In the United States, single Gen Z women are purchasing homes at a significantly higher rate than their male counterparts, even as overall first-time homebuying activity has fallen to its lowest level in decades, according to survey data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as reported by the Associated Press.
Gen Z Homebuying Trends
Single Gen Z women accounted for 35 percent of all homebuyers in their generation, while single Gen Z men represented 18 percent, according to NAR data covering home purchases made between July 2024 and June 2025. The survey included buyers across age groups ranging from Gen Z, defined as people aged 18 to 26, to members of the Silent Generation aged 80 to 100. Among all generations surveyed, Gen Z recorded the largest share of single women homebuyers.
Despite this trend, Gen Z overall accounted for only 4 percent of all homebuyers during the survey period. At the same time, the share of first-time homebuyers across age groups dropped to its lowest level since records began in 1981.
Challenges for First-Time Buyers
First-time buyers often face additional financial hurdles because they do not have equity from previous homeownership to help fund down payments. That was the case for Bri LaFluer, who spent years saving half her salary and working two jobs before purchasing a house at the age of 24. “I’ve always been a really independent person and I just wanted my own place to have peace and quiet by myself,” LaFluer said, as quoted by the AP.
Her search began in 2021 during a period of intense housing competition fueled by historically low mortgage rates. She eventually purchased a three-bedroom house in Baldwinsville, New York, in 2023 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. LaFluer, a content creator for a video game company, said living with her mother and paying lower rent helped her save approximately $20,000 for the down payment.
Financial Pressures on Gen Z
Gen Z homebuyers continue to face multiple challenges, including lower earnings at early stages of their careers, student loan burdens, and lower marriage rates. According to NAR, the median annual income of Gen Z homebuyers stood at $76,000 in 2024, the lowest among all generations surveyed. Affordability also remains under pressure after years of rising home prices. The median US home sales price reached $417,700 last month, up 0.9 percent compared with a year earlier.
However, younger buyers are also increasingly relying on family support and exploring grants and first-time buyer assistance programs. According to NAR, one in ten Gen Z homebuyers also used retirement savings from their 401(k) plans toward down payments.
Alternative Paths to Homeownership
Mariah Berry followed a different route, saving aggressively while many of her peers were spending on lifestyle activities. “I did not go out and was driving an old beat-up car,” Berry said. “It was not fun.” Her savings eventually helped her buy a two-bedroom home in Charleston, Tennessee, in 2023 at the age of 23. “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?'”
Long-Term Gender Trends
Across generations, single women continued to outpace single men in home purchases. Single women accounted for 25 percent of all homebuyers during the July 2024-June 2025 period, while single men represented 11 percent. The trend has persisted for decades. According to NAR, the share of homes bought by single women peaked at 22 percent in 2006 during the housing boom, while single men's share reached a peak of 12 percent in 2010.
Jessica Lautz, NAR's deputy chief economist, said there are several reasons behind the long-term shift. “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.”
