Single Gen Z Women Outpace Men in Homeownership Amid First-Time Buyer Slump

Single Gen Z women are buying homes at nearly twice the rate of their male counterparts, according to new survey data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) — even as the overall share of first-time homebuyers across all age groups has fallen to its lowest level since record-keeping began in 1981.

According to AP News, single Gen Z women accounted for 35% of all homebuyers in their generation during the July 2024–June 2025 survey period, while single Gen Z men represented just 18%. The data comes from NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, which surveyed buyers across multiple generations.

A Generational Shift in Homebuying

Gen Zers — defined by the survey as those born between 1999 and 2011, making them ages 18 to 26 — still represent only 4% of all homebuyers. But within that small cohort, the gender gap is striking. No other generation had a larger share of single women homebuyers than Gen Z.

This is part of a broader, decades-long trend. Single women across all generations made up a quarter (25%) of all homebuyers in the survey period, compared to 11% for single men — a pattern that dates back to at least 1981. The share of homes bought by single women peaked at 22% in 2006, while single men’s share peaked at 12% in 2010.

“It wasn’t until the 1970s where women were legally protected to have a mortgage on their own,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist and vice president of research. “And they have embraced this and been very strongly embracing this.”

Why Single Gen Z Women Are Leading

Experts point to several converging factors driving the trend. Women now outpace men in college attendance, which correlates with higher earning potential over time. There is also a cultural shift: many women no longer view homeownership as something to wait for until marriage.

“There’s more women who just aren’t waiting on a spouse in order to achieve their life goals,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin.

NAR data shows that 41% of single women reported cutting spending on entertainment, vacations, and non-essential goods to prioritize homebuying, compared to 31% of single men. This willingness to sacrifice is evident in the stories of young homeowners like Bri LaFluer, 27, who bought a home in Baldwinsville, New York, in 2023 after years of saving half her pay and working two jobs.

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

Mariah Berry, who bought her home in Charleston, Tennessee, at age 23, made similar sacrifices. “I did not go out and was driving an old beat-up car. It was not fun,” she said. “I do think it’s pretty frickin’ awesome that I’m a homeowner and that I became a homeowner at 23.”

The Broader Affordability Crisis

Despite the encouraging trend for single women, the broader housing market presents daunting challenges. First-time buyers across all ages fell to just 21% of the market — a record low. Before 2008, first-time buyers consistently accounted for about 40% of home sales.

The median U.S. home sales price stood at $417,700 as of April 2026, up 0.9% from a year earlier. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.75% in May 2026, the highest level since July 2025, with analysts warning it could surpass 7%. Meanwhile, the median age of first-time buyers has climbed to a record 40, up from the late 20s in the 1980s.

“The historically low share of first-time buyers underscores the real-world consequences of a housing market starved for affordable inventory,” Lautz said.

The Role of Family Support

Gen Z homebuyers are more likely than any other generation to receive financial assistance. A LendingTree survey from May 2026 found that 80% of Gen Z homeowners received down payment help from family. One in 10 tapped their 401(k) retirement savings to fund their purchase, according to NAR.

Gen Z homebuyers had a median annual income of $76,000 as of 2024 — the lowest compared to homebuyers from all other generations — making such assistance often essential.

“Unfolding in the housing market is a tale of two cities,” Lautz said. “We’re seeing buyers with significant housing equity making larger down payments and all-cash offers, while first-time buyers continue to struggle to enter the market.”

Implications for Wealth and Policy

Homeownership remains the primary vehicle for wealth building in America. Shannon McGahn, NAR’s executive vice president and chief advocacy officer, noted that “delayed or denied homeownership until age 40 — instead of 30 — can mean losing roughly $150,000 in equity on a typical starter home.”

The trend of single women outpacing single men in homeownership could help narrow the gender wealth gap over time. But it also raises questions about the long-term wealth implications for Gen Z men who are falling behind, and whether policy interventions — such as down payment assistance programs or zoning reform — can meaningfully address the first-time buyer crisis.

What to Watch

As mortgage rates hover near 7% and home prices remain elevated, the question is whether the Gen Z gender gap in homeownership will persist as this cohort ages into higher earning years. For now, the data suggests a fundamental reshaping of the American housing market — one where single women, particularly among the youngest generation, are increasingly taking the lead.