Single Gen Z Women Leading in Home Purchases

In recent real estate trends, single Gen Z women are purchasing homes at a higher rate than their male counterparts. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), single women in this generation accounted for 35% of all Gen Z homebuyers, while single men made up 18%. Data from a survey conducted between July 2024 and June 2025 showed that Gen Z, defined as those born between 1999 and 2011, represented 4% of total homebuyers during this period.

One notable trend is the share of single women as homebuyers across generations. In the survey period, single women made up 25% of all homebuyers, while single men represented 11%. Historically, single women have been more active in home buying, with a peak of 22% in 2006. In contrast, single men reached a peak of 12% in 2010.

Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist, explains that more women attending college can lead to higher incomes, encouraging their homebuying decisions. Since the 1970s, women have had legal protection to obtain mortgages independently, fostering this upward trend in homeownership.

Gen Z homebuyers face several challenges, including launching their careers, the prospect of higher future earnings, and student loan debt. Their median annual income, as of 2024, stands at $76,000. Housing prices pose another barrier, with the median U.S. home sales price at $417,700 last month, a 0.9% increase from the previous year.

Many Gen Z homebuyers receive financial assistance from their families or explore community grants and first-time homebuyer programs. According to NAR, 10% use 401(k) retirement savings plans for down payments. Those without support often save diligently to achieve homeownership.

“I’ve always been independent and wanted my own place,” said Bri LaFluer, who bought her home at 24. She saved half her salary while living with her mother, eventually purchasing a home in Baldwinsville, N.Y., for $175,000 in 2023.

Mariah Berry, another young homeowner, saved by living modestly. She purchased a two-bedroom, one-bath home in Charleston, Tennessee, at 23 after putting down $7,000. Berry plans to eventually buy the other half of her duplex.