1st-Time Homebuyers Totaled 42% of Market

First-time homebuyers accounted for 42% of the nation's housing market in the second half of 1997 and remain "a critical segment of the market," according to the National Association of Realtors.In "The Home Buying and Selling Process: 1997," the NAR reports that the typical homebuyer searched eight weeks and looked at 10 homes to find the home that was ultimately bought. The typical seller's home was on the market for seven weeks, and only 15% sold the home without using a real estate agent, the survey found. More nontraditional buyers are entering the market, but married couples still accounted for 64% of sales. Single women accounted for 18%, single men 11%, and unmarried couples and others 7%, the NAR said. The NAR's website address is http://www.nar.realtor.com.