338: Buyers, Sellers, and the Stats That Matter

What if everything you thought you knew about homebuyers and sellers was wrong?

Every year we dive into the gold mine of information inside the NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers and the Member Profile for Realtors, and y'all… the 2025 data might be the most shocking yet. In this 4th annual deep dive, we're bringing you the stats that matter—and breaking down what they actually mean for your real estate business in 2026.

From skyrocketing median ages to shifts in how (and if) clients are finding their agents, this episode is your go-to resource for understanding the real people buying and selling homes right now. Spoiler: they probably don't look like the people you've been marketing to.

We also chat about why real estate websites are shockingly useless, who's staying in homes longer than ever, and how to stop worrying about FSBOs entirely. Plus, Katy reveals why this data can sharpen your confidence as a Realtor and even improve your listing presentations, and Alissa shares a vulnerable moment when she almost let imposter syndrome cost her a listing.

Grab your coffee (or your calculator) and let's talk buyers, sellers, and the wild stats behind them.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

• The median age of buyers and sellers (and why it matters)

• The shift in first-time buyer demographics

• How long people are staying in their homes now

• What agents think is causing market stagnation

• The #1 way buyers and sellers choose their Realtor

• For Sale By Owner: how many really do it, and what they lose

• What types of agents are thriving—and who's leaving the industry

• The truth about paid leads, teams, and real estate income

• What the data says about your social media efforts (brace yourself)

Key Quotes & Takeaways

"The NAR report isn't just stats. It's a confidence builder, a client education tool, and a strategy guide." – Katy

"We think everyone is like us, but they're not. That's why this data is good—it bursts the bubble." – Alissa

"If you're talking to the wrong people, your marketing will never work. These numbers tell us who's actually buying and selling." – Katy

"Only 6% of Realtors have real estate as their first career. That means most of us are figuring this out as a second act." – Alissa

"Almost 30% of agents net less than $10,000 a year. We have to stop telling new agents that success is instant." – Katy

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

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Agent Systems 101

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Music:  

"Straight A's" by Connor Price → https://connorprice.shop/  

"The Good Life" by Summer Kennedy → https://soundcloud.com/summerkennedy/the-good-life  

"Be The One" by Matrika → https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/be-the-one