According to Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist and vice president of research, there has been a significant shift in the demographics of home buyers over the years. In a recent blog post, Lautz highlighted the increasing trend of single women purchasing homes.
In 1981, only 11% of home buyers were single women, but today that number has risen to 20%. On the other hand, married couples, who made up 73% of home buyers in 1981, now account for only 62%. Single men have also seen a slight increase from 10% to 8% in the same period.
Lautz pointed out that single women are more likely to have children under the age of 18 in the home, which may influence their decision to purchase a home. Additionally, women typically have a lower household income compared to men when buying their first home.
Despite facing financial challenges, single women are making sacrifices to become homeowners. Lautz noted that 44% of women have made financial sacrifices, such as cutting spending on nonessential items and taking on second jobs, to achieve their goal of homeownership.
Age also plays a role in the homebuying process, with the median age of single women buying their first home being 40, compared to 34 for men. This difference in age may contribute to the financial decisions made by women in order to purchase a home.
These findings align with Sotheby’s International Realty’s 2025 Luxury Outlook Report, which predicts that women will control a significant portion of investable assets by 2030. This indicates a growing financial independence and purchasing power among women in the real estate market.