Single women made up 20% of total homebuyers between 2023 and 2024. That’s compared to just an 8% share for single men, according to a report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Between 2016 and 2024, the share of single women buying homes grew from 17% to 20%. In contrast, the share of single men reached a high of 12% in 2010 before dropping. Since that peak, their share has fluctuated between 7% and 9%.

Looking back further, the share of single women buying homes has surpassed that of men since 1981.

In a recent blog article, Dr. Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at NAR, attributed this difference, in part, to the fact that single women are more likely to have dependents.

Lautz theorized this may increase women’s motivation to purchase a home, especially since many single women opt to purchase homes suitable for multigenerational living. “Women may value the stability of homeownership in both scenarios,” she said.

While the share of single women buying homes trends upward generally, the increases are not linear. Since advancements in gender equality like the Fair Housing Act in 1965 and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in 1974, the percentage of female homebuyers has fluctuated. It peaked in 2006 at 22%.

Since 1985, however, the share of first-time female homebuyers increased from 11% to 24%. During that time, the share of first-time male homebuyers rose significantly less, from 9% to 11% — this despite the fact that women report making more financial sacrifices to achieve homeownership.

Lautz emphasized how the financial sacrifices women made to purchase homes may contribute to the six-year difference in median age between male and female first-time homebuyers. NAR reports the median age for a single-woman buyer is 40, compared to 34 for men.

Overall, Lautz cautioned against underestimating the buying power of single women in the real estate market. “It is clear [single women] are ambitious about achieving homeownership — and willing to make sacrifices to do so,” she said.