Single women are increasingly becoming homeowners at a higher rate than single men, a demographic shift reshaping the real estate landscape. This trend has been consistently observed, even amidst ongoing affordability challenges in the housing market.

Growing Trend Over the Past Decade

Over the last ten years, homeownership among divorced, separated, and never-married women has steadily increased. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) senior economist, Lawrence Yun, “Homeownership has increased across all three groups.” The gains are particularly significant among separated and divorced women, with never-married women also experiencing modest increases.

Age and Income Factors

“Homeownership tends to increase with age for everyone, as people are more established professionally,” explains Yun. However, younger single women under 35 have also demonstrated notable gains in homeownership over the past decade. Despite a median income of roughly $58,000 – earning approximately 84 cents for every dollar earned by single men at $69,000 – single women are still more likely to own a home.

Financial Considerations and Market Trends

Single women typically allocate a larger percentage of their income to housing, around 30% compared to 26% for single men, reflecting tighter budgets. However, many single women homeowners have accumulated substantial equity over time, strengthening their financial standing.

NAR data reveals that single women have a higher homeownership rate than single men in 57% of U.S. metro areas. Cities like Vallejo, CA; McAllen, TX; Asheville, NC; and Davenport, IA, exhibit some of the most significant disparities. Notably, this trend persists even in expensive markets such as San Jose and Seattle.

Florida Markets See Rapid Gains

The fastest growth in homeownership among single women is concentrated in Florida markets like Palm Bay and Cape Coral. These areas share the characteristic of having home prices more aligned with local incomes, making homeownership more attainable on a single income.

Karla Cobreiro, a publicist who purchased a condo in Doral, FL, in 2022, reflects on the challenges of buying a home solo. “I had to save a lot of money alone, get pre-approved with just one salary, do all the legwork of searching and touring by myself, then pay for and oversee renovations on my own,” she stated. She jokingly adds, “It’s just me and this mortgage!”