Single women are now 25% of first-time homebuyers

What you'll learn ✅

• Why single women now out-earn single men among first-time homebuyers — and what that income flip means for qualification
• The real obstacles single-income buyers face, including DTI mechanics and denial rate disparities
• Which loan types and down payment strategies work best for single buyers
• How to strengthen your mortgage application and move fast in a competitive market

Single women now account for 25% of all first-time homebuyers in the U.S. — the largest share ever recorded for this group, according to NAR's 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. For the first time in NAR's history, single women first-time buyers also out-earn single men, reporting a median income of $73,000 versus $66,400. If you're a single woman thinking about buying a home, the data reflects what's already true on the ground: women are not waiting. They are buying strategically, making financial sacrifices, and building wealth on their own terms.

...in as little as 3 minutes — no credit impact

What the data actually says

In 1985, single women made up 11% of first-time homebuyers. Today that number is 25% — more than double, and a share that has grown steadily for four decades. Among all buyers (not just first-timers), single women represent 21% of the market versus just 9% for single men. That's a more than 2-to-1 ratio, a gap that has remained consistent even as overall home sales have slowed.

The median age of a single woman first-time buyer is 44, slightly older than the overall first-time buyer median. That's not a hesitation signal — it's a financial readiness signal. Many of these buyers have spent years building credit, paying down debt, and saving for a down payment on one income. The income milestone matters, too. This is the first year in NAR's survey history that single women first-time buyers have reported higher median earnings than single men. That shift is not incidental. It reflects decades of rising educational attainment and labor force participation among women.

It's also worth understanding how recently the legal landscape changed. It wasn't until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 that women could obtain a mortgage without a male co-signer. For context: some of today's single women homebuyers were already born when that law passed. The 25% share is not just a statistic — it's what happens when a group that was legally excluded from credit gains 50 years of access.

Why single women are buying now

Stability is the most commonly cited reason, and it shows up clearly in the NAR data. Single women with children at home are especially motivated — homeownership provides school district continuity, a sense of permanence, and an asset that builds value over time. But the motivations extend well beyond household logistics.

Declining marriage rates have shifted the calculus. More women are reaching their late 30s and early 40s without a spouse and with no intention of waiting for one before building wealth. According to Pew Research Center, the share of adults who have never been married has risen steadily over the past 25 years, and the effect on homeownership behavior is measurable. Single women are not treating homeownership as a consolation prize. They are treating it as a wealth-building decision made on their own timeline.

What's notable — and honest — is that NAR's data also shows single women are more likely than single men to make financial sacrifices to get there. Cutting non-essential spending, picking up a second job, moving in with family temporarily to save faster. These are real tradeoffs, and they reflect genuine commitment to a goal.

The real challenges: what to know before you apply

Buying on a single income changes the math in a specific, mechanical way: there is only one debt-to-income ratio (DTI) calculation, and there's no second earner to offset it. DTI is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward total monthly debt payments — including the proposed mortgage. Most conventional loans require a DTI at or below 43–45%, and the lower it is, the more loan scenarios open up. When two people are applying together, their combined income raises the ceiling. When you're buying alone, every dollar of existing debt has more weight.

That's not a reason not to apply. It's a reason to prepare your numbers before you do. A LendingTree analysis of HMDA data found that sole female mortgage applicants face a higher denial rate than sole male applicants. The gap isn't enormous, but it's consistent — and it's driven largely by factors you can influence: credit score, DTI, and debt composition. Home prices have also outpaced income growth significantly; according to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data, home prices increased by approximately 207% between 2000 and 2024, compared to roughly 155% income growth over the same period. That gap is real, and it matters for how much home a single income can support.

See what you qualify for without affecting your credit.

How to strengthen your application as a single buyer

Your minimum credit score for a mortgage is the floor, not the target. A score of 620 may qualify you for certain loan types, but a score above 740 typically unlocks better pricing across the board. If you're in the 650–700 range, it's worth taking three to six months to pay down revolving balances before applying — the improvement to your DTI and rate tier can be significant.

Paying down revolving debt serves two purposes: it improves your credit utilization ratio, which lifts your score, and it reduces your monthly debt obligations, which lowers your DTI. If you're carrying credit card balances at high utilization, that's the first place to focus. A guide to improving your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) when applying for a mortgage can walk you through the mechanics in more detail.

Getting pre-approved before you start house hunting is not optional in the current market — it's a competitive necessity. In many markets, single-income buyers are competing against two-income households with more purchasing power. A verified pre-approval letter signals to sellers that you are a serious, qualified buyer. It also tells you your actual price ceiling, so you're not shopping in the wrong range. Understanding the difference between pre-qualified vs pre-approved matters here.

