NEW! Published: November 2026 | National Association of REALTORS® Research Group

Overview

The 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers—now in its 45th year—is NAR’s most trusted, data-rich resource for understanding consumer behavior in the U.S. housing market. Based on surveys of recent buyers and sellers from July 2025 to June 2026, this annual report delivers unparalleled insights into how economic conditions, demographics, and preferences are reshaping the real estate landscape.

What’s Inside

• Historic Demographic Shifts: The median age of first-time buyers who did not finance their property was 54, while the median age of first-time buyers who did finance was 38.

• Affordability Challenges: The share of those purchasing as “other,” which represents non-romantic roommates, has risen to an all-time high of four percent.

• REALTORS®’ Vital Role: In 2026, 90 percent of home buyers purchased their homes through a real estate agent or broker.

• Lifestyle Trends: Convenience to friends and family is up from a low of 35 percent in 2015 and is now at 46 percent.

• Digital Search Dominance: Forty-six percent of buyers reported that their initial step was looking online for properties for sale, while 19 percent contacted a real estate agent as their first action.

Why It Matters

Equip yourself with credible, member-exclusive data to:

• Understand client motivations and financial barriers.

• Target marketing by age, household composition, or region.

• Strengthen buyer and seller presentations with authoritative NAR statistics.

• Anticipate trends shaping housing demand and REALTOR® value.

Product Details

• Format: Digital PDF

• Length: 122 pages

• Release Date: November 2026

• Publisher: National Association of REALTORS® Research Group