SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The 2017 home-buying season will be characterized by a large increase in first-time homebuyers, increasing affordability issues among buyers, and high demand for suburban homes, according to Realtor.com’s Active Home Shopper Report released last week.

The study, based on September survey data of active shoppers on Realtor.com, provides insight into future home-buying trends in 2017 by analyzing responses from people who plan to purchase homes in the spring or summer, peak seasons for home purchases.

Significant findings from the survey include a potentially large increase in first-time homebuyers in 2017, capable of rising to 52 percent of all buyers next year, from 33 percent in 2016.

Affordability, down payments and credit scores are starting to challenge limited inventory as the No. 1 barrier to homeownership.

Suburban homes are the most preferred as 43 percent of first-time homebuyers have a stated preference for the suburbs, likely because of their desire for safe neighborhoods, privacy and to meet the needs of their growing families.

The most notable characteristic of the 2017 home-buying season is expected to be the large number of first-time homebuyers entering the market.

Millennials are leading the pack with 61 percent of these first-time homebuyers under age 35.

Top reasons cited by millennials for buying include getting married or moving in with a partner, growing tired of their current living space, and planning to increase family size.