Millennials Account for Largest Share of Home Buyers, Says NAR

Washington, DC, March 12, 2015—Despite the economic and financial challenges young adults have braved since the recession, the millennial generation represented the largest share of recent buyers, according to the 2015 National Association of Realtors Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study, which evaluates the generational differences of recent home buyers and sellers.

The survey additionally found that an overwhelming majority of buyers search for homes online and then purchase their home through a real estate agent, with millennials using agents the most.

For the second consecutive year, NAR’s study found that the largest group of recent buyers was the millennial generation, those 34 and younger, who composed 32% of all buyers (31% in 2013). Generation X, ages 35-49, was closely behind with a 27% share.

Millennial buyers represented more than double the amount of younger boomer (ages 50-59) and older boomer (60-68) buyers (at 31%). The Silent Generation (ages 69-89) made up 10% of buyers in the past year.