The baby boom generation had been the largest in U.S. history until the echo boom generation cam along. The echo boomers are the children of the baby boomers and are also known as generation Y, the millennial generation and generation next. There approximately 6 million more echo boomers than baby boomers in the U.S. at this time. This group is now entering the housing market at the same time that supply is decreasing. When the real estate market gets out of the current funk that it is in and when the echo boomers start getting married, having babies and start buying homes, the demand for starter homes will surge.