Single Women Outpace Single Men in Homeownership—Except in These 3 States

While their salaries While they may still fall short of their male peers, single women are significantly surpassing single men in this aspect. homeownership.

A recent report issued by LendingTree has revealed that single women Were more inclined than unmarried men to be homeowners in every state except for three: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Alaska.

Why It Matters

According to the previous year's Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, the number of Americans intending to purchase a house has reached its smallest figure in twelve years.

Owning a home might be particularly challenging for Generation Z members and Millennials, as they often have lower incomes compared to older generations and are less prone to getting married than their predecessors.

What To Know

The median weekly income for women remains below that of men, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicating that women earn only about 83.6% of what men do. However, women continue to lead men in terms of acquiring homes.

Across the U.S., single females possess 2.72 million more residences than their male counterparts, having acquired 11.14 million properties versus the 8.42 million owned by single males, as stated in the LendingTree report.

The disparity in homeownership rates between these groups has slightly increased since 2022, with their difference standing at just 2.71 million then, according to LendingTree. The widest gaps were observed in Delaware and Connecticut, where they stood at 5.23% and 5.06%, respectively.

However, in the three states where single men outpaced single women in homeownership, as reported by LendingTree, North Dakota had 10.75% of homes owned by single women versus 13.52% owned by single men.

In South Dakota, the disparity was comparable, where approximately 12.37 percent of about 263,000 homes were owned by single females, whereas 13.10 percent were owned by single males.

In Alaska, single men led in homeownership as well, with 12.79 percent of homes owned by them and a marginally lower percentage of 12.56 percent belonging to single women.

The disparity in homeownership rates among single women compared to single men might indicate a change in earning differentials. The study found that in six metropolitan regions, young women earned more on average than their male counterparts.

According to experts, unmarried women might be placing greater emphasis on attaining homeownership and are likewise surpassing men in acquiring advanced degrees.

What People Are Saying

Alex Beene, who teaches financial literacy at the University of Tennessee at Martin, stated kor.news : Owning a home is no longer an impulsive purchase for most Americans, which explains why single women are currently purchasing homes more frequently than single men. With the narrowing gender gap in employment and income across various sectors, women’s capacity to save has also diminished. However, studies indicate that single women often excel at managing finances over the long term because they aim towards future milestones such as building a family and securing their economic stability.

He commented, “One shouldn’t conclude that every unmarried man struggles with saving and investment, yet generally speaking, these men often require greater incentive, particularly when young. Moreover, apart from some regions such as Alaska and the Dakotas where certain sectors tend to be predominantly masculine, many areas observe males postponing significant life events; consequently, they also fail to save adequately for future needs.”

Kevin Thompson, the financial guru and CEO/founder of 9i Capital Group, stated kor.news : There has been a notable change in educational attainment. Currently, for every 100 bachelor’s degrees conferred to women, just 74 are granted to men. Additionally, women obtain about three-fifths of all master's and doctoral degrees, which puts them on a path toward higher earning potential. In contrast, male salaries have decreased compared to what they were in 1979. Considering these patterns, it becomes evident why women surpass men, notably when it comes to owning homes.

Jessica Lautz, who serves as the deputy chief economist and vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors, stated kor.news : The pace of marriages varies from one state to another, which consequently affects these statistics. In regions where marriage rates are high, you'd expect to find fewer unmarried female purchasers. Since 1981, single females have been surpassing single males in buying homes. Therefore, this trend signifies both the economic stability provided by owning a home and the long-term accumulation of wealth through property ownership.

What Happens Next

Over time, increased female ownership of homes might lead to a decrease in birth rates and less marriage, according to Thompson.

"The conventional model—where men work and women stay home to raise children—has already been disrupted," Thompson said. "As inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, it's becoming increasingly clear that dual-income households may be the norm moving forward."

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