Quick Real Estate Statistics From The National Association Of Realtors
- 5.64 million existing homes were sold in 2020, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®. 822,000 newly constructed(link is external) homes were sold in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
- The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)(link is external) estimates that there are over 3 million active real estate licensees in the United States.
- There are 106,548 real estate brokerage firms operating in the United States (Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: Summary Statistics for the U.S., States, and Selected Geographies: 2017(link is external)).
- Preliminary results from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)(link is external) show that there were 5.9 million commercial buildings in the United States in 2018, comprising 97.0 billion square feet of floor space.
- There are approximately 119.7 million occupied housing units in the United States, according to the 2018 American Community Survey(link is external).
- According to the 2020 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the typical home seller has been in their home for 10 years. The typical home size is 1,900 square feet. The typical homeowner is 47 years old.
- In 2019, 64.9% of families owned their primary residence, according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances(link is external).
NAR Membership Statistics
Members to date: 1,504,474 as of May 2021
Number of local associations: 1,108 as of 2020
Source: Monthly Membership Report and NAR Membership Statistics, 1908-present
REALTOR® Demographics
- 68% percent of REALTORS® are licensed as sales agents, 20% hold broker licenses, and 13% hold broker associate licenses.
- The typical REALTOR® is a 54-year-old white female who attended college and is a homeowner.
- 65% of all REALTORS® are female, and the median age of all REALTORS® is 52.
- Real-estate experience of all REALTORS® (median): 8 years
- Median tenure at present firm (all REALTORS®): 5 years
- Most REALTORS® worked 35 hours per week in 2020.
- The median gross income of REALTORS® was $43,330 in 2020, an increase from $49,700 in 2019.
- Median number of transaction sides in 2020:
- Residential sides for all REALTORS®: 10
- Residential sides for residential specialist broker/broker associates only: 13
- Residential sides for residential specialists only: 9
- Residential sides for commercial specialists only: 5
- Commercial sides for commercial specialists only: 4
- Formal education of REALTORS®:
- Some college: 29%
- Bachelor's degree: 32%
- Graduate degree and above: 13%
- Associate degree: 13%
- Some graduate school: 6%
- High-school graduate: 8%
- REALTOR® affiliation with firms:
- Independent contractor: 88%
- Employee: 5%
- Other: 7%
Source: 2021 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile
Statistics On REALTORS® And Technology
- REALTORS® most often prefer to communicate with their clients through text messaging, at 93%. Ninety percent preferred to communicate via telephone, and 89% through e-mail.
- 70% of broker/broker associates and 69% of sales agents have a website.
- 81% of members have their own listings on their website, 69% have information about buying and selling, and 66% have a link to their firm's website.
- 74% of REALTORS® use Facebook and 56% use LinkedIn for professional purposes.
- 20% of all members get 1-5% of their business from social media, and 10% get 6-10%.
- Of the members that use drones in their real estate business of office, 36% hire a professional, 14% have someone in their office that uses drones, and 6% personally use drones. 21% do not use drones.
Source: 2021 Member Profile
Home Buyer Statistics
- First-Time vs. Repeat Buyers:
- First-time buyers: 31%
- Median age of first-time buyers: 33
- Median age of repeat buyers: 55
- Median household income of first-time buyers: $80,000
- Median household income of repeat buyers: $106,700
- The typical home purchased was 1,900 square feet in size, was built in 1993, and had three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
- Among those who financed their home purchase, buyers typically financed 88% of the home price.
- 88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker—a share that has steadily increased from 69% in 2001.
- Buyers who would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others: 91%
- Where buyers found the home they purchased:
- Internet: 51%
- Real estate agent: 28%
- Yard sign/open house sign: 7%
- Friend, relative, or neighbor: 6%
- Home builder or their agent: 5%
- Directly from sellers/Knew the sellers: 3%
Source: 2020 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers(link is external)
Home Seller Statistics
- The typical home seller in 2020 was 56 years of age, had a median household income of $106,500, and lived in their home for 10 years.
- 89% of sellers were assisted by a real estate agent when selling their home.
- Recent sellers typically sold their homes for 99% of the listing price, and 22% reported reducing the asking price at least once.
- The typical home sold was on the market for 3 weeks.
- 41% of sellers who used a real estate agent found their agents through a referral by friends or family, and 26% used the agent they previously worked with to buy or sell a home.
- Sellers who definitely would use same agent again: 74%
Source: 2020 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers(link is external)
