Lots of single women are buying homes on their own.
Could women’s lib be back, if a bit undercover? A new study shows that single women are flexing their buying power and purchasing homes while couples are buying in fewer numbers, notes reporter Mary Ellen Podmolik of the Chicago Tribune. Unmarried buyers are increasing in numbers while women buyers have been double that of men for about 10 years. Real estate agents note that female buyers are more organized and budget better than their single male counterparts. Whether trading up or purchasing for the first time, female home buyers are a steady force in today’s real estate market.
National Association of Realtors notes that, as of June 2009, 21% of all home purchases were made by solo women with only 10% of single men purchasing homes. This is a big difference. While today’s single women may not be fighting for their right to wear pants or the right to vote or even the right to go without a bra, they are doing what older generations couldn’t do: buying a home, by themselves, as working single women.
It wasn’t that long ago that women in this country were not allowed to own property. Only 30 or more years ago, many lenders refused to talk to single women about home loans, and if they went to the lender with their husband to purchase as a couple, only the male would be addressed. Now, women have gained confidence and are comfortable to freely purchase a home on their own. This is a big step forward for real estate and an even bigger step forward for women.
Photo Credit: Osvaldo Zoom at www.flickr.com
This is all so TRUE!! This is why we started our Independent Women Homeowners network to create a network of professionals willing and able to serve the growing needs of single or independent women. http://www.WomenHomeowners.com is a great resource for anyone thinking of buying or selling and going it alone!
Ginny Mees
Founder