A growing number of first-time homebuyers are relying on their parents’ financial assistance to enter the market. According to recent data, first-time homebuyer cash purchases and inheritance-backed acquisitions have reached unprecedented levels, reshaping the real estate landscape.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) annual profile of home buyers and sellers, 10% of first-time buyers purchased their homes entirely with cash between July 2025 and June 2026. This represents the highest percentage recorded since tracking began.
The data reveals that 28% of these cash buyers used inherited wealth to fund their home purchases, a rate more than three times higher than the 9% observed among buyers using mortgage loans. Overall, 10% of all first-time buyersβincluding both cash and financed purchasersβutilized inheritance funds, marking the fourth consecutive year of increases.
