It’s a changing picture.
Take first-time purchasers. The “2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers”, published by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) on November 4, reveals that married couples today account for just half of first-time buyer households, down from 58% in 2016 and far below the 1985 high of 75%.
Taking a larger share of the first-time buyer market are unmarried couples (up from 0% in 1981 to 11% today) and single women, who now make up a quarter (25%) of first-time purchases.
“Single women have homeownership as a top priority and they will find a way to obtain it,” says Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research for NAR.
Beyond first-time buyers, the share of all buyers with children under the age of 18 living at home has dropped to 24%—a historic low. “The median age of repeat buyers is now 62,” explains Lautz. “Being an empty nester may free up finances for these homebuyers.”
As part of the Sotheby’s International Realty® global network, I can draw on decades of pedigree and shared insight to anticipate and navigate these generational shifts. I am here to help support your property goals into 2026—and beyond.
