The system seems rigged against people trying to buy primary residences, especially first-time buyers.

First-time homebuyers are typically defined as those entering the market who’ve never owned a home. However, anyone who has not owned a home for the last three years also qualifies as a first-timer.

In 2024, the median first-time homebuyer was 38 years old, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report. Factors including low inventory, wealthy ...

In 2025, first-time buyers had an average age of 40, according to the National Association of Realtors, an all-time high. And the share of first-time homebuyers on the market has decreased to a record ...