More homebuyers are delaying homeownership—but you don’t have to.
The median age for first-time homebuyers has climbed to 40 years old, per NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report. It’s a record-breaking stat that illuminates the difficulties of homebuying in today’s market—and highlights the significance of working with trusted agents who can help you make a move sooner.
“It saddens me that the median age is 40. It is such an honor and privilege to own a home,” Vicky Mitchener says. “We are committed to helping young people overcome this statistic.”
Homeownership is key to building wealth, “and the cornerstone of the American dream,” Shannon McGahn, NAR executive vice president and chief advocacy officer, said in the report. “Delayed or denied homeownership until age 40—instead of 30—can mean losing roughly $150,000 in equity on a typical starter home.”
While equity-rich homeowners are able to leverage profits from their home sale to move into a new home, aspiring young homeowners are making major lifestyle changes to achieve the dream.
One Dickens Mitchener agent recently helped a couple in their mid-20s close on a house in Mint Hill. They lived with family for a year, which enabled them to save for a substantial down payment. They opted for a newer build to avoid an avalanche of maintenance costs over the next decade.
Achieving homeownership is possible with the right team of experts, Mitchener says. Thankfully, buyers and sellers are leaning on agents now more than ever. According to the report, 91% of sellers used a real estate agent, and 76% of first-time buyers credited their agent with helping them understand the process.
“I love that the buyers and sellers recognize the importance of a professional real estate consultant to assist in the process. It is one of the largest financial decisions in a person’s life,” Mitchener says.
Dickens Mitchener is focused on making homeownership possible for young buyers. Our agents have deep relationships with top mortgage and financial experts who can help educate homebuyers on grants, lending programs, tax advantages and more when it comes to financing a home.
If buying or selling a home is one of your goals for 2026, start the conversation today. Our talented team of real estate professionals is ready to assist.
