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It used to be somewhat rare for a single person to buy a house, and surprisingly, it still is.
In 1981, when the National Association of REALTORS® started its Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 73% of homebuyers were married couples, 11% were single women and 10% were single men. In 2023, 59% of homebuyers were married couples, 19% are single women and 10% single men.
Will It Be Harder or Easier to Get Mortgage Approval on My Own?
Again, it depends on your situation. "That certainly can be a double-edged sword," says Kathryn Garland, first vice president for Tennessee REALTORS®, based in Nashville, about getting mortgage approval as a single homeowner.
"If you have a good credit score and a reliable income, you should have no problem getting approved for a mortgage," she says. If you don't have a great credit score and have a shakier income, Garland says that's where "having a partner to lean on can help your chances."