HOME
(Updated November 2011)
Looking for quick statistics for your sales meeting or a customer brochure? Need a quick fact to make your point? Information Central has compiled some of the most requested statistics for quick and easy access. Find the information that you need, as well as its source, at a glance. (K. Janisch, Information Specialist)
Real Estate and the Economy
A quick list of up-to-date Housing and Economic Indicators is available from NAR Research.
Even with signs that the economy is moving beyond the recession, the real estate market still confronts a challenging environment. Home sales rose quickly in late 2009 and early 2010 due, in part, to the availability of the home buyer tax credit. Since the expiration of the tax credit, however, sales have eased. One of the positive developments of the past year has been that a greater number of metropolitan areas have experienced stability in home prices.
Source: Real Estate and the Economy, Jan. 2010.
REALTOR® Statistics
Hours worked by all REALTORS® (nationwide): 40 per week
Gross personal income by hours worked: $49,000 (median for 40-59 hrs.)
Percent of business generated by REALTOR® personal web site (all REALTORS®):
- Zero: 35%
- 6-10%: 14%
- 11-25%: 12%
- 26-50%: 8%
- 26-50%: 4%
Real estate experience of all REALTORS® (median): 10 years
REALTORS® by gender: Male 43%; Female 57%
Formal education of REALTORS®:
- Some college: 31%
- Associate degree: 11%
- Bachelor's degree: 30%
- High school graduate: 9%
- Graduate degree and above: 10%
- Some graduate school: 8%
Sides per agent: For all REALTORS® in 2010, the typical brokerage specialist completed 8 transaction sides or commercial deals
Median tenure at present firm (all REALTORS®): 5 years
REALTOR® affiliation with firms:
- Independent contractor: 81%
- Employee: 6%
- Other: 13%
Source: 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile
NAR Membership Statistics
Members to date: 1,024,669 as of Oct. 31, 2011
Number of local associations: 1,393
Source: Monthly Membership Report and NAR Membership Statistics, 1908-present
Home Buyer
Statistics
Active home search (median):
- Number of weeks searched: 12
- Number of homes seen: 12
First-Time vs. Repeat Buyers:
- First-time buyers: 37%
- Repeat buyers: 63%
- Median age of first-time buyers: 31
- Median age of repeat buyers: 53
Buyers who definitely would use same agent again: 72%
Actions taken as result of Internet home search:
- Walked through a home viewed online: 63%
- Found agent used to search/buy home: 10%
- Drove by/viewed a home: 63%
Information sources used in home search:
- Internet: 88%
- Real estate agent: 87%
- Yard sign: 55%
- Open house: 45%
- Newspaper ad: 30%
- Home book or magazine: 19%
Source: 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
Did You Know?
As in past downturns, renewed job growth and stronger consumer confidence are needed to spark the housing recovery. Through 2010, however, conditions in few states showed signs of improvement (Figure 1). Unemployment rates are still hovering near 9 percent and confidence remains relatively low. In addition, the persistent decline in home prices, the ongoing foreclosure crisis, the large shares of underwater homeowners, and tight lending standards are all holding back homebuyer demand.
Source: State of the Nation's Housing 2011 (Harvard University - Joint Center for Housing Studies)
For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics
FSBOs accounted for 10% of home sales in 2011. The typical FSBO home sold for $150,000 compared to $215,000 for agent-assisted home sales.
FSBO Methods Used to Market Home:
- Yard sign . . . . . . . . . . 44%
- Listing on Internet . . . 33%
- Friends/neighbors . . . .27%
- Open house . . . . . . . .19%
- Newspaper ad . . . . . 17%
- For-sale-by-owner Web site . .12%
Most Difficult Tasks for FSBO Sellers:
- Getting the right price . . . 12%
- Understanding and performing paperwork: 11%
- Having enough time to devote to all aspects of the sale: 6%
- Preparing/fixing up home for sale: 5%
- Selling within the planned length of time: 5%
Source: 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
Statistics on REALTORS® and Technology
- 50% of agents and 47% of brokers spent between $501 - $2,000 on technology for their business in the last 12 months.
- The top three tools that respondents plan on purchasing or replacing in the next year are: smartphone (38%); iPad (29%); and digital camera (17%).
- The most frequently used operating system is Windows 7 (38%).
- The most popular smartphones are Android OS (35%), iPhone (28%), Blackberry (18%).
- 90.5% of REALTORS® use social media to some extent.
- The top places where REALTORS® place their listings are REALTOR.com, their broker's website and Trulia.
Source: 2011 REALTOR® Technology Survey
Recommended sources for data on real estate:
- Existing home sales (NAR)
- New home sales (Census Bureau)
- Home ownership rates (Census Bureau)
- Foreclosures & delinquent loans (Mortgage Bankers Association)
- Convention mortgage interest rates (Federal Reserve)
- Commercial sector data (NAR)
Hidden gems:
- REALTOR® Magazine Media Kit (NAR)—Follow links under Learn more for demographic data on REALTORS®.
- American Housing Survey (Census Bureau/HUD)—Very detailed survey of residential properties and households, conducted every other year.
- U.S. Housing Market Conditions (HUD)—See Historical Data for times series data from a variety of sources.
- State of the Nation's Housing (Harvard University—Joint Center for Housing Studies)—Appendix tables include useful historic data on homeownership.
- City Reviews (National Real Estate Investor)—Metro area reviews include recent data on commercial property sectors.
- Survey of Consumer Finances (Federal Reserve)—Data on home ownership, real estate investment, mortgages, and other financial activities of U.S. households.
Have an Idea for a New Field Guide?
Click here to send us your suggestions.
The inclusion of links on this field guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this field guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.