This is the average age of first-time homeowners in California (2024)

FAQs

This is the average age of first-time homeowners in California? ›

In a recent study analyzing the "sliding homeownership ladder," data showed the majority of residents in California don't own a home until age 49.

But is there a right age when these factors should be in place? And are these the factors Americans should consider when deciding to become a homeowner for the first time? In 2022, the average age of first-time homebuyers was 36, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This is up from 33 in 2021.

The homeownership rate was the highest among Americans in their early 70s and the lowest among people in their early 20s in 2023. In that year, approximately 81 percent of individuals aged 70 to 75 resided in a residence they owned, compared to approximately 23.6 percent among individuals under the age of 25.

Key Takeaways:

Most first-time homebuyers make a purchase when they are 35. Buying a house at a young age can mean building equity young and getting a home paid off sooner. Purchasing a house in your 20s or earlier can also mean you feel trapped, unable to move at a moment's notice.

By the numbers: The median age of all buyers increased from 31 in 1981 to 49 in 2023. Its record high was 53 last year, compared to 42 a decade ago. First-time buyers were a median of 35 in 2023 — up from 31 in 2013 and 29 in 1981. Repeat buyers were 58 — up from 52 in 2013 and 36 in 1981.

As of 2021, the majority of people in the Golden State don't own a home until the age of 49. Researchers say it is the biggest delay represented in the age of buyers across America.

But with nearly two-thirds of retirement-age Americans having paid off their mortgages, it means that the average age they have gotten rid of that debt is likely in their early 60s. Stats from 538.com, for example, suggest the age is around 63.

California's 55.3% average homeownership rate in 2022 was the state's best since 2011 – but only Washington, D.C., at 42% and New York at 54% were lower.

When a house is 25 years or older many components of the home are beyond their life expectancy and should have been replaced. In some cases, components have been replaced multiple times already. In other cases, components are wearing and need selective repairs and upgrades.

Statewide, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of Californians who have paid off their mortgages, from 1.6 million households in 2000 to 2.4 million in 2020. The share of all owner-occupied homes that have no mortgage increased from 25% to 33% over that same time frame.

How long do most people live in their first home? ›

There are plenty of reasons why homeowners leave their home so soon after their first purchase – especially for young people. Despite the common expectation that a home purchase is forever, most buyers will end up leaving their homes within 5-10 years.

Many people say the best age to move out is 25 or 26 since you have stable employment and are ready for the responsible, but don't let those numbers throw you. Many people move out at age as young as 18, whether they are entering the workforce early or living closer to college.

A woman's peak reproductive years are between the late teens and late 20s. By age 30, fertility (the ability to get pregnant) starts to decline. This decline happens faster once you reach your mid-30s.

The difference in life expectancy between homeowners and renters was only 0.7 years among the foreign-born. The difference in life expectancy between homeowners and renters was 3.6 years among urban residents and 3.7 years among rural residents.

The typical U.S. homeowner spends 12.3 years in their home. However, the average length of homeownership has changed over the years and varies when considering factors such as region, age of the home, and more.

There is no age limit to a mortgage application. If you have a substantial down payment and a steady income (which can include pension and Social Security payments), you have a good chance of approval regardless of your age.

Now, the average woman or birthing person is having their first child at 27.5 - a record high in the country. Researchers have found that a major factor in this change of age is the decline of teen moms.

Women in the United States are waiting longer than ever to get pregnant. The average age of first-time moms is nearly 27, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Birth rates have risen among women in their 30s and dropped among those in their 20s.

The median age at the time of moving out was about 19 years. (See figure 1.) Table 1 shows that the likelihood of moving out before age 27 was correlated with several individual characteristics. Women were more likely to move out than men were, and Whites were more likely to move out than Blacks or Latinos.

You might be eligible to buy a house at age 20 if you have a sufficient credit score, steady income, and enough savings to cover the down payment and closing costs. Also keep in mind most mortgage lenders require a two-year job history to qualify for a home loan.