Youth are more likely to buy a house than previous generations were, according to a study by Coldwell Banker Real Estate. A full quarter of couples ages 18 to 34 purchased a house together before they took their wedding bows. In comparison, only 14 percent of couples ages 45 and up bought a house before saying I do.

“We didn’t expect to find that couples committed to each other to buy homes before they were married,” says Robi Ludwig, a psychotherapist who works for Coldwell Bankder. “It’s almost like buying a home is the new engagement ring.” (USA Today)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and two children. Follow him on Twitter.