• Single women in the US are outpacing men in homebuying, the National Association of Realtors found.
• In 2024, single women represent 20% of all homebuyers, compared to 8% for single men.
• Three single women shared with BI their motivations for buying a home without a partner or a spouse.

Karla Cobreiro, 33, lived with her parents for nearly a decade after college, diligently saving to buy her own home.

"I didn't want to be house-poor or struggle financially," Cobreiro, a publicist, told Business Insider. "I waited for the right moment — when I had a higher-paying job, had saved up a large down payment, and had built a solid emergency fund.

In 2022, she purchased a 900-square-foot condo in Downtown Doral, a Miami suburb, for around $400,000. She was 31 and single.

"I didn't have a partner at the time, but I didn't think that should stop me," Cobreiro said. "So I went for it."

Cobreiro is one of many single women in the US who haven't let the absence of a relationship or marriage stop them from buying a home — an achievement long seen as a key milestone of wealth building and the American dream.

An analysis of data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that single women have consistently outpaced single men in homebuying since the organization began tracking data in 1981.

The chart below shows that since 2020, the share of single women homebuyers has continued to increase steadily, while the share of single men has declined.

By 2024, the gap has reached its widest, with single women representing 20% of all homebuyers, compared to 8% for single men.

Single women find independence in homeownership

So why are single women statistically more likely to purchase homes than single men?

Brandi Snowden, NAR's director of member and consumer survey research, told BI that it largely comes down to lifestyle choices and women's unique societal roles.

Snowden explained that many single women purchase homes because they desire independence, have experienced divorce, and are responsible for raising children.

NAR found that female buyers are typically older than their male counterparts, with the median age for single women at 60, compared to 58 for single men.

"These buyers may be recently divorced or purchasing a home not just for themselves but also for their children and parents," Snowden said.

"It's just me and this mortgage."

Cobreiro said that buying a home without a spouse has its own challenges, such as settling for a smaller condo since she's not part of a DINK household — an acronym for "dual income, no kids."

Data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances shows that DINKs have a median net worth of over $200,000. This financial advantage enables them to more easily afford housing or spend their disposable income on luxuries like boats and expensive cars.

Despite the financial benefits of a two-income household, many women have chosen to live independently in an era of increasing financial and social autonomy.

Cobreiro is responsible for a 30-year mortgage, which includes $2,500 in monthly payments and an additional $1,000 in HOA fees — all of which fall entirely on her.

"Though I live comfortably, If I get laid off, break a leg, or face an emergency, I'm on my own, she said. "I always joke to my friends, "It's just me and this mortgage."

Still, she believes the benefits of sole home ownership outweigh the risks of waiting to purchase with a boyfriend.

"I'm glad I didn't wait until I was in a relationship or married to buy a home," she said. "Owning a home with someone you're not committed to can get tricky, especially if you break up. There's no prenup; if you disagree about selling, that can get messy."

Some women say no prenup, no co-owning

New Yorker Jessica Chestler, 33, shares a similar perspective to Cobreiro.

In 2022, Chestler, a real-estate agent with Douglas Elliman and a business owner, purchased a three-bedroom condo in Williamsburg for $3.25 million.

She told BI that she viewed homeownership as an investment in her future, one she wasn't willing to risk with someone she wasn't fully committed to.

"When you're buying a home with someone else, there's obviously a lot more to consider, especially if you're not married," Chestler said. "There's always that uncertainty: What happens if you break up — how do you divide the assets?"

Chestler, who also renovated her home, said the greatest benefit of owning solo is the ability to rely on herself and the freedom to live on her own terms.

"I only had to consider myself," she said. "I didn't have to worry about anyone else's opinion. I loved the apartment, knew my numbers, and was confident I could make it work — That sense of comfort was really important to me."

Women say they don't need a knight in shining armor

Some single women who buy homes may have boyfriends but aren't waiting for a ring to start building wealth through home equity.

Take real-estate agent Ayriel Von Schert, who, in February, purchased a 2,280-square-foot townhouse for $365,000 in Mesa, Arizona, without a cosigner.

Although Von Schert, 30, is in a long-term committed relationship, she wanted to take control of her financial future.

