More Prospective Buyers are First-Timers
The share of prospective buyers who are purchasing a home for the first time increased for a fourth consecutive quarter, up to 65% in the third quarter of 2021, according to results from NAHB’s Housing Trends Report. A year earlier, the share was 56%.
Moreover, more than 60% of prospective buyers in every region of the nation are first-timers. In the third quarter of 2021, a record 69% of buyers in the Midwest are purchasing for the first time, along with 65% of those in the Northeast and South, and 61% in the West.
Rose Quint, NAHB assistant vice president for survey research, provides more insight in this post from Eye on Housing.
Latest from NAHBNow
Environmental Issues
May 15, 2026
NAHB, Industry Partners Address Key Permitting Reform ChallengesNAHB and industry partners responded this week to a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for recommendations to improve the efficiency of the Nationwide Permit program in advance of a potential future rulemaking.
Advocacy
May 14, 2026
NAHB Supports Amended Housing Bill Released by HouseNAHB Chairman Bill Owens issued the following statement on amended housing legislation released by the House.
Latest Economic News
Economics
May 14, 2026
Mostly Unchanged Demand, Lending Conditions for Residential Mortgages in First QuarterLending standards and demand for most types of residential mortgages were essentially in the first quarter of 2026, according to the recent release of the Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS). For commercial real estate (CRE) loans, lending standards for multifamily construction & development were essentially unchanged as well.
Economics
May 13, 2026
Residential Construction Input Prices Move Higher In AprilPrices rose across a host of goods and services used in residential construction. Rising energy prices were the primary driver, but transportation service prices also rose at their fastest pace since 2022. Meanwhile, building material prices, excluding energy, rose at their highest yearly rate in three years, up 3.7% from a year ago.
Economics
May 13, 2026
Delinquencies Holds Steady in First Quarter of 2026Consumer loan delinquency rates continued to normalize in the first quarter of 2026 as pandemic-related disruptions diminished and credit conditions moved closer to historical norms.