First-time home buyers comprised an unprecedented 47 percent of the market last year according to a recently published report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

NAR's report, 2009 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, points to the federal tax credit and the historic affordability of housing as the most likely reasons first-time buyers scored so high in sales.

According to NAR, housing economists predict that "2010 will be an even bigger year for first-timers." Who are these people, and what do they want?

Most are married - Forty-nine percent are a married couple.Single females comprise a quarter of first-time buyers. Single males account for just 12 percent.

They're young - More than half (53 percent), are between the ages of 24 and 34. Twelve percent are younger than 24.

They're diverse - Twenty-two percent are part of a minority group, compared with 13 percent of repeat buyers. Six percent speak a language other than English. Twelve percent were not born in the United States.

They like the suburbs - Even though 22 percent purchase in an urban area, the suburbs continue to be the most popular locale, with 52 percent buying there. The third most popular spot is a small town.

They make their own time - First-time buyers take an average of 12 weeks to find their home, compared with 10 weeks for repeat buyers.

They're not afraid of foreclosures - Eleven percent of first-timers bought a home in foreclosure and 56 percent considered it. Only 9 percent of repeat buyers bought a foreclosure, and just 41 percent considered it.

They're most likely to use a referral - Fifty-three percent found their agent through a referral, compared with 36 percent of repeat buyers, many of whom sought the services of their previous agent.

More than 9,000 consumers who recently completed a home buying transaction were surveyed by the National Association of Realtors last year to compile the 2009 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report.