T
The Daily Insight

How many years do owners stay in their homes?

Author

Andrew Ramirez

Published Mar 30, 2026

As of 2018, the median duration of homeownership in the U.S. is 13 years1. Compared to previous years, homeowners opt to spend more time holding onto their residences. Median tenure has increased by 3 years since 2008. Nevertheless, homeownership duration varies from area to area.

How many homes does the average person live in a lifetime?

Sixteen – the average number of homes you’ll have in a lifetime.

How long should you stay in your house?

But ideally, you should stay in your first home for at least three to five years before you move again. You usually need to stay that long to break even on the mortgage. If you know you will be transferring to a new area or will want to move to a larger home in a year, then it might be better to wait to buy a home.

How many homes does the average American live in a lifetime?

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average person in the United States moves residences more than 11 times in his or her lifetime.

How many homes does the average millionaire own?

There’s a new bar for wealth in America: Nine homes and 19 cars. That’s the average number of residences and vehicles owned by the average “ultra-high net worth” individual, according to a new study from AIG, which detailed the assets of the insurance company’s richest U.S. customers.

How long do you have to live in a house before you can sell it?

The exclusion depends on the property being your residence, not an investment property. You must have lived in the home for a minimum of two out of the last five years immediately preceding the date of the sale.

Where to live after you’ve sold your home?

You’ve sold your home and are under contract for the next. With so many moving parts when it comes to real estate transactions, timing isn’t always perfect. So, where do you live during this waiting period?

How long do you have to live in your home before you get an exclusion?

In general, to get the benefits of the exclusion, you need to have owned your home for at least two out of the five years prior to the date of sale, and you have to have lived in the property as your main home for at least two out of the past five years.

How long do you have to own a house before selling it to a trust?

In general, to get the benefits of the exclusion, you need to have owned your home for at least two out of the five years prior to the date of sale, and you have to have lived in the property as your main home for at least two out of the past five years. By contrast, the rules are much different for an irrevocable trust.