The median first-time homebuyer in 2025 was 40 years old, up from 30 in 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors, while Redfin reports a median age of 35. And older buyers aren’t slowing down. When including repeat buyers, those upgrading, downsizing or buying vacation homes, the median age of all U.S. homebuyers jumps to 59, up from 39 in 2010, according to Apollo chief economist Torsten Slok, who analyzed the NAR data.

Redfin puts the median age of repeat buyers at about 47. That means people aren’t just buying their first homes later. Older Americans are buying multiple times later in life instead of staying put.

Market has more showings, more buyers

The upcoming spring market is expected to bring increased activity after a winter of slower sales and moderated price increases. There were fewer homes sold in February in Metro Detroit, with year-over-year sales down and prices rising modestly.

“I would say it does feel that we are entering the very early stages of our spring market,” said Jeanette Schneider, president of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan. “We’re seeing more activity. There’s more showings being scheduled. There are more buyers out there. They’re looking, which is good. It’s something that we want to see at this time of the year.”

Home sale activity across Metro Detroit, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties, was down year-over-year with 2,660 transactions, down from 2,864 last year, according to the latest RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan housing report. The median sales price was relatively stable, slipping to $297,500 from $300,000 in January, but up from $293,375 last year. Inventory levels remained between three and four months of supply, while homes continued to sell at a steady pace of about 40 days on market, according to the report.

Across a broader area covering 18 Michigan counties, new listings in February rose year-over-year, increasing 3.6% to 8,516 from 8,224, according to the latest Realcomp report. The report includes Genesee, Hillsdale, Huron, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Montcalm, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washington and Wayne counties.

“I know that sales are down, but I do think that it’s positive to have the homes on the market increase for those that are searching for a home, to give them more opportunity to find what they’re looking for,” said Karen Kage, CEO of Realcomp II Ltd. “That’s been seriously missing, like last year and this year or the year before. And so it’s nice to have, nice to see that improving so that again, they have more to choose from, especially first-time homebuyers, it’s really nice that they have more options.”

The Realcomp report also notes that pending sales fell 7.5% to 6,327 from 6,842, and closed sales decreased 10.1% to 5,794 from 6,443. The median sale price increased 2.9% to $262,000 from $254,500, and homes spent an average of 52 days on the market, up slightly from 50 days a year ago. The report also found that about 26% of new listings and 34.9% of pending sales were both listed and pending in the same month.

“To see that many homes listed and sold, or at least under contract, in the same month is very encouraging,” Kage said.