Home Buyer Households: Valentine’s Day 2018

Using data from the 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers we can break down household composition, and the relationship it has to home purchasing choices.

• Among all recent home buyers, 65 percent were married couples, 18 percent were single females, eight percent were unmarried couples, and seven percent were single males.
• Three percent of recent buyers identified as gay or lesbian, and one percent identified as bisexual.
• Among first-time buyers, 57 percent were married couples, and 69 percent of repeat buyers were married couples.
• Among all home buyers, 83 percent purchased a detached single-family home, seven percent purchased a townhouse/row house, four percent purchased an apartment or condo.
• Eighty-seven percent of married couples, and 84 percent of unmarried couples purchased a detached single-family home.
• Married couple buyers were typically 44 years old with a household income of $101,500. They typically purchased a home that was a median of 2,050 sq. ft., for $269,000.
• Unmarried couple buyers were typically 34 years old with a household income of $84,100. They typically purchased a home that was a median of 1,680 sq. ft., for $201,000.
• Single female buyers were typically 52 years old with a household income of $62,300. They typically purchased a home that was a median of 1,530 sq. ft., for $185,000.
• Single male buyers were typically 51 years old with a household income of $74,000. They typically purchased homes that were a median of 1,530 sq. ft., for $175,200.

For more information on how relationship status and household composition affects homeownership choices, check out the 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.