"I think many women feel the same way: Why wait for someone else to help you achieve your goals?" she told BI.

Her decision to buy alone could pay off in the long run. Another unit in Von Schert's complex is on the market for $410,000. If it sells for that price, her home will have appreciated by about $35,000 in one year.

"In a few years, I might sell this place or keep it and rent it out while buying another property," she said. "My long-term goal is to build a real estate portfolio and earn residual income, and I feel like I'm definitely on the right path."

For now, she and her boyfriend are living like roommates, equally splitting the bills for the home, including utilities and the mortgage.

She said it's a win-win situation for both of them.

"I don't think he minds because we no longer have a landlord telling us what we can or can't do," she said.

Are you a single or unmarried woman who purchased a home? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

The American dream — like a beloved pair of pants you left in the dryer too long — is shrinking.

The idealized image of American life we know today was crystallized in the country's collective imagination in the 1930s. Since then, the idea that anyone can obtain a life that has the house with the white picket fence, 2.5 children, a lucrative career at an office that's a reasonable distance away, and the occasional trip to an enviable vacation spot has loomed large in nearly every facet of cultural and political life.

There's just one problem: The once expansive vision is getting smaller. Not only is it harder to grab a piece of it, like a bag of chips or a roll of toilet paper that has less substance every time you buy it, but even nominally achieving the dream is leaving people unsatisfied. Americans are having fewer kids, their houses are getting smaller, they're schlepping further to work, and they're spending less time on vacation.

Americans are taking notice of the diminishing returns. Among the 8,709 US adults surveyed by the Pew Research Center from April 8 to 14, 41% said that achieving the American dream was once possible but no longer. That's particularly true for younger Americans; 18- to 29-year-olds were the most likely to say that the American dream was never possible, and only 39% said that it's still possible. Their millennial counterparts felt similarly, though they were slightly more bullish on the possibility of the American dream.

At the same time, Americans are increasingly less satisfied with their personal lives, Gallup polling from January found. The share of Americans who are "very satisfied" with their personal lives has been plummeting, the poll found, and sits near record lows — other times it's gotten this bad were during the economic crisis of 2008 and its fallout in the following years. And even among those who might have achieved the American dream — higher earners with college degrees — life satisfaction has slipped.

Call it the shrinkflation of the American dream.

The central element of the American dream is owning a house. Having a roof over your head is the cornerstone of security and stability; research has found homeowners are less stressed than their renter counterparts, and beyond having a place that they can call their own, they have growing equity. But nowadays, the homes that many Americans live in rarely have enough room for a big dog — much less a picket fence.

In 2013, the median square footage of a new single-family housing unit was about 2,460. In 2015, new homes peaked at about 2,470 square feet — and then spent the next six years shrinking. In 2021, homes started to slowly get bigger again, and then they once again constricted. By 2023, the figure had fallen to about 2,180 square feet. An analysis by the National Association of Home Builders found that the share of single-family homes built with two bedrooms or fewer hit its highest level since 2012 — and the share of new homes built with four bedrooms fell to its lowest level since 2012.

Of course, homes getting a little smaller isn't necessarily a bad thing — many advocates for increasing the housing supply argue that the dedication to giant homes has made it tougher to build the number of new units that the country needs. But shrinking homes are coupled with another biting reality: Americans are paying more for less. In the same period that Americans have seen their homes shrink, home prices have grown by nearly $200,000. The median listing price per square foot was $127 in 2016; by 2024, that rose to $224 — meaning Americans were shelling out more per square foot, even as their square footage decreased. By one measure, Americans now need to work 110 hours a month to be able to afford their mortgages — meaning mortgages eat up the bulk of their earnings.

With those prices, it's no wonder first-time homebuyers are older than ever. The National Association of Realtors found that the median age of first-time homebuyers hit 38 in 2024, a record high. In 1981, the median age of a first-time buyer was 29; in 2014, it was 31.

