Prospective Buyers Continue to Turn into Active Buyers
Of the 17% of American adults who were considering a future home purchase in the second quarter of 2021, more than half (61%) have moved beyond just planning and are now actively trying to buy.
This share of active buyers has increased for six straight quarters, a trend that began after the final quarter of 2019 when it stood at 43%.
In the past year and a half, several factors have contributed to turning more prospective buyers into active ones, namely: low mortgage rates, desire for more space and desire for a new location in the suburbs/exurbs.
Furthermore, the share of prospective buyers who are actively searching for a home has grown in every region of the U.S. From the final quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2021, the share went from 46% to 66% in the Northeast, 40% to 50% in the Midwest, 43% to 58% in the South and 40% to 72% in the West.
Rose Quint, NAHB assistant vice president for survey research, provides more insight in this Eye on Housing blog post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Apr 30, 2026
Fed Changes Leadership, but Powell Stays On BoardFed Chair Jerome Powell is not expected to fully step away from the Federal Reserve. Instead, he plans to continue serving as a member of the Board of Governors as long as the Justice Department's probe into the cost of the Fed’s headquarters renovations remains active.
Workforce Development
Apr 29, 2026
Indiana Students Explore Career Paths Beyond a Four-Year DegreeThe Builders Association of Elkhart County (Ind.) connects local students with hands‑on construction experiences that open their eyes to career paths beyond a four‑year degree.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 30, 2026
U.S. Economy Rebounded in the First Quarter of 2026Real GDP growth accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding from a weak finish at the end of 2025, as government spending recovered following a disruptive shutdown.
Economics
Apr 29, 2026
Powell’s Chair Ends but He Keeps His Board SeatThe April meeting of the Fed’s monetary policy committee featured a lot of institutional news for a month in which the Fed kept monetary policy unchanged. The outlook for the economy and monetary policy remains unclear due to geopolitical turbulence and domestic policy uncertainty.
Economics
Apr 29, 2026
Home Building Shows Signs of Stabilization with Monthly Gain in StartsHousing construction activity strengthened in March, with a notable rebound in both single-family and multifamily starts, signaling improved builder activity despite ongoing headwinds from financing costs and affordability constraints. While the monthly gain points to renewed momentum, year-to-date trends remain mixed, particularly in the single-family sector, and permit activity suggests some caution moving forward.