Homebuyers Searching for Sense of Community

Last year, loneliness was deemed a public health epidemic, with research reporting that half of Americans reported experiencing loneliness, and only 16% said they felt very attached to their local community.  

The increase in loneliness and its epidemic status highlights many Americans’ need for a stronger sense of community. For prospective and recent homebuyers especially, the question of community and how it’s prioritized comes to the forefront. 

Realtors® help homebuyers find their dream homes in their dream communities. According to a Century21 homebuyers report, 92% of recent/intending homebuyers said it’s important their real estate agent has insight into how the community will grow in the future. For Gen Z buyers, community knowledge is particularly valuable, as 92% said they felt it’s important for an agent to have a connection to their local community. They were also more likely to report finding their agent through a local community connection. 

In general, the report noted that 68% of intending homebuyers said they believed a connection to local community was “very important,” compared to 67% of recent homebuyers and only 41% of the general population (nationally representative sample).  

For many homebuyers with children in their household, a strong community was even more important. When asked if they agreed with the statement, “I am willing to compromise on elements of my ‘dream home’ for a home in a community that is perfect for me/my household,” 92% of recent and intending homebuyers with children agreed, compared to 81% without children.  

Community impact was important as well. Ninety percent of all recent/intending homebuyers agreed with the statement, “I want to live in a community where I can make a difference,” with 87% of intending Gen Z homebuyers and 94% of intending millennial buyers agreeing.  

Additionally, 93% of all recent/intending homebuyers agreed that “I want to live in a community where my family will thrive.” Generationally, 91% of Gen Z and 95% of millennial recent/intending buyers said the same. 

And while living in a good community is important, 59% said they also felt that it’s very important to get involved in their communities, with 36% planning to get involved by volunteering and giving back. The top ways recent/intending homebuyers said they planned to participate in their communities were: 

1. Volunteering and giving back (36%)
2. Participation in school committees (27%)
3. Participation in local politics and boards (26%)
4. Entrepreneurship (25%)