Young women in Generation Z are purchasing homes at significantly higher rates than men their age, according to new research from the National Association of Realtors.
Data shows single women represented 35% of all Gen Z homebuyers, while single men made up just 18% of purchases in their age group. The findings come from a survey examining home purchases between July 2024 and June 2025.
The study looked at buyers across multiple age groups, from Gen Z (ages 18-26) to the Silent Generation (ages 80-100). No other generation showed such a large gap between single women and men buying homes.
Generation Z buyers, defined as those born between 1999 and 2011, still represent only 4% of total home purchases during the survey period. The data also reveals that first-time buyers of all ages have dropped to their lowest share since record-keeping began in 1981.
First-time purchasers typically lack equity from selling a previous property to help with down payments. Bri LaFluer experienced this challenge firsthand when she bought her home in 2023 at age 24, after saving half her income while 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,” said LaFluer, now 27.
LaFluer began house hunting in 2021, but extremely low mortgage rates created fierce competition that drove up prices. She eventually purchased a three-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom house built in 1900 in Baldwinsville, N.Y., about 15 miles from Syracuse, for $175,000.
“I feel like it was meant to be and this just ended up being the perfect house for me and my dogs,” she said.
Working as a content creator for a video game company, LaFluer lived with her mother while paying modest rent, which accelerated her ability to save $20,000 for a down payment.
Young adults seeking homeownership encounter several financial obstacles: they’re typically early in their careers with peak earning years still ahead, often unmarried, and may carry student debt burdens.
Gen Z buyers reported the lowest median annual income at $76,000 as of 2024, compared to all other generational groups, according to the association’s data.
Years of rapidly increasing home values have made affordability even more challenging. Although price growth has decelerated and some metropolitan areas have seen decreases, most markets continue experiencing upward price pressure. The national median home sale price reached $417,700 last month, representing a 0.9% increase from the previous year.
However, Gen Z purchasers are more likely to receive family financial support and often research community grants or assistance programs for first-time buyers. One in ten used funds from their 401(k) retirement accounts for down payments.
Some buyers rely entirely on personal savings efforts.
Mariah Berry took this approach while her college classmates enjoyed typical post-graduation activities.
“I did not go out and was driving an old beat-up car,” said Berry, a social media content creator. “It was not fun.”
Berry’s frugal lifestyle enabled her to purchase a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Charleston, Tennessee, a small community about 45 miles from Chattanooga, in 2023 at age 23.
While Berry had long desired homeownership, the goal became more pressing after she and her boyfriend spent time in temporary rentals or staying with friends.
Berry acquired her unit in a ranch-style duplex for $218,000, financing the remaining balance after a $7,000 down payment with a 30-year mortgage at 6% interest.
“I do think it’s pretty frickin’ awesome that I’m a homeowner and that I became a homeowner at 23,” she said. “I will say that after I put in the offer, I wanted to puke. I was like, ‘Oh my God, did I do the right thing?’”
Berry is now considering purchasing the duplex’s other half.
“That could be a good opportunity for us to have and like rent out half of it,” she said.
The survey findings reflect a broader pattern of single women achieving homeownership at higher rates than single men.
Across all generations, single women comprised 25% of all buyers during the July 2024-June 2025 timeframe. Single men represented 11% of total purchases.
This trend dates back at least to 1981. During the mid-2000s housing boom in 2006, single women reached their highest share at 22% of purchases. Single men peaked at 12% in 2010.
Researchers say multiple factors contribute to why single women consistently outnumber single men in homeownership across age groups.
Women currently exceed men in college enrollment, potentially leading to higher earning potential, explained Jessica Lautz, the association’s deputy chief economist.
Women also demonstrate strong motivation for homeownership as a means of securing independence, something historically difficult to achieve alone.
“It wasn’t until the 1970s where women were legally protected to have a mortgage on their own,” Lautz said. “And they have embraced this and been very strongly embracing this.”
