Experience is the best teacher. When I bought my current house, my first home purchase, it was a fixer upper. Did most of the work myself and I learned the hard way how to fix, repair and install lots of things. Sure, I had to run to the hardware store in the middle of the project just to get some stupid little thing, or a different tool, but I learned from it. I made lots of mistakes, too, but I didn't sweat it. Just made sure it was done right the second time around. And I never grew up in a handy-man type of family. But the internet sure helps with Q&A tips. And it saved me $$$. Only for some of the more complicated projects did I hire someone to do it - mainly for time saving and for complicating factors I didn't want to get into. Switched from well water to reclaim for irrigation and saved $800 by doing it myself. I can' believe sprinkler system companies wanted $500 just to run a PVC line under my driveway to get to the hookup. Did it myself for $10 in parts (inluding 2 sodas to help with the hot FL sun!). The Gen-Xers will do fine and most will welcome the challenge of learning new skills. And it saves money and you get it done the way you want it look, too.
So true. I bought my first house a little over a year ago. It's new construction, but I was surprised at all the little things that need to be done (i.e., blinds put up, lawn/landscaping put in, etc.). I've been stumbling my way through the process, making mistakes as I go, but I've learned that pretty much anything can be fixed. For the major stuff, I'll bring in the big guns, but otherwise I hope on the Internet and teach myself.
Even if young people today aren't as handy as their parents (which I tend to believe is true), we'll pick up what we need to.