Home buyer, Home Seller, and For Sale By Owner Statistics

Home Buyer Statistics

First-Time vs. Repeat Buyers:
First-time buyers: 33%

Median age of first-time buyers: 32
Median age of repeat buyers: 55
Median household income of first-time buyers: $75,000
Median household income of repeat buyers: $100,000
The typical home purchased was 1,900 square feet in size, was built in 1991, and had three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Among those who financed their home purchase, buyers typically financed 90% of the home price.
87% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker—a share that has steadily increased from 69 percent in 2001.
Buyers who would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others: 74%

Home Seller Statistics
The typical home seller in 2017 was 55 years of age, had a median household income of $98,800, and lived in their home for 9 years.
91% of sellers were assisted by a real estate agent when selling their home.
Recent sellers typically sold their homes for 99% of the listing price, and 23% reported reducing the asking price at least once.
The typical home sold was on the market for 3 weeks.
39% of sellers who used a real estate agent found their agents through a referral by friends or family, and 24% used the agent they previously worked with to buy or sell a home.
Sellers who definitely would use same agent again: 69%
Source: 2018 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics
FSBOs accounted for 7% of home sales in 2017. The typical FSBO home sold for $200,000 compared to $265,500 for agent-assisted home sales.
FSBO methods used to market home:
Yard sign: 22%
Friends, relatives, or neighbors: 18%
Online classified advertisements: 6%
Open house: 10%
For-sale-by-owner websites: 5%
Social networking websites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.): 12%
Multiple Listing Service (MLS) website: 4%
Print newspaper advertisement: 2%
Direct mail (flyers, postcards, etc.): 2%
Video: 1%
None: Did not actively market home: 49%

Most difficult tasks for FSBO sellers:
Getting the right price: 17%
Understanding and performing paperwork: 12%
Selling within the planned length of time: 5%
Preparing/fixing up home for sale: 8%
Having enough time to devote to all aspects of the sale: 3%