💻 Technology Jul 10, 2026 · Silicon Canals Editorial Team

A generation ago the typical first-time American homebuyer was in their late twenties; today, NAR says the median has hit a record 40, priced out and waiting — and first-time buyers now make up the smallest share of the market ever measured

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A generation ago the typical first-time American homebuyer was in their late twenties; today, NAR says the median has hit a record 40, priced out and waiting — and first-time buyers now make up the smallest share of the market ever measured

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The obvious reading of a first-time homebuyer reaching a median age of 40 is that young Americans are waiting longer by choice, renting into their late thirties, delaying the whole project of settling down. The data, however, points the other way. The National Association of REALTORS reported in November 2025 that the first-time buyer share of the market fell to 21%, the lowest figure since the association began tracking.
In the same 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, covering transactions