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 the member's nar.realtor login.

Single Home Buyer Statistics

According to the 2019 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

• First time single buyers are more likely to be females
• Single female buyers made up 17% of first-time home buyers
• Single male buyers made up 10% of first-time home buyers
• Single home buyers comprised 11% 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 58 for repeat buyers).

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® 2019 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Single Buyer Demographics

The Rise of Single Buyers and How They Will Impact the Industry (Builder, Oct. 11, 2019)

‘Investing in Themselves’: Single Female Homeownership is Booming in New Orleans (Nola.com, Apr. 15, 2019)

Single Women are Killing the Real Estate Game: Here's How 4 women Did It on Their Own (ABC News, Apr. 1, 2019)

Single Home Buyer Tastes

What Gen Zers Really Want When Buying a House (Yahoo!, Nov. 13. 2019)

These Are the Most Popular Must-Have Features for First-Time Home Buyers, According to a Survey (Real Simple, Oct. 29, 2019)

More Single Women Are Becoming First-Time Home Buyers (The Balance, Oct. 24, 2019)

What Millennial and Baby Boomer Homebuyers Disagree on Most (MoneyWise, Sep. 17, 2019)

How Millennials are Reshaping the Luxury Home Market (Realty Biz News, Jun. 12, 2019)

The Home Feature Millennials Love Most: You'll Never Guess What It Is (realtor.com®, Apr. 9, 2019)

Advice for Single Buyers

5 Tips for Buying a Home as a Single Woman (Exhale Lifestyle, Sep. 10, 2019)

Buying a House on a Single Income (Investopedia, Aug. 3, 2019)

What the Experts Say: Buying a Home on a Single Income (The Mortgage Reports, Feb. 2, 2019)

The Guide for Single Women Homebuyers (Magnify Money, Jan. 18, 2019)

eBooks & Other Resources

eBooks.realtor.org

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

The Everything Homebuying Book (Kindle, eBook)

Home Buying Kit for Dummies (eBook)

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 (Kindle, eBook)

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