The typical first-time homebuyer in the U.S. is now 40 — the oldest on record, according to a report by the National Association of Realtors.
Why it matters: Homeownership has traditionally been a tool for generational wealth building, but in pricey markets like Phoenix, people are waiting longer to tap into the American Dream — or foregoing it altogether.
State of play: First-timers made up 21% of buyers between July 2024 and June 2025 — a new low in data going back to 1981.
- In the 1980s, the average first-time buyer was in their late 20s, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Zoom in: Phoenix Realtors president Christy Walker told Axios the national numbers track with what she’s seeing in the Valley: young people delaying homebuying in hopes of a return to lower prices that may never come…