The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recently released a report that compares how buyers and sellers respond when moving with and without children under the age of 18 years.
When selling a home when the owners have children under18 years:
- 23% of sellers sold their homes “very urgently.”
- 31% of sellers sold their homes “not urgently;” they waited for the “right” offer.
- 46% of sellers sold their homes within a “reasonable time frame.
When selling a home when the owners have no children living in the home:
- 49% of sellers sold their homes “not urgently” and waited for the “right” offer.
- 37% of sellers sold their homes “somewhat urgently” but within a “reasonable time frame.”
- 14% of sellers without children needed to sell their homes “urgently.”
When buying a home when the owners have children under 18 years living in the home:
- 31% compromised on the condition of the home
- 31% compromised on the size of the home
- 24% compromised on the style of the home
- 18% compromised on the distance of the home from the job
- 12% compromised on the distance of the home from friends and/or family
- 8% compromised on the quality of the schools
- 7% compromised on the quality of the neighborhoods
- 4% compromised on the distance of the home from the school
- 16% made no compromises whatsoever.
86% of the buyers and sellers with children used a real estate agent.
87% of the buyers and sellers without children used a real estate agent.
57% of the buyers without children indicated that finding the “right” property was the most difficult step in the process.
55% of the buyers with children indicated that finding the “right” property was the most difficult step in the process.
Preferences about agent interaction looked like this:
- preferred personal calls from the agent to inform the client about activities
- 74% – no children
- 73% – with children
- preferred postings about property price changes and/or under contract changes
- 69% – no children
- 70% – with children
- preferred information via text
- 64% – no children
- 67% – with children
- preferred emails concerning specific needs, market reports, listings, sales
- 54% – no children
- 52% with children
- preferred agent having mobile site to show properties
- 29% – no children
- 29% – with children
- preferred agent having website
- 29% – no children
- 30% – with children
- preferred agent on social media
- 11% – no children
- 14% – with children
- preferred agent active in community/volunteerism
- 12% – no children
- 11% – with children
- preferred agent who sends email newsletter
- 8% – no children
- 8% – with children
- preferred agent who has ads in newspaper
- 5% – no children
- 2% – with children
- preferred agent who has a blog
- 1% – no children
- 1% – with children
Clearly, quality schools and neighborhoods are top priorities for clients with children who are buying homes.
