Each year, the National Association of Realtors releases its "Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers," offering a snapshot of who is buying, who is selling, and how the market continues to evolve.

Below are fun and interesting facts from the 2025 profile thoughtfully compiled by Cathy Colvin, NAR Liaison and SWMLS Immediate Past President.

Home Buyers:

• Age Milestones: The median age of first-time home buyers reached a record high of 40 years, compared to the late 20s in the 1980s. The median age of repeat buyers also hit an all-time high of 62 years.
• First-Time Buyer Decline: First-time home buyers made up only 21% of the market, the lowest share since 1981. Before the Great Recession, this number was typically 40%.
• All-Cash Buyers: 26% of home buyers paid cash for their homes, an all-time high.
• Home Search Trends: 46% of buyers started their home search online, and 70% used mobile or tablet devices during the process.
• Neighborhood Priorities: The top factors influencing neighborhood choice were quality of the neighborhood (59%), convenience to friends and family (47%), and overall home affordability (35%).

Home Sellers:

• Age of Sellers: The typical age of home sellers reached a record high of 64 years in 2025, up from 47 years in 2005.
• Tenure in Home: Sellers owned their homes for a median of 11 years before selling, the longest tenure recorded in the report’s history.
• Sales Price Success: Homes sold within two weeks of listing received a median of 100% of their asking price.
• Moving Distance: Sellers moved a median of 30 miles from their previous home, with first-time sellers moving a median of 22 miles and repeat sellers moving 35 miles.

Real Estate Professionals:

• Broker Assistance: 91% of sellers worked with a real estate broker to sell their home, an all-time high. Only 5% of sales were FSBO (For-Sale-by-Owner), the lowest ever recorded.
• Broker Loyalty: 51% of sellers used the same broker to sell their home and purchase their next one. This number jumps to 72% for sellers who moved within 10 miles of their previous home.
• Broker Satisfaction: 87% of sellers said they would probably recommend their broker for future services.