy shares through Immersed’s ongoing equity crowdfunding campaign, offering an opportunity to invest before a potential Nasdaq listing.

Whether Washington embraces the bold agenda Sanders is calling for or innovation drives the next phase of economic opportunity, one thing is becoming harder to ignore: the path to building wealth looks very different than it did a generation ago.

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