Most people who buy a home don't start the process feeling ready.
They start it feeling nervous. They have debt. They're renting. They're not sure if their credit is good enough or if they've saved enough or if the timing is right.
And yet, they buy. Here's what the data actually shows about who's buying homes right now, and why waiting might cost you more than you think.
How Most People Find Their Agent
Before we get into the numbers, there's something worth knowing about how home buying actually starts.
According to NAR's 2026 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, 43% of all recent buyers found their agent through a personal referral. A friend. A family member. A neighbor who said "you should call this person."
For buyers between 27 and 35, that number jumps to 49%. Almost half.
Not a Google search. Not a Zillow ad. Someone they trusted made the introduction.
Worth noting: A lot of people never have that conversation at all. They assume they're not ready, so they never ask. That's the part the data can't measure.
What's Actually Stopping People
NAR asked buyers what delayed their purchase. The answers were familiar.
High rent. Credit card debt. Student loans.
Sound like your situation? You're not alone.
Student loan debt
39% of younger millennial buyers had student loan debt when they bought. The median balance was $30,000. They bought anyway.
Down payment help
More than a quarter of younger millennial buyers received down payment help from a friend or family member. It's more common than people think.
How they saved
Most buyers cut back on spending to save up. Eating out less. Skipping vacations. Small changes over time. These are not people who had everything figured out.
What the Indianapolis Market Looks Like Right Now
Here's the local picture, straight from MIBOR May 2026 data for Marion County.
The median sales price for a single family home is $265,000. Homes are selling in a median of 15 days. Active inventory is up 21.3% compared to this time last year, which means more choices and less of the frantic competition buyers faced a couple of years ago.
NAR also ranked Indianapolis the #4 homebuying hotspot in the country for 2026. The market is active, it's moving, and it's more accessible than it's been in a while.
The rent vs. own math: The average apartment in Indianapolis runs around $1,262 per month. Single-family rentals run $1,525 to $1,722. With prices projected to rise 3 to 4% this year, a $265,000 home could cost $8,000 to $12,000 more by the end of 2026. That's not a scare tactic. That's just math.
The Conversation Most People Don't Have
Here's the thing nobody tells you.
You don't have to have it all figured out before you talk to someone. That's what the conversation is for.
A good agent isn't going to pressure you into a timeline that doesn't work. They're going to help you understand where you actually stand, what you'd need to get pre-approved, what a realistic budget looks like, and whether buying in the next 6 months or the next 18 months makes more sense for you.
That conversation costs nothing. It takes maybe 30 minutes. And most people walk away either surprised that they're closer than they thought, or with a clear roadmap for getting there.
Sources: NAR 2026 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report. Marion County market data from MIBOR Broker Listing Cooperative, May 2026.
Ready to Find Out Where You Stand?
If you've been sitting on the fence, I'd love to have that conversation with you. I work with buyers all across the Indianapolis area, from first-timers to people who've owned before and are ready to make a move. No pressure. No pitch. Just a real conversation about your situation.
Phone or Text: 317-435-4539
Email: rcthorne@callcarpenter.com
RC Thorne • REALTOR® • Carpenter Realtors • RC, the Right Choice