WASHINGTON, D.C. — (By Dale King, Realty News Report) – In the ever-changing generational scuffle for dominance in the homeownership market, the oldest Americans on the planet – baby boomers – have put their years of buying, selling, bargaining and bartering to good use – and it shows in documented statistics.
More boomers are currently purchasing and selling homes than any other generational segment of folks trolling the residential market these days, says the National Association of Realtors’ “2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report.
The newly minted NAR study, which examines the similarities and differences among recent home buyers and sellers across various age groups, says the combined share of younger boomers (aged 60–69) and older boomers (aged 70–78) rose to 42% of all home purchasers during the past year.
Millennials (aged 30 to 45) dropped to 29% of all buyers – down significantly from their 38% share a year ago. The number of Generation X’ers (aged 45–59) who made positive moves in the real estate acquisition arena held steady at 24%.
Paying Cash
“In a plot twist, baby boomers have overtaken millennials – the largest age group in the U.S. population – to become the top generation of home buyers,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research. “What’s striking is that half of older boomers and two out of five younger boomers are purchasing homes entirely with cash, bypassing financing altogether.”
While older buyers were more likely to lay a pile of greenbacks on the table to consummate a residential closing, younger generations were deeply inclined to rely on financing and family support for help finalizing the ownership transaction.
More than 90% of buyers 44 years of age and younger had to finance their home purchases, says the NAR analysis. Twenty-seven percent of younger millennials (ages 26-34) and 13% of older millennials (ages 35-44) used a gift from a relative or friend as one of the sources for their down payment
First time buyers diminish
The report revealed that 24% of recent home buyers were actually first-time residential purchasers, a significant reduction from the 32% figure logged last year. First-time buying was most common a year ago among younger millennials (71%) while older millennials are now more likely to join the ranks of repeat purchasers.
“Older millennials are buying bigger and newer homes with larger down payments than their younger counterparts,” said Lautz. “This shift reflects the increasingly important role that equity plays in enabling repeat purchases, especially among older generations, while younger buyers continue to face affordability challenges.”
Generation X home buyers continued to lead all population groups in the revenue department with a median household income of $130,000 a year, followed by older millennials at $127,500.
Multigenerational homes thrive
Seventeen percent of all home buyers purchased a multigenerational home – a dwelling for several different age groups — up from 14% last year. Generation X led the way, with 21% choosing multigenerational living followed by younger boomers at 15%.
“Gen X’ers are today’s sandwich generation,” said Lautz. “They are purchasing multigenerational homes to accommodate aging relatives, children over the age of 18 and even for cost savings. While Gen X members have the highest household incomes, they may still feel the squeeze as they aim to find a home that serves everyone.”
Meanwhile, Generation Z – though still a small segment of the market (3% of all buyers) – had the highest share of single-female home buyers at 30%, and like millennials, they were inclined to purchase older homes compared to other age groups.
“Gen Z is slowly entering the housing market with the lowest household income and they’re more likely to be single than other buyers,” Lautz noted.
Boomers are top sellers, too
On the selling side, baby boomers also dominated, accounting for 53% of all sellers. Across all generations, sellers stayed in their homes for a median of 10 years. Younger millennials were less likely to hunker down for that length of time, typically selling after five years. Older boomers hung out the “Home Sweet Home” sign for about a decade and a half, moving out after 16 years, says the NAR report.
Ninety percent of home sellers worked with a real estate agent, and homes typically sold for 100% of the final list price. Younger millennials were most likely to use an agent (94%), and it often resulted in the strongest financial returns. In all, 27% sold their homes for 101% to 110% of the list price and 13% vended their domicile for more than 110% of the list price.
Agents’ guidance lauded
Referrals remain the primary reason why most buyers use a real estate agent, NAR noted. Referrals by friends, neighbors or relatives were higher among younger millennials (54%) and older millennials (42%) compared to older generations, which were more likely to work with a real estate professional they had previously used to buy or sell a home.
A vast majority of buyers – 88% – said they would definitely use their real estate agent again or recommend them to others. This sentiment was even stronger among Generation X buyers (91%) and those in the so-called Silent Generation (born from 1928–1945), with 93% seeking a professional assist. This, says NAR, underscores the value of professional guidance among folks searching for the right home in the right place for the right price.
April 4, 2026, Realty News Report Copyright 2026
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File: Baby Boomers Dominate Realty