Homeowners who sold a property between July 2014 and June 2015 typically made a tidy profit over their initial purchase price, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The organization recently issued its "Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers," which looks at the characteristics of both buyers and sellers over a one-year period. Only owner-occupied homes are included in the study.

Rising home values helped sellers obtain a greater equity gain. The median seller realized a gain in value of 23 percent, or $40,000, over their initial purchase price. By contrast, the typical seller in the 2014 study sold their home for 17 percent more than the purchase price for a median equity gain of $30,100.

Homeowners who had lived in a property for one to seven years usually reported an equity gain of $30,000 to $35,000. Those who purchased a home eight to 10 years ago were more seriously affected by the housing downturn, reporting a median equity gain of only $3,000. However, those selling after 21 years realized a median increase in value of $138,000.

Homes stayed on the market for a median period of four weeks before selling, the second year in a row with this timeframe. Thirty-seven percent of sellers said they offered incentives in an effort to attract buyers.

Most homeowners selling a property relied on a real estate agent. Eighty-nine percent said they used an agent, while only 8 percent listed their home as "for sale by owner." The latter share was down from 9 percent in the previous three years, reaching its lowest point since the survey began.

Sixty-six percent found a real estate agent through a referral or used the same real estate agent from their previous purchase. Sixty-seven percent said they would definitely recommend the agent to others, and 17 percent said they would probably recommend the agent.

Most sellers said they have recommended their agent at least once since selling their home. Nearly one-third—32 percent—said they have recommended their agent three or more times.

The typical seller was 54 years old, the same as in 2014 but five years older than the typical seller in 2010. Sellers also had a median household income of $104,100, up $7,400 from last year, and said they had lived in the home for a median period of nine years before selling. Seventy-seven percent were married.

The fear of being underwater on a mortgage was less prevalent in 2015. Seventeen percent of the sellers in the 2014 said they had delayed a sale because their home was worth less than their mortgage, and this share declined to 14 percent in this year's survey.

People selling a home on their own were typically able to do so more quickly than homes sold through an agent, spending a median period of two weeks on the market. The National Association of Realtors says the faster pace is usually a result of a homeowner selling the property to someone they know.

However, the survey also found that "for sale by owner" homes usually sold for less money than those sold through an agent. The median sales price of these homes was $210,000, up from $208,700 last year but below the overall median sales price of $245,000.

Seventy percent of sellers remained in the same state. They moved a median distance of 20 miles.

Sixteen percent said they sought a new home because their former residence was too small. Fourteen percent said they needed to relocate for a job, and 13 percent wanted to be closer to friends or family.

The National Association of Realtors' report was based on a 128-question survey sent out in July 2015. The organization received 6,406 responses from people who bought or sold a property between July 2014 and June 2015.