Beyond policy shifts, generational trends in housing purchases reveal how buyers and sellers adapt to evolving needs. The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report highlights significant differences among age groups, particularly in income, home size, and household structure.
Gen Xers, born between 1965 and 1980, represent the highest-earning homebuyers, with a median income of US$130,000 in 2023. They also purchased the largest homes, with a median size of 2,000 square feet—matched only by younger millennials born between 1990 and 1996. In addition, these groups tend to have more diverse family arrangements.
Gen X buyers lead in purchasing multigenerational homes, with 21% buying properties to house extended family members. Meanwhile, younger millennials recorded the highest share of unmarried couples purchasing homes, at 13%. These trends suggest that flexibility in home layouts and shared living spaces is becoming increasingly important for modern buyers.
Sellers looking to appeal to these demographics should emphasize a property’s adaptability. “Gen Xers are today’s sandwich generation,” explained Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist and vice president of research. “They are purchasing multigenerational homes to accommodate aging relatives, children over the age of 18, and even for cost savings. While Gen X are purchasing at the highest household incomes, they may still feel the squeeze as they aim to find a home that serves everyone.”
As housing markets adjust, understanding these generational trends in housing purchases helps sellers, agents, and policymakers design strategies that meet the needs of both high-income multigenerational households and younger buyers with diverse living arrangements.
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