It's not all peaches and rainbows for American renters, either. The median rent price in the US is $2,035, Zillow found. Rent.com, meanwhile, found that median rental asking prices hit about $1,619 in October. That's nearly a $300 increase from May 2019. So if renters are paying more, surely they're still at least getting some bang for their buck? Nope, apartments are getting smaller, too. In 2016, the median square footage of a new unit in a building that had two or more units was 1,105 square feet. Apartments have been shrinking since then: In 2023, new units were clocking in at a median of 1,020 square feet — and the measure reached its lowest recorded level in 2021 as housing prices and demand soared.

A house is just a house until there are people in it; only then, the saying goes, is it a home. But increasingly, American homes are occupied by fewer people. Not only is there a slight rise in single people buying a house, but also the pitter-patter of babies' feet is becoming less common in the hallways of American homes these days. The share of homebuyers without a child under 18 in the house rose to a new high of 73%. That comes as Americans are having fewer kids: The average number of births per woman in the US has fallen from nearly four in 1960 to 1.7 in 2022.

It should come as no surprise that Americans are having fewer children given the economic and social pressures working against them. If it's hard for anyone to break into the ranks of homeowners, it's even more difficult for parents. Housing costs aren't the only deterrent, young parents are also floundering amid rising childcare costs and the loss of the social connections that are critical to raising kids. At the same time, more Americans seem to be on board with choosing to go child-free. DINKs — double-income, no-kid couples — have been on the cultural rise. But just because it's harder for people with kids and more acceptable to forgo them doesn't mean that people are giving up on starting a family. Many Americans want to have children or have even more kids, but it's out of reach.

Karen Benjamin Guzzo, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who's researched the gap between the number of children Americans intend to have versus their ultimate childbearing, told me that having kids is often seen as the "last step" in accomplishing the American dream. You go to college, you line up a good job, you get married, you buy a house, and then you fill it with kids. There's a problem, though. "Every step along the way has become less and less predictable," she said.

Guzzo's research has found, in part, that Americans still expect to have children — they just don't actually have them. The way Guzzo describes it is many Americans want kids, but with an asterisk: They want kids if they can find a good partner, a good job with family leave and enough pay to afford childcare, and so on.

"People need to feel confident that the next 25 years of their lives and the world in which their children will be raised and growing and becoming adults on their own. They need to feel confident about those," Guzzo said. "And we do not do a good job right now in the United States of making people feel confident about their futures."

Part of the American dream is the ability to actually enjoy it. You can come home for dinner, spend a nice evening with your family, and maybe enjoy some ice cream in front of the TV before heading to bed at a reasonable hour.

Unfortunately, for many people, the free time is getting sapped by a mind-numbing commute. The average travel time to work in 1990 was 22.4 minutes one way. By 2023, it rose to 26.8 minutes. That may not sound like a lot, but that adds up to nearly 4.5 hours a week just commuting to work, or about 10 days a year, assuming they went in every workday. Even if they're going into the office three days a week, that's still nearly 2.7 hours a week commuting, or the equivalent of almost 6 full days a year. Meanwhile, in 1990, Americans spent just about 3.7 hours a week commuting — about 44 minutes less a week. That's a whole episode of "Real Housewives." Even on a small scale, research has found that every minute added to a commute can reduce one's satisfaction with both their job and their leisure time. Most Americans commuting are doing so by car, which can also weigh on workers' mental health — and how well they're sleeping.

And as more Americans have moved away from urban cores — perhaps in pursuit of buying a house in cheaper areas — they're living farther from work. Young families, in particular, have fled larger urban areas and are finding themselves in the farthest reaches of suburbia. If you want the American dream of that larger, cheaper house, you might be paying for it in minutes stuck behind the wheel.

Reveling in the American dream also includes unwinding away from that house and job. But even as more Americans have access to paid vacation, that doesn't mean they're taking it. In July 1980, over 10 million working Americans were on vacation. At the height of the pandemic, that number had halved. And even as more Americans went on vacation in July post-2020, the number of workers vacationing in July has essentially plateaued over the past few years.

As The Washington Post found in an extensive analysis of eroding vacation time, some of that might be chalked up to another form of shrinkflation: Workers saving their vacation days for when they're feeling sick. In a very Dickensian twist, Americans might not be going on vacation because they're too busy being sick or caring for their ill kids instead.

