Younger Boomers, buyers aged 53 to 62 years, made up 18 percent of all home buyers in 2017. The median age for this group was 58 years old and they were born between 1955 and 1964. This age group was the most likely to purchase a multi-generational home at 20 percent. Their reasons for purchasing a multi-generational home were children or relatives over the age of 18 years moving back in (23 percent), health/caretaking of aging parents (22 percent), and children over 18 years that never left (16 percent).

For Younger Boomers, the primary reasons they purchased homes were the desire to own a home of their own (17 percent), a job-related relocation or move (13 percent), and the desire for a smaller home (10 percent), more than other generations. Compared to other buyers, they said it was the right time and that they were just ready to buy when they did (49 percent).

Younger Boomers were less likely to purchase in the suburbs (50 percent) and most likely to purchase in rural areas (15 percent) compared to other generations. They had the second highest median household income at $94,000. They also purchased the second most expensive homes of all generations with a median home price of $249,200. This generation of buyers also purchased the third largest homes in size at a median square footage of 1,870.

Younger Boomers were the most likely to consider heating and cooling costs very important. This age group was unlikely to compromise on the price of the home as well as the quality of and distance from schools. Younger Boomers moved from their previous residence at a median of 17 miles.

Younger Boomers were the most likely to look online for properties for sale as their first step in the home search process (48 percent). They were also the most likely to cite yard signs as useful search information on homes (50 percent) more than other generations. Younger Boomers were the most likely to use money from an inheritance for the downpayment of their home purchase.

Younger Boomers were the second largest share of home sellers last year at 23 percent. They had the third highest median incomes for sellers at $100,000 (Millennials surpassed them this year) and sold the second highest median priced homes at $264,300. Younger Boomers were the most likely to sell a detached single-family home and sold the largest homes at a median of 2,100 square feet. They were the most likely to offer home warranty incentives to help sell the home.

In a monthly survey of REALTORS®, respondents are asked “In the neighborhood(s) or area(s) where you make the most sales, what are your expectations for residential property prices over the next year?”

Among the respondents, the median expected price change is four percent. The chart below shows median expected price change by state based on survey responses collected during February–April 2018[1], according to the  April 2018 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey. 

Respondents from the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, California, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and Wisconsin expect the highest price growth in the next 12 months, with the expected median price growth at more than five to nearly eight percent.

Owing to tight lack of construction, house prices have increased steeply since 2012 compared to the growth in income. Nationally, the median price of U.S. existing homes sold was 68 percent higher than the level in January 2012, the year the housing market started to recover solidly.  Meanwhile, wages have increased only 15 percent since then.

Based on the FHFA House Price Index at the state level, the strongest price growths from 2012 through 2017 were in the West region such as Nevada (102 percent), California (85 percent), Arizona (76 percent), Oregon (74 percent), Idaho (70 percent), Washington (68 percent), Colorado (68 percent), Utah (65 percent). Home prices have also increased steeply in Florida (73 percent), Michigan (71 percent), and Texas (47 percent).

Use the data visualization below to view median listing prices in April 2018. Red areas are areas where prices are higher than the U.S. median home price growth. Hover on the map to view the historical median listing prices of properties listed on Realtor.com from June 2012 through April 2018.[2]

[1] Because each month’s survey asks about the outlook in the next months, the responses collected from January-March 2018 covers the outlook for January 2018-March 2019.

[2] Realtor.com data is freely available and can be download from https://www.realtor.com/research

Older Boomers, buyers aged 63 to 71 years, made up 14 percent of all home buyers in 2017. The median age for this group was 66 years old and they were born between 1946 and 1954. Within this group, they had the second largest share of single female buyers at 22 percent. Their primary reasons for purchasing a home, more than other generations, were the desire to live closer to friends and family (25 percent), followed by retirement (15 percent).

Combined, Older Boomers owned the highest share of investment (nine percent) and vacation (seven percent) properties. Equal to the Silent Generation, Older Boomers were the most likely to purchase homes in a small town (27 percent) and in a rural area (11 percent).

Compared to other buyers, they moved the greatest distances at a median of 30 miles. Older Boomers were the least likely to purchase homes for the quality of school districts or convenience to schools. Rather, they purchased homes for the quality of the neighborhood and for convenience to friends and family. This age group found commuting costs as well as windows, doors, and siding installation equally important. Overall, Older Boomers were very likely not to make compromises on the home when they purchased (47 percent), citing that they were never moving and it was their forever home (27 percent).

In their home search process, Older Boomers were very likely to drive by homes and neighborhoods and they were the least likely to find the paperwork a difficult step. Older Boomers were the most satisfied with the home buying process at 93 percent.

Older Boomers’ income was below the median income of all buyers ($88,800) at just $80,700 and they purchased homes at a median price of $239,200. Older Boomers were the most likely to use the proceeds from the sale of a primary residence as the source of their downpayment (56 percent) and from an IRA account (five percent). They were the largest group of home buyers to save for a downpayment for more than two years (30 percent).

Older Boomers were the third largest share of home sellers at 22 percent in 2017. The median age for an Older Boomer seller was 67 years. They had the second lowest median income at $80,700. They were the most likely to sell to be closer to friends and family (28 percent) and for retirement (19 percent), and at a median distance of 39 miles from the home they recently purchased. They were also very likely to sell when they wanted to (94 percent). They receive the highest equity at 46 percent and second highest dollar value at $86,000.