Single Women Are Outpacing Men in Home Ownership

Single women are making big moves in the housing market, and they’ve been doing it for decades. Back in 1981, they made up 11% of home buyers—second only to married couples. Today, that number has nearly doubled to 20%, while single men sit at just 8%.

What makes this even more impressive? Women weren’t legally allowed to get a mortgage without a cosigner until 1974. Yet here they are, outpacing single men in home ownership—even though they generally earn less. On average, single women buying their first home today make about $71,000 a year, while single men bring in closer to $87,500.

So why the gap? A big reason is priorities. Many single women have kids at home, and buying a house gives them more stability. Some also purchase homes for multiple generations, meaning they may be caring for parents or other family members. Another key factor? Women are willing to make bigger sacrifices to buy a home. Nearly half of them cut spending, skip vacations, and even pick up extra work to afford it. Single men, on the other hand, aren’t making those same sacrifices at the same rate.

Age plays a role too. The average first-time home buyer who’s a single woman is about 40 years old, while single men tend to buy at 34. This suggests women take more time to save and plan before making the jump. And their financial power is only growing. By 2030, women are expected to control $34 trillion in assets—enough to keep shaking up the housing market for years to come. Single women aren’t just buying homes. They’re rewriting the rules of home ownership.

Source Inspiration: NAR