Comparing first-time homebuyers today to yesteryear?

Zillow’s real estate analytics blog released an interesting piece recently focusing on the characteristics of today’s first-time homebuyer.  You can read the entire piece HERE.  The author looked at a variety of financial and demographic trends of today’s first-time homebuyer and compared them to previous generations.  The findings?

A summary:

  • First-time homebuyers are older today and spend more time renting that previous generations.
  • First-time homebuyers are less likely to be married today than previous generations and increasingly purchase condo’s instead of single family homes.
  • Today’s first-time homebuyers have lower credit scores and down payments than previous generations.
Source: Zillow.com
Source: Zillow.com

The fact that homes are more expensive today relative to household income is likely influencing the findings.  How does your experience as a first-time homebuyer differ from your parents generation?  Please comment below.