NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.

Single Home Buyer Statistics

According to the 2018 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

• First time single buyers are more likely to be females
• Single female buyers made up 18% of 2017 first-time home buyers
• Single male buyers made up 10% of 2017 first-time home buyers
• Single home buyers comprised 25% of home purchases in 2017. Single female buyers averaged 54 in age (35 for first-time buyers and 60 for repeat buyers), and single male buyers averaged 52 in age (33 for first-time buyers and 59 for repeat buyers) (Ex. 1-18).

For more statistics on single home buyers, including reasons for purchasing a home, average income, desired type of home and neighborhood, see the National Association of REALTORS® 2018 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Single Buyer Demographics

What Men and Women Homebuyers Can Agree On (Real Trends, Feb. 14, 2019)

Single Females Remain a Force in Market, While First-time Buyers Continue to Struggle, According to Realtor® 2018 Buyer and Seller Survey (National Association of REALTORS®, Oct. 29, 2018)

Single Millennials Were Most Likely to Buy A Home in These Cities in July According to Ellie Mae Millennial Tracker (EllieMae, Sep. 5, 2018)

The Rise of the Older, Single Female Home Buyer (The Wall Street Journal, Jun. 28, 2018)

Single Home Buyer Tastes

Those grouped in the category of "single home buyers" exhibit a great diversity of tastes and requirements. Understanding some key home requirements for the varied needs within this group will assist you in matching your single home buyer clients with their ideal property.

What Millennial Buyers Really Want (Mansion Global, Sep. 13, 2018)

It's a Match! The 10 Best Cities for Singles to Live, Play—and Buy a Home (realtor.com, Aug. 20, 2018)

The Real State of Real Estate (Consumer Reports, Jan. 2016)

According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Statistics State of the Nation’s Housing report, published in 2012, “Homeownership rates for non-family households, which include a substantial share of single persons, have also change relatively little [from the mid-2000s], (p. 18).” To view the full report, click here.

Marketing to Single Buyers

Marketing experts will tell you there are some rule-of-thumb Dos and Don'ts when marketing to singles. The articles below offer some ideas to help you walk the walk and talk the talk of single buyers.

How Agents Can Better Serve Single-Women Homebuyers (RISMedia, Sep. 19, 2018)

For Some Young Singles, Mortgage Easier to Get than a Credit Card (Herald Net, Sept. 14, 2014)

Some Singles See Value in Mortgage Payment (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 31, 2014)

Advice for Single Buyers

9 Things Single Home Buyers Must Know (HSH, Nov. 12, 2018)

Buying a Home as a Single Woman: Safety, Lifestyle, Other Considerations (NOLO, Oct. 29, 2018)

Smart Strategies for Single Women Trying to Buy a Home (MarketWatch, Apr. 6, 2018)

Smart Moves: Tips for all the Single Buyers (The Valley Breeze, July 15, 2014)

Single and Thinking of Buying a Home: Here’s Some Advice (Money, June 24, 2014)

eBooks & Other Resources

eBooks.realtor.org

The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:

Kiplinger’s Money Smart Women (Audiobook)

Buying a Home When You're Single (eBook)

Financing Your Condo, Co-Op, or Townhouse (eBook)

Home Buyer's Checklist: Everything You Need to Know—But Forget to Ask—Before You Buy a Home (eBook)

Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.

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