Gen Z Women Leading Homeownership Among Singles

Single Gen Z women are leading their male peers in buying homes, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). They make up 35% of single Gen Z homebuyers, compared to 18% of single Gen Z men. This survey, conducted among people who bought homes from July 2024 to June 2025, covered various generations from Gen Z (ages 18-26) to the Silent Generation (ages 80-100). No other generation had a higher percentage of single women homebuyers than Gen Z.

Overall, Gen Z made up only 4% of all homebuyers during this period. The share of first-time homebuyers, regardless of age, reached its lowest level since 1981. First-time buyers often struggle with having no equity from previous homes for down payments. Bri LaFluer’s experience illustrates this. She worked two jobs and saved half her income to buy a home in 2023 at age 24, as the housing market softened. Her home, purchased for $175,000, is in Baldwinsville, N.Y., and has three bedrooms and 1.5 baths.

“I’ve always been a really independent person and I just wanted my own place to have peace and quiet by myself,” said LaFluer.

LaFluer saved $20,000 for a down payment while living with her mom and paying low rent. NAR’s data indicates that single women across all generations account for a quarter of homebuyers, while single men make up 11%. This trend dates back to at least 1981, peaking for single women at 22% in 2006. For men, the peak was 12% in 2010.

Experts suggest women’s higher homebuying rates are linked to their increasing college attendance and income levels. Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist, notes women’s historical desire for homeownership. Legal protections for women to have mortgages became strong in the 1970s.

“It wasn’t until the 1970s where women were legally protected to have a mortgage on their own,” Lautz said.

Gen Z homebuyers face particular challenges. They are early in their careers, often unmarried, and carry student debts. Their median income was $76,000 in 2024, the lowest among all generations. Rising home prices strain affordability further, with the median U.S. home sales price reaching $417,700.

Gen Z is adapting by seeking financial help from family or exploring grants and assistance programs. Some use their 401(k) savings for down payments, like 1 in 10 according to NAR. Mariah Berry, who bought a home in 2023, exemplifies financial discipline. She saved instead of spending on leisure and bought a two-bedroom home in Charleston, Tennessee, for $218,000 at 23, with a $7,000 down payment financed at 6% interest.

“I do think it’s pretty frickin’ awesome that I’m a homeowner and that I became a homeowner at 23,” Berry said.

Berry is considering buying the other half of her duplex for rental income, seeing it as a future opportunity.