Since 2013, the National Association of REALTORS® has
been writing the Home Buyers and Sellers Generational
Trends Report, which provides insights into differences and
similarities across generations of home buyers and home
sellers. The data we’ll take a look at here comes from that
annual report.
BY NICK BEJELIS, STARLINK REALTY
P
So, let’s start with the Silent Generation (ages 70-90). They
represent the smallest share of recent home buyers and
home sellers, as most of them are likely to have retired
arents: Kids are more depressed these days.
or scaled back their work demands leaving them with the
lowest median household incomes. They are also the least
Kids: You destroyed the economy for us, the likely to purchase a detached single-family home, with 30%
earth is literally dying, we are going to work until of this group purchasing in senior-related housing. Silent
we die and on top of that bees are dying at an Generationers’ primary reasons for moving is the desire for
alarming rate. a smaller home and for retirement.
Parents: It’s those pesky iPhones. Next, let’s discuss the Older Boomers (ages 61-69) and the
Younger Boomers (ages 51-60), sometimes referred to as
The generational gap is real, and this is exactly what it looks “Baby Boomers”. They comprise America’s second largest
like. Whether you are younger or older, it is something generation in terms of numbers. Never before has such a
we all deal with, especially in the real estate industry. But large group of graying Americans begun to retire. Never
what if you could bridge that generational gap? And what before has there been as diverse or as many potential
if you could bridge that gap by better understanding the options for active retiring adults. Many of the best-prepared
differences between the generations, allowing you to grow boomers will be relocating to attractive southern and western
your business in the process? To do so, one must be able cities to pursue active lifestyles. Some retirement analysts
to identify the different generations, uncover and recognize have identified a trend of suburban retirees moving out of
their common key motivators, and be able to seek out their big empty nests into condos and apartments in the
methods and ways to appeal to each generation. central city or suburban town centers, offering them an array
of services in compact, walkable neighborhoods. Younger
20 RPCRA.ORG | SEP/OCT 2018