For years, buying a first home was considered a milestone many people reached in their late 20s or early 30s. Today, that timeline has shifted significantly. Across the United States, the average age of a first-time homebuyer has climbed to around 40 years old, marking the highest level on record and reflecting how much the path to homeownership has changed.
Fort Wayne realtor Emily Ewing says the number often surprises people, but it closely mirrors what she sees buyers facing every day.
Several forces have contributed to this shift. Rising home prices, higher mortgage rates, student loan debt, and the challenge of saving for a down payment have all pushed that first purchase later in life. As a result, today’s first-time buyers often look very different than the stereotype many people still imagine…