What NAR Found in the 2026 Profile

NAR’s 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers surveys people who bought a primary residence between July 2025 and June 2026. NAR mailed a 121-question survey in July 2026 and received 7,125 responses. It does not cover investors or vacation-home buyers, so it describes owner-occupants, the people who actually live in the homes they buy.

First-time buyers: a small share, and older than ever

• Share of purchases: 22%, up from last year’s record low of 21%. NAR says the pre-2008 norm was about 40%.
• Median age: 40, matching the all-time high.
• All-cash purchases: 10%, the highest share on record. Cash first-time buyers had a median age of 54, compared with 38 for those who financed.
• Median down payment: 9% (down from 10% last year, according to Realtor.com’s coverage of the report).
• Where the down payment came from: personal savings (62%), financial assets such as a 401(k), stocks or crypto (30%), gifts or loans from family and friends (25%) and inheritance (10%, a record).

“Affordability remains the biggest hurdle for first-time buyers,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research. She called the inheritance trend “a generational transfer of wealth,” adding: “It’s not yet a tsunami, but it is changing who can buy a first home and when.”

Repeat buyers: most of the market

Repeat buyers made up 78% of purchases. Their median age was 62 (tying the record), their median down payment was 19%, 30% paid all cash, and their median household income rose to $127,000 from $111,700. NAR credits a decade of home-equity growth, which lets many owners move up or relocate by choice.

Sellers are staying put longer

The typical seller had owned their home for 12 years before selling, an all-time high. The top reason for selling was moving closer to friends and family (22%). Realtor.com reported that recently sold homes closed at a median of 99% of the final list price.

Sources: NAR news release (Nov. 5, 2026), NAR Profile highlights and Realtor.com.

Why This Matters Right Now

The survey looks back over 12 months, but it lines up with this week’s data. Redfin reported on Nov. 5 that in the four weeks ending Nov. 1, the median U.S. sale price slipped 0.4% year over year to $388,604, the third straight weekly decline after three years of increases. Pending sales hit the lowest level in Redfin’s records (which start in 2021), and the median monthly payment eased to $2,777, though that is still 11.1% higher than a year ago. Freddie Mac’s 30-year average was 7.18% as of Nov. 5, compared with 6.22% a year earlier. The next weekly reading comes out Thursday, Nov. 12.

So prices are leveling off, but financed buyers still face payments that are much higher than last year. That is the gap NAR’s numbers describe: buyers with equity, savings or family help can move, while many who depend fully on a mortgage are waiting. For more on the demand side, see our Nov. 7 look at why buyers are still waiting and our Nov. 6 jobs and rates update. Sources: Redfin and Freddie Mac PMMS.

What It Means for Santa Clarita and LA County

First-time buyers

NAR’s data is national. LA County prices are well above the national median: Realtor.com’s October data put the Los Angeles metro median list price at about $1,000,000 (see our Nov. 7 post). Some quick math: a 9% down payment on a $1,000,000 home is $90,000 before closing costs. That helps explain why savings, family gifts and inheritances matter so much. Practical steps for buyers in Santa Clarita, Valencia, Saugus, Canyon Country, Newhall or Stevenson Ranch:

• Know every source you can use. NAR found that a quarter of first-time buyers used gifts or loans from family. Lenders have documentation rules for gift funds, so talk to your lender before money moves.
• Look into assistance programs. The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) lists first-time buyer and down-payment programs on its homebuyer programs page. Eligibility, income limits and available funds vary.
• Watch Prop. 37, but don’t plan around it yet. The statewide measure for loans on newly built homes was leading in unofficial returns as of our Nov. 5 election update. Results are not certified, and program rules don’t exist yet.
• Use the softer market. With more listings sitting and price cuts common nationally, a financed offer with a clean, well-prepared file can still compete. Inspection and appraisal protections are worth keeping. Talk through the trade-offs before you waive anything.

Move-up buyers and sellers

With repeat buyers making up 78% of purchases, many sellers’ buyer is someone who is also selling a home. For Santa Clarita sellers, that makes pricing and timing important: buyers who have equity can still move, but they compare carefully. NAR’s median of 12 years before selling also means many LA County owners have meaningful equity built up. That can make moving up easier, but your next home’s rate and property taxes will reset. Run the full numbers before you list.

Homeowners staying put

If you aren’t moving, this report is mostly background. Long tenure and family wealth transfers are national trends, not a signal to act. If you are thinking about helping a child or relative buy, through a gift, co-signing or a family loan, each option affects your finances and possibly your taxes. Talk to a tax professional or attorney before committing.

A note for investors

NAR’s survey excludes investor purchases, so it doesn’t measure investor activity. What it does show is that entry-level homes attract owner-occupants, including a record share of first-time buyers paying cash. Investors targeting starter homes in LA County may face that competition, plus rates above 7%, insurance costs and local rental rules. Rents, vacancies and resale values can all move against you. Past appreciation does not guarantee future returns. This is general education, not investment advice.

Andy & Rebekah, Entity Realty, entityrealty.com

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Andy Martinez Jr., Mortgage Loan Originator | NMLS #2171006 · Entity Mortgage and Realty, Company NMLS #2371431 · CA DRE #01978202 · 26254 Prima Way, Santa Clarita, CA 91350 · Equal Housing Opportunity. General information only, not a commitment to lend, and not tax, legal or investment advice. Approval, rates and terms depend on credit, income, property and program guidelines and can change.