According to the National Association of Realtors the typical first-time homebuyer was 35 years old in 2025. That’s down from 36 in 2024 and from a recent high of 38 in 2018, according to a new report. Repeat buyers’ median age fell to 47, down from 52 in 2024.
Why this matters to you
- Affordability improved a bit in 2025: the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate eased to 6.6% (from 6.72% in 2024) and home-price growth slowed. That made it slightly easier for some younger buyers to enter the market.
- Gen Z and millennials saw small gains in homeownership: Gen Z’s rate rose to 27.1% (from 26.1%) and millennials to 55.4% (from 54.9%).
- Many buyers still rely on extra help: about 19.6% of millennial and 14.8% of Gen Z recent buyers received cash gifts from family; roughly one in five sold stock to fund a down payment; 13% tapped retirement savings early.
NAR’s estimates come from a survey of recent homebuyers conducted via mail and text messages, which reflects the experiences of respondents who purchased a home during a specific period and chose to participate in the survey. Estimates for mail-in surveys can skew older for several reasons, including differences in who responds, and the fact that older households may be more likely to purchase homes through traditional real estate channels captured by the survey. Older buyers may also be more likely to respond to mail-based surveys.
