First-time homebuyers are getting older.
28 years old → The median age of first-time U.S. homebuyers in 1991.
38 years old → The median age of first-time U.S. homebuyers in 2024.
Repeat homebuyers are getting older too.
42 years old → The median age of repeat U.S. homebuyers in 1991.
61 years old → The median age of repeat U.S. homebuyers in 2024.
In this case, these older homeowners have so much equity built up in their homes, if they decide to move, they can often put significant cash down on a purchase to offset the higher rates (or eliminate the need for a mortgage entirely).
For us younger generations, buying a home is becoming increasingly difficult due to rising costs, delayed financial milestones, and increased competition from older homeowners with significant equity who can afford to buy with cash or larger down payments.
Housing Inventory is on the rise
"The fact that inventory is rising year-over-year, combined with January's smallest inventory decline for the month since Realtor.com began publishing data in summer 2016, strongly suggests that national active housing inventory for sale is likely to end the year higher."
1 Tip or Thought
The other morning, I saw a post on X from a smart guy I follow, Shaan—big in podcasts, investing, and crypto.
He posed a question, and I figured I could contribute. Here’s a quick story:
My clients found a home on Zillow, loved it at the open house, and we wrote an offer. The seller had three offers, so we slightly increased ours. Our lender, well-connected with the seller’s lender, did a cross-qualification to avoid escrow surprises (which happen more often than you’d think).
We got the offer accepted—but that’s just the beginning.
Credit to the seller’s agent: He pointed out a ceiling stain, and the seller admitted they needed a roofer. Then, he disclosed a drainage issue, revealing the seller had rerouted water onto neighboring properties—without telling them. Many agents would brush this off, leaving buyers to figure it out during inspections. Instead, this agent got bids, and the seller is covering ~$45K in repairs.
But the full extent of the leak is unknown. Some buyers might proceed, but that could be a costly mistake. We brought in a remediation specialist to check for mold and our own inspector to determine if it's a minor fix or a six-figure problem. Meanwhile, seller repairs won’t be done before our contingency deadline.
Now, imagine an unrepresented buyer navigating this alone. Would they know which contract provisions protect them? Have the right contacts to get inspections done immediately? Understand how to interpret reports, negotiate repairs, and ensure they're not walking into a financial nightmare?
This happens all the time. Most transactions aren’t simple. This is why having an experienced agent matters—to manage the process, leverage relationships, and ensure buyers make informed decisions (or legally back out if needed).
Long story short: You get what you pay for.
