In recent years, single Gen Z women have been leading the charge in homeownership. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), they made up 35% of all homebuyers within their generation, whereas single Gen Z men accounted for only 18%. The NAR survey examined purchases made between July 2024 and June 2025, covering buyers from Gen Z, aged 18-26, to the Silent Generation, aged 80 to 100. No other generation saw a higher percentage of single women homebuyers than Gen Z.
Despite this, Gen Z as a whole comprised only 4% of all homebuyers during the survey period. Among U.S. homes, the share purchased by first-time buyers across ages hit a record low since 1981. These buyers often lack equity from previous homes for down payments. Bri LaFluer exemplifies this scenario, as she saved diligently for years before buying a home at age 24. Her determination paid off amid a decelerating housing market in 2023.
LaFluer, now 27, expressed her independence when describing her home purchase in Baldwinsville, NY. “I’ve always been an independent person and wanted my space,” she shared. Her home, a three-bedroom, 1.5-bath building dating from 1900, was acquired for $175,000. Her role as a content creator for a video game company enabled her savings, supported by modest rent paid while living with her mother.
Overall, NAR findings indicate that single women have outpaced single men in homeownership. This trend reached 25% for single women and 11% for men from July 2024 to June 2025. Historically, single women have shown a greater propensity for buying homes, peaking at 22% in 2006, while single men reached their peak of 12% in 2010.
Experts, including Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief economist, note that rising college attendance among women may lead to higher incomes. Lautz also highlighted the strong desire among women for homeownership, established as a path to independence since the 1970s. “Women have strongly embraced the ability to obtain mortgages independently,” Lautz stated.
Challenges remain for aspiring Gen Z homeowners. This group is generally early in their careers, with potential income growth ahead. Many face student loan repayments. Their median annual income stood at $76,000 in 2024, the lowest among all surveyed generations. Although slower growth and regional price declines offer some respite, home prices mostly continue to increase. The median U.S. home sales price was $417,700 last month, a 0.9% rise from last year.
Gen Z buyers frequently seek family assistance or explore community grants for first-time purchases. Additionally, 10% of survey respondents used 401(k) retirement funds for down payments. Others, like Mariah Berry, relied on saving alone. Berry forwent typical college graduate lifestyle choices, focusing instead on future homeownership.
At 23, Berry purchased a two-bedroom, one-bath home in Charleston, Tennessee. Her $218,000 home purchase included a 30-year mortgage at 6% interest after a $7,000 down payment. “I think it’s awesome that I’m a homeowner at 23,” Berry commented, sharing her mix of excitement and anxiety upon making the offer. Berry is now considering buying the other half of her duplex, aiming to maximize homeownership opportunities.
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