Real estate trends do not always announce themselves with a single headline. Sometimes the clearest story is hidden in the “typical” numbers that quietly shift over time. A Realtor News article by Melissa Dittmann Tracey, published April 15, highlights findings from the National Association of Realtors 2026 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report, including several historic markers that help explain why buying and selling feels different right now.
One of the most striking shifts is the smaller share of first-time buyers.
The report shows first-time buyers represented 21 percent of the market, an all-time low. At the same time, the typical first-time buyer is older than ever, with a median age of 40. That combination tells a clear story. Entering homeownership has become more difficult, and many households are waiting longer to make their first purchase. It also suggests that first-time buyers are often more established financially by the time they buy, and the numbers reflect that too. The typical first-time buyer down payment reached 10 percent, also an all-time high.
The repeat buyer profile is also shifting. The report shows the median age of repeat buyers is 62, another all-time high. Repeat buyers also brought larger down payments, with a typical down payment of 23 percent, an all-time high. Those two facts point to something many people sense in the market. A larger portion of activity is being influenced by buyers who already own, have built equity and have more flexibility in how they structure their next move.
On the selling side, the report shows the median age of sellers is 71, an all-time high. That matters because it connects directly to life stage decisions. Many sellers are moving after years, sometimes decades, of ownership. Longer ownership often means more equity, and more equity can change what is possible, including downsizing, moving closer to family, relocating for lifestyle or buying with less reliance on financing.
The report also reinforces that most consumers still want guidance through the process. A strong majority of buyers and sellers continue to work with an agent, which reflects how much coordination, timing, and negotiation are still required even in a calmer market.
Part Two of this series will look at what is driving these historic numbers, including equity, affordability pressures and what it means for first-time buyers who are trying to enter the market. It will be published next week. #That’sWhoWeR