For the fourth year in a row, millennials comprised the largest number of recent home buyers: 34% millennials (buyers 36 years and younger); 30% baby boomers (buyers 52-70); 28% Generation X (buyers 37-51); and 8% the silent generation (buyers 71-91). The National Association of Realtors' recently released 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study reveals that more millennials are buying outside the city; student debt is common among Gen X and boomer households; and a growing number of millennials and younger boomer buyers have children living at home.

All but the oldest of buyers started their home search online. All generations typically looked at 10 homes over a 10 week period. Eighty-eight percent of purchases were financed.

Regardless of age, buyers and sellers continue to rely on real estate agents and brokers. In the 2017 study, nearly 90 percent of buyers and sellers worked with a real estate professional.