November 5, 2025 | Mark Luis Foster

I remember putting an offer on a home when mortgage rates exceeded 10 percent. So as not to give up my age I won’t reveal the year, but let’s just agree it was a long time ago.  I was also pretty young (and the winds of fortune prevented me from going forward at that rate). It seemed to me, though, that back then you’d finish college, marry and buy your first home in short order. It’s just the way it was.

Now for the first time, Americans are waiting until they’re 40 years young before pulling the trigger on a home.  From the National Association of Realtors:

“For generations, access to homeownership has been the primary way Americans build wealth and the cornerstone of the American Dream,” said Shannon McGahn, NAR executive vice president and chief advocacy officer. “Delayed or denied homeownership until age 40 instead of 30 can mean losing roughly $150,000 in equity on a typical starter home. FHA and VA programs have helped millions of Americans access homeownership, join the middle class, and create intergenerational wealth – a testament to smart government policy in support of homeownership.”

Perhaps more interesting is the fact that the median age of all buyers is now 59. And 14% of those are buying “multigenerational homes” to accommodate either aging parents or kiddos who are moving back home to mom and dad.

It’s all been good times for realtors. Some 88% of buyers and 91% of sellers have relied on a real estate agent in the transaction.

“Real estate agents remain indispensable in today’s complex housing market,” Lautz said. “Beyond guiding buyers and sellers through what is often the largest financial decision of their lives, agents provide critical expertise, negotiation skills, and emotional support during an increasingly challenging process.”

Also interesting: The share of first time homebuyers among all homebuyers is at an all-time low: Just 20%.  The times, they are a changin’.

Read the article HERE.