Still life of an antique mantel clock with a brass house key hanging from it beside a small model of a white Cape house

Quick Answer

The typical first-time home buyer in America is now 40 years old, matching last year's record, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Buyers are older, more likely to pay cash and more likely to have family help. In Vermont, that changes who walks through your door.

The Starter Home Has a Midlife Problem

In the 1980s, first-time buyers were typically in their late 20s. This year, the median first-time buyer was 40.

In Vermont terms, that is someone who has rented long enough to know which landlords plow and which ones promise to.

The rest of NAR's annual profile, released in early November, fills in the picture. First-time buyers made up a little over a fifth of purchases, barely above last year's record low. Repeat buyers had a median age in their early 60s. A record share of first-time buyers paid all cash, often with inherited money or investments. Many others leaned on family for the down payment.

My read: the market has not locked young buyers out so much as made them wait, and made family wealth the tiebreaker. That has real consequences here.

If You Are Selling

Your buyer is likely older and more particular than the buyer of ten years ago. Expect sharp questions about the heating system, the roof and the drive to work, not just the paint colors.

Modest homes in Barre, Northfield and Waterbury village still draw first-time buyers, and many are spending a family gift or their own retirement savings. They will pay for a house that is ready. They will not pay for your deferred maintenance.

If You Are Buying for the First Time

You are not behind. You are normal. The typical first-time buyer put down far less than 20%. Ask your lender about first-time buyer programs from the Vermont Housing Finance Agency before you decide you need to save for five more years.

If You Are Staying Put

If you are one of the long-time owners in your 60s, you hold the homes the next generation needs. Some of the most useful conversations I have are with owners deciding whether to help a child buy now or to keep the house as part of an estate. Both are reasonable. Know your number before you decide.

If You Are Renting or Still Dreaming

NAR estimates that delaying homeownership by a decade can cost about $150,000 in equity gains. That is an estimate, not a promise, but the direction is clear. More first-time buyers are buying with a friend, a sibling or a parent. In Vermont, a house with an accessory apartment can be that bridge.

What to Do This Week

If you are a first-time buyer, get pre-approved and ask your lender about VHFA programs. If you are a parent or grandparent thinking about helping, call me. I will show you what a starter home in your town actually costs right now.

By the Numbers

  • Median age of first-time buyers: 40, tying last year's all-time high. It was 30 in 2010.
  • Median age of repeat buyers: 62, an all-time high. It was 36 in 1981.
  • First-time buyers' share of purchases: 22%, up from a record-low 21%. Before the Great Recession it was about 40%.
  • First-time buyers who paid all cash: 10%, a record.
  • Median down payment: 9% for first-time buyers, 19% for repeat buyers.
  • First-time buyers who used gifts or loans from family or friends: 25%. Used financial assets such as stocks or retirement accounts: 30%.
  • Multigenerational purchases: 14% of buyers. First-time buyers buying as roommates: 5%, a 45-year high.
  • Typical seller tenure: 12 years, an all-time high.
  • NAR estimate: delaying homeownership by a decade can cost about $150,000 in equity gains.
  • Caveat: NAR's profile is national and gives no Vermont or Northeast breakdown.

Read the Vermont Home Buying Guide or call Tony at 802-233-4107.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average age of a first-time home buyer in 2026?

The median first-time home buyer was 40 years old in the National Association of Realtors' 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, matching last year's all-time high.

How much do first-time home buyers put down?

According to NAR's 2026 profile, the median first-time buyer put down 9% of the purchase price, compared with 19% for repeat buyers. Many loan programs allow less.

Are there first-time home buyer programs in Vermont?

Yes. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency offers first-time buyer mortgage and down payment programs through participating lenders. Ask your lender which ones you qualify for.

Why are first-time home buyers getting older?

NAR points to affordability as the biggest hurdle: high prices and mortgage rates make it harder to save a down payment, so many buyers wait longer or rely on family help, inheritance or roommates.

Get Tony's Central Vermont market newsletter: local numbers, plain English, every other Friday.

Sources

Tony Walton, Principal Broker, New England Landmark Realty, Waterbury Center, Vermont. 802-233-4107.