November 13, 2015

National Association of REALTORS

Research Division

 Survey conducted with recent home buyers who

purchased a home between July 2014 June 2015
Seller information gathered from those home buyers
who sold a home
Mailed 94,971 questionnaires- response rate of 6.7%
Names obtained from Experian
Data in the presentation is based on medians or the
typical buyer in the category and is not all
encompassing

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Fast Facts of Buyers:

Median Age: 39
Median Income: $94,000
42% are first-time buyers
93% are buyers of previously owned homes
91% bought through an agent/broker
65% Married couple and 16% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 15
12% veterans and 2% active-duty service

Type of Home Purchased

Apt/ condo, 5%

Where Buyer First Found Home

Single Family, 81%

Townhouse, 4%

Real estate agent & agent's

website

Other, 10%

38%

Realtor.com

15%

Multiple Listing Service

(MLS)

15%

Other websites

13%

Reasons to Purchase Home

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Desire to own

36%

Larger home

9%

Smaller home

6%
%

10%

20%

Student Loan Debt

19% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 51% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 5
Amount of debt: $33,000

11% of buyers bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Health/caretaking of aging parents-22%
Children over 18 moving back into home-19%
Cost savings-13%
Spend more time w/aging parents-13%

11%

Family changes

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 52
88% used an agent/broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Home too small
17% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 6
Median percent of listing price
received: 97%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 8%

30%

40%

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Type of Home Purchased

Fast Facts of Buyers:

Median Age: 42
Median Income: $82,700
43% are first-time buyers
93% are buyers of previously owned homes
90% bought through an agent/broker
58% Married couple and 14% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 20
16% veterans and 2% active-duty service

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 57
85% used an agent/broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Smaller home
9% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 6
Median percent of listing price
received: 97%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 13%

Where Buyer First Found Home

Single-family, 77%
Townhouse, 10%

Real estate agent & agent's

website

Apt/ condo, 5%

Realtor.com

Other, 8%

11%

Family changes

8%

Smaller home

Other websites

9%

Multiple Listing Service

(MLS)

8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

35%

Larger home

13%

Reasons to Purchase Home

Desire to own

44%

11% of buyers bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Cost savings-23%
Health/caretaking of aging parents-15%
Children over 18 moving back into home-14%
Children over 18 that never left home-12%

Student Loan Debt

16% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 49% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 4
Amount of debt: $27,000

7%
%

10%

20%

30%

40%

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Type of Home Purchased

Fast Facts of Buyers:

Median Age: 39
Median Income: $78,700
37% are first-time buyers
92% are buyers of previously owned homes
87% bought through an agent/broker
62% Married couple and 19% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 15
12% veterans and 1% active-duty service

Where Buyer First Found Home

Single-family, 84%
Townhouse, 4%
Apt/ condo, 5%

Real estate agent & agent's

website

38%

Other, 7%

Multiple Listing Service

(MLS)

12%

Other websites

10%
%

Reasons to Purchase Home

14%

Realtor.com

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 53
86% used an agent/broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Home too small
17% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 4
Median percent of listing price
received: 97%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 11%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Desire to own

31%
11%

Larger home
Family changes

9%

Smaller home

11% of buyers bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Health/caretaking of aging parents-18%
Children over 18 moving back into home-14%
Cost savings-11%
Children over 18 that never left home-8%

Student Loan Debt

15% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 56% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 3
Amount of debt: $30,000

7%
%

10%

20%

30%

40%

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Fast Facts of Buyers:

Median Age: 36
Median Income: $79,900
40% are first-time buyers
90% are buyers of previously owned homes
87% bought through an agent/broker
72% Married couple and 13% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 10
22% veterans and 1% active-duty service

Type of Home Purchased

Where Buyer First Found Home

Single-family, 80%
Townhouse, 5%

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 46
89% used an agent/broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Job relocation
10% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 4
Median percent of listing price
received: 98%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 8%

Real estate agent & agent's

website

Apt/ condo, 3%

Realtor.com

50%

13%

Other, 4%
Other websites
Multiple Listing Service
(MLS)

10%
8%
% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Reasons to Purchase Home

Desire to own

28%

Larger home

13%

Family Changes

9%

Job relocation

6%
%

10%

20%

30%

11% of buyers bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Cost savings-33%
Health/caretaking of aging parents-8%
Children over 18 moving back into home-3%
Children over 18 that never left home-3%

Student Loan Debt

13% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 54% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 3
Amount of debt: $50,000

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Fast Facts of Buyers:

Median Age: 48
Median Income: $89,600
28% are first-time buyers
79% are buyers of previously owned homes
86% bought through an agent/broker
68% Married couple and 16% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 10
21% veterans and 3% active-duty service

Type of Home Purchased

Where Buyer First Found Home

Single-family, 79%
Townhouse, 12%

Real estate agent & agent's

website

Apt/ condo, 4%

42%

Realtor.com

11%

Other, 6%

Reasons to Purchase Home

Desire to own
10%

Larger home

8%

Retirement

8%
0%

10%

11%

Other websites

11%
0%

27%

Job relocation

Multiple Listing Service

(MLS)

