Five years post-pandemic, an overwhelming majority of first-time sellers say pandemic buying mistakes are the main force driving them to reenter the housing market.

Among homeowners who are selling (or sold) their first home in the past year, 79% say they made mistakes during the buying process, according to a survey from Opendoor. Furthermore, 91% of those sellers say those mistakes are a big factor in their decision to sell.

Young homeowners are the most likely to regret their home purchases: 94% of Gen Z and 86% of Millennial sellers acknowledged buying mistakes, compared to 48% of baby boomers.

Some of the mistakes first-time sellers cite include underestimating maintenance and hidden costs; not considering inflation and interest rates; buying too soon or choosing a home that didn’t really fit their needs; moving to an area they didn’t think about long term; or assuming they would be able to work remotely long-term.

Gen Z sellers were most likely to say they purchased a house that didn’t fit their changing needs, while Millennials sellers were most likely to underestimate financial considerations.

However, buying mistakes aren’t the only factors driving homesellers in 2025. About one-third of Gen Z sellers were interested in a lifestyle change, like moving to a new neighborhood or new city. Meanwhile, about one-third of Millennial sellers felt they needed to sell to prepare for big life transitions, like having a baby or relocating for a job.

That’s not to say sellers are excited about the actual process of listing their home, though. Sixty-five percent of first-time sellers said they would accept 20% below list price if it meant avoiding staging, repairs and overall uncertainty. On average, that’s about $83,840. Baby boomers were the least likely to be willing to take that concession.

Of first-time sellers who’ve been able to sell their homes in the past year, more than three-fourths felt that they weren’t fully prepared for the process, while 63% were surprised how much effort it took.

After the sale is said and done, 20% of first-time sellers say they’ll likely rent before buying again, opting to wait out the current market conditions.

Opinions were the same across generations when it came to just one thing: control. Nearly 90% of Gen Z, Millennial and Gen X sellers said they wished the process could have been better customized to their needs.