Why someone might buy your home
By Dana Dratch • Bankrate.com

Trying to sell your home? The more you know about the types of buyers out there and why they're buying, the better your chances of successfully marketing your home.

Consider the No. 1 reasons people are buying:

1. Autonomy: Want to establish a household -- 33 percent.
2. Changing needs: Relocation or change in family situation -- 21 percent.
3. Moving up: Desire a larger home, nicer neighborhood, new house or custom home -- 20 percent.
4. Convenience: Need to be closer to job, family, friends or public transit -- 8 percent.
5. Downsizing: Retiring or need smaller home -- 7 percent.
6. Money: For financial, tax or investment reasons -- 4 percent.
Source: National Association of Realtors, 2007

Note: These are the top reasons, not the only ones.

Among the types of potential homebuyers are two very different species: the first-time homebuyer and the repeat buyer. Repeaters tend to be older, earn more, spend more, make a larger down payment and buy a bigger home.

Here's how they stack up:

First-time homebuyers Repeat homebuyers Age 31 46 Income $58,600 (median) $85,700 (median) Not buying as part of a couple 36 percent (more than two-thirds are women) 25 percent (more than two-thirds are women) Home size 1,510 square feet (median) 2,015 square feet (median) Average mortgage $202,265* $233,433* Down payment 2 percent (median) 16 percent (median)

Editor's note: A median number is one in which half the numbers in the category are more and half are less. For example, if the median price is $215,000, that means half the buyers paid more than $215,000 and half paid less. In many statistics, median is considered more accurate than the average.