Final answer:
In the context of real estate, the primary consumers are families who buy or rent homes for personal use. Other participants like homebuilders and developers are also consumers when they purchase land or properties for development, but in the context of this question, families are the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The consumers of real estate can encompass a variety of participants in the market. Generally, the term 'consumers' refers to those who are end-users or purchasers of goods and services for personal use. In the context of real estate, the consumers are typically those who buy or lease property to fulfill personal or organizational needs. This includes:
- Families: who purchase or rent homes to live in, making them direct consumers in the goods market.
- Homebuilders: While they are producers, they can also be considered consumers when they purchase land or existing properties to develop.
- Developers: Similar to homebuilders, they buy real estate with the intention of developing it for future sale or lease, consuming resources in both goods and financial markets.
- Real estate agents: They generally facilitate transactions rather than consume real estate directly. However, if they buy office space for their operations, they would also be consumers.
Therefore, the answer to the student's question of which of the following are consumers of real estate would be a. Families, as they are the ones who typically consume real estate in the form of housing.