Estate facts & stats

Question 1

In what year did US homeownership hit its modern peak of 69%?

Accepted Answer

69.0% in 2004. Homeownership fell sharply after this peak during the 2008 housing crash and has only partly recovered since.

Question 2

About what was the US homeownership rate back in 1960?

Accepted Answer

62.1%. Despite huge changes in the housing market, US homeownership has actually moved surprisingly little since 1960.

Question 3

What is the typical real estate agent commission on a US home sale?

Accepted Answer

5–6% of the sale price. This commission is usually split between the buyer's and seller's agents, though rules around it are changing.

Question 4

In what year was the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), still used by real estate agents today, introduced?

Accepted Answer

1967. The MLS changed how brokers shared listings and represented buyers across a whole market.

Question 5

The median age of US renters who head a household rose to 41 today, up from what age in 2000?

Accepted Answer

37 (in 2000), 41 today. Renters are getting older on average, a sign more people are staying in rental housing for longer.

The basics