Boomers Τώρα το μεγαλύτερο μερίδιο αγοραστών κατοικιών

Baby boomers make up 42% of all homebuyers, while millennials are down to 29% (down from 38% a year ago), NAR said. Multigenerational homebuying is on the rise.

WASHINGTON – In a shift that highlights the changing dynamics of the housing market, baby boomers now make up the largest generational group of homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

NAR’s 2025 Generational Trends in Home Buyers and Sellers report, which examines the similarities and differences between recent home buyers and sellers across generations, found that the combined share of younger boomers (ages 60-69) and older boomers (ages 70-78) rose to 42% of all homebuyers in the past year. Millennials fell to 29% of all buyers — a sharp decline from 38% a year ago. Gen X buyers (ages 45-59) held steady at 24%.

“In a twist, baby boomers have overtaken millennials – the largest demographic in the U.S. – to become the top generation of homebuyers,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist and vice president for research. “What’s striking is that half of older boomers and two in five younger boomers are purchasing homes entirely with cash, bypassing financing altogether.”

While older buyers were more likely to pay cash, younger generations were much more likely to rely on family financing and support. More than 90% of buyers aged 44 and under financed their home purchase. 27% of younger millennials (ages 26-34) and 13% of older millennials (ages 35-44) cited a gift from a relative or friend as one of the sources of their down payment.

The report revealed that 24% of recent homebuyers were first-time buyers, down significantly from 32% last year. First-time buyers were most common among younger millennials (71%), while older millennials are now more likely to be repeat buyers.

“Older millennials are buying larger, newer homes with larger down payments than their younger counterparts,” added Lautz. “This shift reflects the growing role of equity in enabling repeat purchases, particularly among older generations, while younger buyers continue to face affordability challenges.”

Gen X homebuyers continued to lead all generations with a median household income of $130,000, followed by older millennials at $127,500.

17 percent of all homebuyers purchased a multigenerational home – up from 14 percent last year. Generation X led the way, with 21 percent choosing multigenerational living, followed by younger boomers at 15 percent.

“Gen Xers are today’s sandwich generation,” said Lautz. “They are purchasing multi-generational homes to accommodate aging relatives, children over 18, and even to save money. While Gen Xers are buying at the top of the household income ladder, they can still feel the pressure to find a home that serves everyone.”

Meanwhile, Generation Z – although still a small segment of the market (3% of all buyers) – had the highest share of single-parent homebuyers at 30%, and like millennials, they tend to purchase older homes compared to other age groups.

“Generation Z is slowly entering the housing market with the lowest household income and is more likely to be single than other buyers,” Lautz noted.

Nearly nine in 10 buyers (88%) purchased their homes with the help of a real estate agent. Younger millennials (90%) were the most likely to use an agent. Referrals remain the primary method most buyers use to find their agent. Referrals from friends, neighbors or relatives were higher among younger millennials (54%) and older millennials (42%) compared to older generations, who were more likely to work with an agent they had previously used to buy or sell a home.

The vast majority of buyers – 88% – said they would use their real estate agent again or recommend them to others. This sentiment was even stronger among Gen X buyers (91%) and those in the Silent Generation (93%), highlighting the ongoing value of professional guidance across generations.

On the selling side, baby boomers once again dominated, accounting for 53% of all sellers. Across all generations, sellers had been in their homes for a median of 10 years. Younger millennials remained more mobile, typically selling after five years, while older boomers sold after 16 years.

Ninety percent of home sellers worked with a real estate agent, and homes typically sold for 100% of the final list price. Younger millennials were the most likely to use an agent (94%) and often saw the strongest returns – 27% sold their homes for 101% to 110% of list price, and 13% sold for more than 110% of list price.

μεθοδολογία

The National Association of Realtors sent a 127-question survey to 167,750 recent homebuyers in July 2024, using a weighted random sample to represent sales on a geographic basis. Homebuyers had to have purchased a primary residence between July 2023 and June 2024. The survey received 5,390 responses from primary residence buyers. After accounting for undeliverable questionnaires, the survey had an adjusted response rate of 3.2%.