Single Women First-Time Homebuyers Now Earn More Than Men, NAR Data Shows
In a significant shift, single women purchasing their first home now have a higher median income than their single male counterparts, according to a major industry report. Data from the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, which tracks transactions from July 2024 to June 2025, reveals that single female first-time buyers have a median income of $73,000. This compares to $66,400 for single men. This finding reverses a long-standing trend; the prior year’s report had shown men earning more, with a median of $87,500 versus $73,100 for women.
“It’s the first time we’ve seen this in the data,” noted Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research for NAR. She cautioned that it remains uncertain whether this represents a new, sustained trend, but the flip is a notable development in the housing market.
The Growing Financial Influence of Single Women in Housing
This income shift aligns with the growing market presence of single women. They now account for 25% of all first-time homebuyers, a substantial increase from 11% in 1985. In contrast, single men make up 10% of first-time buyers, up from 9% in 1985. Among all homebuyers, 21% are single women compared to 9% who are single men.
Lautz attributes this trend to a strategic understanding of homeownership’s role in wealth building. “I think [single women] understand how homeownership is a wealth-building tool. They make sacrifices,” she said.
Women’s Homeownership Share Has Soared Since the 1970s
Women’s path to independent homeownership has been shaped by key legislation. While the 1968 Fair Housing Act aimed to end discrimination, it was the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) of 1974 that was pivotal, allowing women to qualify for mortgages based on their own credit and income. The impact is clear: Pew Research Center data shows that in 2022, single women owned 58% of the nearly 35.2 million homes held by unmarried Americans, while single men owned 42%.
The Persistent Broader Gender Pay Gap
Despite the NAR data showing a reversal within the specific cohort of first-time buyers, the overall national pay gap remains. According to Pew Research Center, in 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned. This marks slow progress from 81% in 2003 and 65% in 1982. The NAR finding highlights a complex picture where targeted financial behavior among homebuyers can temporarily offset broader economic disparities.
Age, Sacrifice, and the Drive to Own
The NAR report also sheds light on the demographics and behaviors of these buyers. Single women who are first-time buyers have a median age of 44, compared to 39 for single men. For repeat buyers, the gap narrows, with women at a median age of 63 and men at 64.
Certified Financial Planner Nicole Romito, a partner at Private Vista in Chicago who specializes in advising single women, sees this as part of a larger pattern. “What I see is women are not waiting to either get married or find a life partner before moving forward and accomplishing their financial goals,” Romito said. She noted that for her clients, “Homeownership is generally the top goal — or if not, one of the top three goals.”
The High Cost of Entry: Sacrifices and Savings
In today’s market, saving for a down payment and closing costs is a formidable challenge. Higher mortgage rates, soaring prices, and limited inventory have pushed monthly payments out of reach for many. The median price of an existing home