All of this is not to say that the American dream has gone extinct, but there's a marked shift from the idea that things will get better for each successive generation. In a country where growth, expansion, and constantly improving your lot — and your family's lot — are North Stars, a diminishing and sickly American dream is a bit of an existential downer.

After all, in a March 2023 survey of 1,019 American adults by The Wall Street Journal and NORC, 78% of respondents said they were not confident that life would be better for their kids' generation. The share not confident their kids' lives will be better has soared over the past few decades; in 2000 just 42% said the same. In short: Many Americans are feeling like the dream is slipping through their fingers.

Guzzo said that we're seeing a bifurcation of the American dream. For the ultrawealthy, the ability to accumulate the markers of the dream has never been easier. The top 1% holds just over 13% of all real estate by dollar value in the US, while the bottom 50% holds just about 10%. And, as the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta recounted in its December Beige Book round-up, lower- and middle-income consumers are scaling back their vacation plans; they're renting homes for multiple families and eating in rather than splashing out on hotels or fancy restaurants. Instead, the strength in tourism spending comes from those higher-income consumers exploring and going on cruises. For Americans in the middle, those who might have the college degree and career that could set them on that trajectory, the dream is still possible, though it may come later in life. But Guzzo said others, especially younger men without college degrees, feel the American dream has been pulled out from beneath them.

At the same time, there's a bittersweet parallel running alongside the shrinking of the American dream. For decades, things like homeownership or formal recognition of marriage were out of grasp — and, in some cases, expressly forbidden — for many marginalized groups. It's only in recent history that LGBTQ+ Americans and Americans of color have been able to somewhat catch up to their straight and white peers. But now that the American dream is within reach for these people, it's already shrinking.

Juliana Kaplan is a senior labor and inequality reporter on Business Insider's economy team.

• Karla Cobreiro, 33, lived with her parents for nearly 10 years to save up enough to buy a home.
• In 2022, she bought her first home in South Florida without the help of a partner or spouse.
• Cobreiro said solo homeownership can be challenging, but she likes not having to compromise.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Karla Cobreiro, a 33-year-old vice president at global PR firm Quinn who purchased a home on her own in 2022.

The National Association of Realtors found that from July 2023 to June 2024, single female buyers made up 20% of all homebuyers, outpacing single male buyers, who made up only 8%.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm originally from Cuba. My parents moved to the US when I was four, and I grew up in Miami.

I left at 18 for college, then moved back home after graduation to save money for my future. I'm grateful for that time, and I know many would love the chance to do the same.

Still, I didn't want to live with my parents forever.

Living at home meant sacrificing some privacy. There was commentary about what I was doing, why I was doing it, and how. It wasn't ill-intended, but it could feel like a lot at times.

By my 30s, the decision to move out really came to a head. I asked myself: "Does it make sense to keep living at home to save money, or should I take the leap and buy my own place?"

In the end, I decided to buy a home. I'd never truly lived alone, and I wanted my own space and control over my future. Most importantly, I was ready to start a new chapter.

I didn't have a partner then, but I didn't think that should stop me. So I went for it.

I was financially prepared to buy a home alone

For many immigrants, homeownership is a big part of the American dream. It was never a question of whether I would own a home, but when.

Knowing I'd be doing it all on my own, I approached homeownership with a methodical mindset.

I didn't want to be house-poor or struggle financially. I waited for the right moment — when I had a higher-paying job, had saved up a large down payment, and had built a solid emergency fund.

I lived with my parents for almost 10 years after college to save and set myself up for the expenses of homeownership: a down payment, mortgage, HOA fees, utilities, and insurance.

In November 2022, at 31, I bought a 900-square-foot condo in Downtown Doral, a suburb of Miami, for about $400,000.

Sometimes, I wish I hadn't overthought it or waited so long.

House hunting was a challenging experience

My homebuying journey started during the COVID-19 pandemic, when home prices and mortgage rates were much higher than before. By 2022, the South Florida real-estate market was incredibly hot.

Although I was financially ready, it was a tough time to be a buyer.

I found myself in bidding wars for homes, often walking away because properties were selling for $30,000 or more over the asking price, especially with so many cash offers.

