Summary
The average age of U.S. homebuyers has reached a record high of 56, as younger Americans face rising homeownership costs. The median age for first-time buyers rose to 38, with only 24% of buyers being first-timers—the lowest share since 1981.
High home prices, averaging $435,000, and increased mortgage rates make saving for down payments nearly impossible for many younger buyers, who often lack wealth or home equity to compete with older, wealthier bidders.
With all-cash buyers now representing 26% of purchases, many young buyers rely on family gifts or loans.
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The median age of first-time buyers also rose from 35 to 38, while the share of first-timers dropped from 32% to 24% of all buyers for the year ending July 2024. That marks the lowest percentage since NAR started tracking the metric in 1981.
That’s largely due to rising homeownership costs, he says. The median U.S. home price is now $435,000, per NAR — up 39% since 2020 — while the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has more than doubled to over 6% in that time.
Not surprising! My partner and I can really only hope we find some cheap land that’s RV friendly some day.
But isn’t the person this article cites the same person responsible for setting the mortgage and interest rates?
Who are they citing?
Bob Driscoll, senior vice president and director of residential lending at Massachusetts-based bank Rockland Trust.
Lol it’s like the second or third paragraph in and his name is littered thru the article after just about every direct quote.
Honestly it took more effort for you to ask than it took to read the fucking article.
