Roses Are Red, The Keys Are New, Let's Move In, Me and You?

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes… buying a home? Well, that isn’t exactly how the classic children’s playground rhyme goes, but for many Americans, it’s not far off. According to the 2025 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, half of today’s first-time buyers are married couples, proof that, for many, tying the knot and putting down roots still go hand in hand.

Looking at historical data, we can see that this love story was more common 40 years ago, when three-quarters (75%) of first-time buyers were married couples. As relationships, finances, and housing markets have evolved, so too has the role marriage plays in the journey to homeownership. This Valentine’s Day, we’re taking a closer look at how married first-time buyers find their perfect (housing) match in today’s market.

Love Is About Compromise (So Is House Hunting)

In 2025, married first-time buyers took a median of eight weeks to find their slice of happily ever after in the housing market. And in those eight weeks, couples were shown a median of seven houses to find their perfect match. Love is all about compromise, and so is house hunting. The most common characteristics couples had to compromise were the price of their home (34%), size (25%), and condition (25%). Some lucky couples, 25%, fell head over heels with their home and found their perfect match, not having to make any compromises!

Forty-three percent of married first-time buyers would consider moving if they had a significant life change. When looking at the data, it is apparent that many couples wanted to get their foot in the market, purchased their “starter” home, and are willing to move again for a larger home (33%) or a nicer home with more modern features (31%). A quarter (25%) of our love birds found their forever home.

Still, romance meets reality when it comes time to save: 31% of married first-time buyers said the hardest part of the process was scraping together the down payment. Everyone has baggage, and for these buyers, it mostly comes with a monthly payment. High rent weighed down 42% of respondents, while credit card debt (33%) and student loans (32%) weren’t far behind. Among married first-time buyers, student loan balances landed at a median of $33,500. When asked, these buyers report that this debt delayed their home purchase by a median of 2 years.

Finding The One (House Edition)

When it came time to put a ring on it (or at least a mortgage), married first-time buyers overwhelmingly went classic. Three-quarters (75%) chose detached single-family homes, while townhomes and row houses accounted for 7% of purchases. Apartments or condos in buildings with five or more units trailed behind at just 4%.

Location-wise, these buyers clearly favored a little breathing room. Nearly half (49%) settled in the suburbs, making it the most popular destination for married first-time buyers. Small towns followed at 19%, with rural areas close behind at 16%. When choosing the neighborhood, buyers focused on the long-term compatibility factors: quality of the neighborhood topped the list at 64%, followed by proximity to work (51%), overall affordability (49%), and closeness to friends and family (41%).