First-Time Home Buyer Share Inches Up to 22%, Median Age Remains at Record High of 40

First-Time Home Buyer Share Inches Up to 22%, Median Age Remains at Record High of 40: First-time home buyers accounted for 22% of purchases in 2026, up slightly from a record low, while their median age remained at a record-high 40. NAR’s 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers also found a record 10% of first-time buyers paid all cash, highlighting the growing role of inheritances and generational wealth in homeownership.