Single women becoming a force in home ownership across the country

Forget Prince Charming. Women simply don’t need to rely on men any longer to join the force of homeowners.

The number of single females buying their own home has more than doubled in the last 10 years, and they outnumber single men buyers at a rate of 2 to 1, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Many single women couldn’t buy their own homes 20 or 30 years ago. Lenders saw them as credit risks, but the times have changed. Better jobs and higher wages have closed the gap between men and women who are interested in owning a piece of the American Dream.

With more than $1 trillion in annual income, the single woman has become a force to be reckoned with in the country today, creating a demographic that is ready, willing and more than able to take on the responsibility of homeownership.

And it isn’t just single moms or divorcees that are in that niche, many women who are widowed and several who have never married are drawn to communities such as Lora’s Place in Newnan, and Georgetown in McDonough. Both of which are Bob Adams Homes Lawn Care and Low Maintenance Communities, and have reported a significant influx of single women owners over the last year alone.

While housing statistics aren’t subcategorized for the older single female homebuyer, it is obvious that they have housing needs.

Communities offering lawn care and low-maintenance exteriors are more popular than ever, and the idea of cluster living is inviting for several reasons. The distance between homes is much less than in most other neighborhoods, and there’s a safety factor that doesn’t exist in other, more traditional communities. It also lends itself well to creating an atmosphere very much like family. Women with similar interests are forming book and gardening clubs, and many have become “walking buddies.”

Builders would be wise to pay particular attention to this fast-growing group of “househunters.”

They could be missing out on a huge opportunity to cater to nontraditional buyers like single, widowed and divorced women in the market today, which brings a familiar quote to mind:

“Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels.” — Faith Whittlesey