Loan options worth knowing

Not every loan type fits every buyer, and the differences matter more when you're working with a single income.

Conventional loans with 3% down — specifically Fannie Mae's HomeReady program — are designed for buyers at moderate income levels and allow down payments as low as 3%. HomeReady also counts income from a non-borrower household member in some cases, which can be useful if you have a roommate or family member contributing to household costs. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) — a monthly fee added to your payment when you put down less than 20% — is required, but it drops off once you reach 20% equity.

FHA loans require a minimum 3.5% down payment and have more flexible DTI allowances than conventional products, which can be an advantage if your debt load is moderate. The tradeoff is mortgage insurance premium (MIP) — the FHA equivalent of PMI — which behaves differently: upfront MIP of 1.75% of the loan amount is added at closing, and annual MIP is paid monthly for the life of the loan in most cases. A comparison of FHA vs conventional loans can help you weigh which structure fits your situation.

VA loans are available to eligible veterans and active-duty service members with no down payment required and no PMI. If you've served and qualify, a VA loan is almost always worth exploring first. For everyone else, down payment assistance programs exist at the state and local level and are frequently overlooked. What is down payment assistance is a good starting point — some programs are grants, some are deferred loans, and eligibility varies by income and location.

Use a mortgage calculator to run scenarios across different down payment amounts and loan types before you commit to a direction. The monthly payment difference between 3% down and 5% down may be smaller than you expect — or larger. Running the numbers first removes the guesswork.

How Better fits into this picture

Buying a home alone means you're managing everything yourself — the paperwork, the timeline, the decisions. There's no co-borrower to divide the tasks or share the mental load. Better's fully online platform is built for exactly this kind of buyer.

The application process happens entirely in your Better account: upload documents, track your loan status, and lock your rate without scheduling a branch visit or waiting on a loan officer's availability. For single buyers managing the process between work hours and weekends, that flexibility is practical, not just convenient. Nearly 8 out of 10 people who apply for a loan with Better get approved¹ and nearly half the people who bought a home with Better was a first-time homebuyer.²

Speed also matters in ways that directly affect your competitiveness. A single-income buyer going up against a two-income household in a multiple-offer situation needs every advantage. A fast, verified pre-approval letter carries weight with sellers. It's leverage in a negotiation.

...in as little as 3 minutes — no credit impact

FAQ

Can a single woman get a mortgage on one income?

Yes. Lenders evaluate your application based on your individual credit profile, income, debts, and assets — not your marital status. Single-income buyers successfully obtain mortgages every day. The key variables are your DTI ratio, credit score, and the size of your down payment. How to get pre-approved for a mortgage walks through exactly what lenders are looking at.

How much do I need to earn to buy a home as a single buyer?

There's no universal income threshold — it depends on home price, down payment, existing debts, and current interest rates. A general guideline is that your total monthly housing costs (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) shouldn't exceed 28–31% of your gross monthly income. Use a mortgage calculator to model specific scenarios, or see the breakdown for how much down payment for a house at different price points.

What credit score do I need as a single woman homebuyer?

The minimum varies by loan type — typically 620 for conventional and 580 for FHA with 3.5% down. But qualifying is different from being well-positioned. Scores above 740 generally access the best rate tiers, which directly affects your monthly payment and the total cost of the loan. See the full breakdown at minimum credit score for mortgage.

Is it harder for single women to get approved for a mortgage?

HMDA data analyzed by LendingTree shows sole female applicants face a modestly higher denial rate than sole male applicants. The gap is primarily explained by credit and income factors — not by lender discrimination — which means the levers are largely in your control. Strengthening your credit score, paying down revolving debt, and keeping your DTI below 43% are the highest-impact moves before you apply.

What first-time homebuyer programs are available for single women?

Most first-time buyer programs are income-based rather than gender-specific, but single buyers often qualify because they're applying on one income. State housing finance agencies, HUD-approved nonprofits, and some employers offer grants toward down payment and closing costs. Tips for first-time home buyers covers what to look for and where to start.

You don't need a co-borrower to close

The 25% share isn't a trend that's about to reverse. Single women are not a niche segment of the mortgage market — they are one of its largest and most active groups. The data confirms what individual buyers have been proving for years: homeownership on a single income is not only possible, it's a deliberate choice made by financially prepared, goal-oriented people.

The path involves real tradeoffs — DTI constraints, higher competition against two-income buyers, the logistics of managing a transaction alone. None of those are deal breakers. They're inputs that respond to preparation: building your credit, understanding your numbers, getting pre-approved before you start shopping, and knowing which loan structure fits your situation.

The market isn't waiting, and neither are you.

Get pre-approved in as little as 3 minutes. No impact to your credit score.