45% of Recent Buyers Said Having a Good Agent Made Homebuying Easier

About 44% of recent homebuyers say their overall happiness has improved since buying, but 23% agree that their financial situation has gotten worse since doing so, according to a survey of respondents who bought homes in recent years (2023-2025) by Clever. 

The survey found that more buyers are prioritizing affordability than in years past, with 62% of buyers reporting that finding an affordable home was a priority (up from 48% in 2024). The median target price buyers wanted to purchase was $310,000, but 38% said they exceeded their initial budgets, and 37% believed they overpaid.  

Although some recent buyers reported their financial situations worsening post-purchase, 87% said they were happy they purchased when they did, considering the expectation that home prices and interest rates will continue to rise. 

Additionally, 53% said they were more satisfied with their living space, and 46% said their overall quality of life improved after buying a home. Also, 29% said their mental health improved after getting through the stress of renting and homebuying. 

Still, homebuying was a bit more overwhelming for first-time buyers, who said that since purchasing their home, they’ve:  

• Had to make major lifestyle changes (56%) 
• Felt in over their head financially (51%) 
• Felt buyer’s remorse (34%) 
• Felt like they overpaid for their home (42%) 
• Taken on additional debt to maintain their lifestyle (31%) 
• Struggled to pay their mortgage on time (27%) 

Across all recent buyers, 82% said they made compromises when purchasing. Top homebuying priorities included: 

1. Affordability (45% did not compromise, 17% did) 
2. Good neighborhood (59% did not compromise, 2% did) 
3. Desirable location (55% did not compromise, 3% did) 
4. Safety/low crime rate (48% did not compromise, 3% did) 
5. Garage/dedicated parking (40% did not compromise, 3% did) 

The top homebuying regrets reported were finance-related:  

1. Interest rate too high (20%) 
2. Spent too much (13%) 
3. Home inspection missed problems (12%) 
4. Bought too quickly (11%) 
5. Home does not meet all needs (11%) 
6. Settled instead of waiting for a better choice (11%) 

If they could do it all over again, they would most likely: 

1. Be more patient (20%)
2. Save more money before buying (17%) 
3. Ask more questions (16%) 
4. Negotiate harder on price or terms (15%) 
5. Shop around for better interest rates (14%) 
6. Buy a different home (14%) 

Lastly, although fewer homebuyers said buying was easier than they expected (24% in 2025 compared to 40% in 2024), many said having a good real estate agent helped make the process smoother and easier overall. The top three reasons homebuying was easier than expected were: 

1. They had a good real estate agent (45%) 
2. The closing process was smooth and on time (42%) 
3. They found a home quickly (37%)