November 5, 2025

The newly released 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of REALTORS® provides an invaluable snapshot of today’s shifting real estate landscape — and a roadmap for agents to better understand the industry through data. With the share of first-time home buyers at a record low of 21%, affordability challenges and limited inventory continue to reshape the market. The median first-time buyer is now 40 years old, while repeat buyers have reached a median age of 62 — both historic highs. Homeownership motivations have evolved as well: 59% of buyers prioritized neighborhood quality, and 47% chose proximity to friends and family over workplace convenience.

88% of buyers used a real estate professional in the home-buying process, and 91% of sellers listed with one, underscoring that trust and expertise remain central to the transaction.

For REALTORS®, this report isn’t just data — it’s strategy. Use these insights to refine your marketing and outreach: develop targeted campaigns for older first-time buyers balancing student debt, highlight community ties and multigenerational living options, and tailor listing presentations to emphasize lifestyle over commute. Agents can also position themselves as indispensable guides by addressing affordability challenges head-on — connecting clients with financing options, creative down payment solutions, and local housing programs. In a market defined by experience and caution, REALTORS® who interpret and apply this data will stand out as trusted advisors who not only understand the numbers but also the people behind them.

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers is an annual survey of recent home buyers and sellers who recently completed a transaction between July 2024 and June 2025. This flagship report has been published since 1981. 

Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® members have just 10 days left to take advantage of the lowest payment amount in the 2026 dues billing cycle. Your Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® membership continues to deliver unmatched value—providing access to tools and resources like Lone Wolf Transactions ($425 value), E-Signature Software ($240 value), Municipal Information Database ($200 value), Tech Helpline ($250 value), RISMedia ($249 value), FOREWARN ($300 value), and more—all included with your dues.

If a Primary REALTOR® member chooses to remit their dues at a later date, please note the following Cycle options and deadlines below, or click here to access a helpful chart. Please note that there is no automatic bill pay for membership dues.

Cycle 2 (11/16/25 – 12/31/25) – $618

Cycle 3 (1/1/26 – 1/31/26) – $658

Members can access their dues invoice and pay their dues online via their Secure Member Portal. Once logged in, visit the My Orders tab. where you will find an Unpaid Order for your 2026 Membership Dues titled, “2026 Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® Annual Dues.”

All membership dues (Tri-County Suburban REALTORS®, the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®) are NOT refundable or transferrable.

Members may choose to pay in full, or via installment plan.

Please visit tcsr.realtor/membership/duesbilling2026/ for all REALTOR® membership dues information.

For questions, please email duesbilling@tcsr.realtor or call 610-560-4800.

The 2026 Board of Directors Installation is returning to the Desmond Hotel in Malvern! This annual event celebrates the incoming leadership team of Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® as they officially take their oaths of office and begin their term guiding the Association’s mission and vision for the year ahead. Join us in honoring these dedicated REALTOR® leaders and connecting with peers as we look forward to another year of growth and collaboration. Details coming soon.

Last year, the Federal Trade Commission received 81,925 reports of home improvement scams. Per the Better Business Bureau, each scam costs homeowners an average of $1,800. From Hippo Home Insurance, there are five tips to protect homeowners from falling victim to home repair scams. 

Beginning with the most common scams homeowners face: solicitation after extreme weather events, garage door scams, and offering free solar panels, Hippo Home Insurance outlines practical ways to identify and avoid these costly traps. From spotting high-pressure tactics to verifying contractor credentials, these simple precautions can help you and your clients stay one step ahead.

Read on for all five expert tips to keep your home protected.

Whether you’re a seasoned agent or new to the profession, the upcoming courses from Tri‑County Suburban REALTORS® are tailored to help you stay compliant with continuing education requirements. Pennsylvania licensees must complete 14 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle; the current cycle concludes on May 31, 2026.

Agent and broker licensees must meet specific requirements: if your license was issued before December 1, 2023, you’ll need 3 hours in Agency Relationship and 2 hours in Fair Housing, with the remaining hours made up by elective courses. For those licensed on or after December 1, 2023, a dedicated 14-hour “first renewal cycle” option is available, either as the in-person two-day “Real World Real Estate” course or the self-paced “PA 14-Hour Post-Licensing” module. 

Our in-person and virtual classes—hosted at our Malvern campus, satellite locations across Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, and online via Zoom or LEAP Online (our partner platform) —are now posted through January 2026. Click here to visit the calendar of accredited education.

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee at Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® is an active, project-driven group of members who bring both passion for DEI and the dedication to roll up their sleeves to create real impact. Meeting periodically throughout the year, the committee is responsible for planning initiatives that bring diversity, equity, and inclusion to the forefront of the real estate industry and our Association. If you wish to join, please click here or scan the QR code below to fill out the form.

Coatesville City Council has approved an ordinance raising the city’s real estate transfer tax from 2% to 2.5%, effective Jan. 1, 2026, to generate an estimated $180,000 in additional revenue for general operations in next year's budget. A half-percent of the 2.5% that will be collected by the city will continue to go to the Coatesville Area School District. The Suburban Realtors Alliance voiced opposition to the increase, arguing it unfairly targets homebuyers and sellers. “As the transfer tax is levied only on buyers and sellers of property, the burden per taxpayer is much greater than the burden from a more broad-based tax designed to generate the same amount of revenue,” said Jamie Ridge, Alliance president/CEO. In a letter to city council members, he noted that the higher rate could discourage homeownership in Coatesville, where less than half of residents own homes. Ridge also warned the tax would make housing less affordable for first-time buyers and create unreliable revenue tied to fluctuating market conditions. Coatesville has the highest transfer tax in Chester County. Factoring in Pennsylvania's 1% transfer tax, the total transfer tax in the City of Coatesville will be 3.5% in 2026. The tax increase only applies to properties within the City of Coatesville — it does not apply to properties located in surrounding municipalities.
Source: City of Coatesville; 10/27/2025

November 6th | 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Ethics in Real Estate
Virtual via Zoom

November 10th | 9:00am - 12:00pm
PA Req Agency Relationship Education 2024-2026
Association of REALTORS® School, Malvern, PA

November 10th | 1:00pm - 3:00pm
PA Req Fair Housing Education 2024-2026
Virtual via Zoom

November 12th | 9:00am - 12:00pm
The Epic Homebuyer Experience
Association of REALTORS® School, Malvern, PA

November 14th | 9:00am - 4:30pm
How to Properly Prepare a CMA
Association of REALTORS® School, Malvern, PA

Contact Us
610-560-4800
info@tcsr.realtor

Office
1 Country View Road
Suite 201
Malvern, PA 19355