Who Is Today's Typical Homebuyer?

A new survey from the National Association of Realtors profiles typical homebuyers and sellers in today's housing markets that are marked by rising prices, and tight housing availability.

The results found that the typical homebuyer is 45 years old with an annual income of $88,800, with 85 percent of respondents preferring suburban and rural areas. Realtor.com reports single women made 18 percent of home sales with a median price of $185,000, while single men accounted for only 7 percent, with a median price of $175,000.

The top reasons for selling were a residence that was too small, the desire to be close to family and friends, and the need to relocate for work. Sellers usually stayed about 10 years in their homes before putting them on the market. Their properties stayed on the market for a median of three weeks, compared with four weeks last year.

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