Median First-Time Homebuyer Age Improves

As affordability has improved slightly across the housing market, the median age of the first-time homebuyer has come down. In 2025, the typical first-time homebuyer was 35 years old, down from 36 in 2024 and down even further from the 2018 peak of 38, according to a report from real estate marketing platform Redfin. 

Improved affordability allowed younger homebuyers to enter the housing market in 2025

Over the course of 2025, housing inventory grew and the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate crept down slightly. In turn, Generation Z’s homeownership rate grew from 26.1% in 2024 to 27.1% in 2025. Millennials’ homeownership rate also improved from 54.9% in 2024 to 55.4% in 2025.

The median age of repeat buyers has also declined

For repeat buyers, the median age has come down even further. In 2024, the median age of the repeat buyer was 52, and by 2025, it was just 47. According to the report, this drop is likely due to homeowners in 2024 waiting for mortgage rates to drop before moving. With many finally deciding to make a move in 2025, more repeat homebuyers—including younger ones—came onto the market.