"The next generation of homeowners is beginning to exert its influence on the housing market," said Thomas Stevens, National Association of Realtors president from Virginia.   

As they begin to enter the housing market, many consumers in their 20s are more likely to buy a home at a younger age than their older brothers and sisters, as well as their baby boomer parents, and are not necessarily waiting for marriage before becoming homeowners.  The percentage of first-time homebuyers under age 25 has been increasing in response to historically low interest rates and continued confidence in the long-term strength of home price appreciation. 

While married couples are still the norm, they represent a smaller share of the home buying public than they did just 10 years ago, down to 61 percent today, from 70 percent during the last decade.  During that same time, the proportion of single women buying homes has increased from 14 percent in 1995 to 21 percent today. 

Young men are a growing part of the increase in single buyers, too, although they continue to lag behind women. In the 2007 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, they make up 9 percent of buyers today, up from 7 percent in years past. 

Sellers need to change with the changing buyer profile.  Younger buyers use technology and the Internet more during their home search.  To meet the needs of this growing population of home buyers, Sellers need to hire agents agents need lots of experience in buyer representation and technical expertise.