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

13% of buyers bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Health/caretaking of aging parents-26%
Cost savings-13%
Children over 18 moving back into home-12%
Spend more time w/aging parents-8%

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 56
91% used an agent/broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Move closer to friends & family
16% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 6
Median percent of listing price
received: 97%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 7%

Student Loan Debt

11% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 46% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 3
Amount of debt: $15,000

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

20%

30%

Fast Facts of Buyers:

Median Age: 46
Median Income: $73,200
25% are first-time buyers
80% are buyers of previously owned homes
82% bought through an agent/broker
70% Married couple and 15% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 15
22% veterans and 4% active-duty service

Type of Home Purchased

Where Buyer First Found Home
Single-family, 81%
Townhouse, 7%
Apt/ condo, 3%

Realtor.com

10%

Friend, neighbor, or relative

10%

Home builder

10%

Other, 10%

Desire to own
13%

Job relocation

12%

Closer to friends &

family

11%
5%

10%

15%

18%

Larger home

40%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Reasons to Purchase Home

0%

Real estate agent & agent's

website

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 57
75% used an agent/broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Smaller home
10% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 9
Median percent of listing price
received: 96%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 18%

20%

19% of buyers bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Children over 18 that never left home-26%
Desire to own a larger home-18%
Health/caretaking of aging parents-16%
Children over 18 moving back into home-12%

Student Loan Debt

9% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 58% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 3
Amount of debt: $70,000

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Fast Facts of Buyers:

Median Age: 43
Median Income: $95,000
34% are first-time buyers
71% are buyers of previously owned homes
80% bought through an agent/broker
68% Married couple and 14% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 10
16% veterans and 3% active-duty service

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 54
90% used an agent/broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Upkeep of home too difficult
8% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 2
Median percent of listing price
received: 99%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 7%

Type of Home Purchased

Where Buyer First Found Home
Single-family, 92%
Townhouse, 3%
Apt/ condo, 1%
Other, 4%

Real estate agent &

agent's website

35%

Realtor.com

12%

Multiple Listing
Service (MLS)

12%

Home builder

12%

0%

20%

40%

Reasons to Purchase Home

Desire to own

31%

Larger home

12%

Job relocation

11%

Family changes

7%
0%

15% bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Health/caretaking of aging parents-22%
Cost savings-13%
Children over 18 moving back into home-10%
Spend more time w/aging parents-8%

Student Loan Debt

12% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 54% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 5
Amount of debt: $25,000

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

20%

40%

Mountain

Type of Home Purchased

Fast Facts of Buyers:

Median Age: 49
Median Income: $77,000
21% are first-time buyers
83% are buyers of previously owned homes
87% bought through an agent/broker
72% Married couple and 13% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 15
22% veterans and 2% active-duty service

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 54
90% used an agent /broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Job relocation
16% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 4
Median percent of listing price
received: 98%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 9%

Single-family, 85%
Townhouse, 7%
Apt/ condo, 1%
Other, 8%

Where Buyer First Found Home

Real estate agent &

agent's website

44%

Multiple Listing Service

(MLS)

12%

Other websites

9%

Friend, neighbor, or
relative

Reasons to Purchase Home

0%

Desire to own

28%

Retirement

11%

Job relocation

9%

Close to friends &

family

7%
20%

40%

60%

12% of buyers bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Health/caretaking of aging parents-26%
Spend more time w/aging parents-12%
Desire for a larger home-7%
Children over 18 that never left home-5%

Student Loan Debt

9% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 45% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 3
Amount of debt: $40,000

8%
0%

10%

20%

30%

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Pacific
Fast Facts of Buyers:
Median Age: 45
Median Income: $97,000
30% are first-time buyers
87% are buyers of previously owned homes
91% bought through an agent/broker
68% Married couple and 14% single females
Median years expected to live in home: 10
18% veterans and 3% active-duty service

Type of Home Purchased

Where Buyer First Found Home

Single-family, 82%
Townhouse, 7%

Real estate agent &

44%

Apt/ condo, 4% Multiple Listing Service

Other, 8%

15%

Other websites

13%

Yard sign

7%
0%

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Reasons to Purchase Home

Desire to own
10%

Closer to friends &

Job relocation

32%

Larger home

Fast Facts of Sellers:

Median Age: 54
95% used an agent/broker to sell
their home
Number one reason to sell home:
Home too small
16% delayed or stalled their home
sale because their home was worth
less than their mortgage
Median number of weeks to sell
home: 2
Median percent of listing price
received: 100%
For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO): 3%

8%

12% bought multi-generational home

Reasons:
Cost savings-24%
Health/caretaking of aging parents-22%
Children over 18 moving back into home-12%
Spend more time w/aging parents-9%

Student Loan Debt

15% had difficulty saving for
downpayment
Of that, 48% had student loan
debt
Length of delay in years: 3
Amount of debt: $42,000

6%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers