Older, wealthier buyers dominate 2026 housing market amid high rates

The National Association of Realtors' 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers shows a housing market increasingly divided by age and wealth, according to HousingWire.

The typical homebuyer is now 58 years old, with repeat buyers averaging 62 and bringing significant equity and higher incomes, often paying cash for purchases.

Mortgage rates averaged 6.33% during the period, limiting affordability especially for households earning under $75,000 and keeping first-time buyers at a historic low share of 22%.

Existing homeowners tend to hold their properties for a record 12 years before selling, often moving for lifestyle reasons such as proximity to family, and many move into larger or newer homes.

First-time buyers are older than in past decades, with a median age of 40 compared to the late 20s in the 1980s, and delayed homeownership may result in substantial lost equity gains, the report notes.