I cried more about real estate than anything else. My twin sister, a real-estate attorney, helped me navigate the process. I would call her, frustrated, asking, "What's going on? This is insane! I didn't realize buying a house would be this hard."

I felt I had done everything right: I graduated from college, got a job, earned a master's degree, paid off my student loans and car, and saved 25% for a down payment. I had an 800 credit score and liquid assets — all on my own, without help from my parents.

I had checked the boxes and followed the appropriate steps in life. But despite all of that, I was met with rejection after rejection from sellers.

For a while, I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel and thought I would be stuck in my parents' house forever. But after a year of searching, my offer was finally accepted on the third home I bid on.

My condo is an investment in my future

I live in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo with a den, and my HOA fees are about $1,000 a month.

I have a 30-year mortgage with an interest rate of around 5%, and my mortgage payment is about $2,500.

The unit is smaller than if I were a DINK — someone in a dual-income household with no kids — but I think it's the perfect size for me.

The condo has a work-from-home space and enough room to entertain, plus a stunning, unobstructed sunset view.

I renovated everything except the floors, so I now have a brand-new bathroom and kitchen. My dad, who works in construction, helped with the renovations (and is always on speed dial for anything I can't handle myself).

I'm not sure how long I'll stay here, but I hope it's for a while. Maybe one day, I'll find a partner, and we'll buy a home together, and turn this place into an investment property.

I specifically wanted to live in a condo because didn't want to deal with yard work and, as a single woman, I felt it would be safer.

My building has concierge services, security, and a gated garage. The ground floor also has shops, cafés, gyms, and other stores.

When I lived with my parents, I was in a very suburban, family-oriented area where I had to drive everywhere — even just to get to the supermarket. There were no cafés or anything nearby. It wasn't the lifestyle I wanted.

Now, my place is very central, with easy highway access to anywhere I need to go in about 10 minutes. The neighborhood has a downtown vibe, is walkable, and offers plenty to do.

Buying a home alone was the right decision

Owning a home as a single woman is like a roller coaster — there are ups and downs.

Though I live comfortably, If I get laid off, break a leg, or face an emergency, I'm on my own. I always joke to my friends, "It's just me and this mortgage."

Still, I'm glad I didn't wait until I was in a relationship or married to buy a home. Owning a home with someone you're not committed to can get tricky, especially if you break up. There's no prenup and if you disagree about selling, that can get messy.

I enjoy owning alone because I can selfishly make decisions without having to compromise. I get to decorate my home however I like —and have the entire closet to myself.

Looking back, it was the right time for my parents and me to branch off and live our lives — me as a single woman in my 30s, and my parents as empty nesters.

We all have different paces and lifestyles now, but occasionally, I do miss living with them. It was nice hanging out, having my laundry done, or enjoying one of their home-cooked meals.

I love them to pieces, and I'm truly grateful for their support and encouragement.

• Jessica Chestler, 33, wanted to buy a home and was financially able to do so without a spouse.
• In 2022, she bought a three-bedroom home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for $3.25 million, entirely on her own.
• Chestler said that making all the decisions for her home herself is a double-edged sword.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jessica Chestler, a 33-year-old real-estate agent with Douglas Elliman, who purchased a home without a cosigner or spouse.

New data from the National Association of Realtors shows that from July 2023 to June 2024, single female buyers made up 20% of all homebuyers, significantly outnumbering single male buyers, who accounted for just 8%.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

During my 20s, my love life wasn't a priority. I was focused on building a foundation for my future.

I've been in the real-estate industry since I was 21 years old. It's been a 24/7 job, and I've worked incredibly hard to get where I am today.

I co-own a business with my partner, and we manage a real-estate team that operates between New York and Florida, though I primarily work out of New York.

While we handle transactions across various price points, our team specializes in high-end luxury properties, and we sell anywhere from $150 million to $300 million a year.

New York is one of the most expensive places in the country to buy a home.

People want to live here for many reasons, especially for the lifestyle it offers. It's one of the few places in the world where you can catch a Broadway show, sit at Michelin-star restaurants, or visit a local bodega — all while connecting with people from every background at any time of day.

Affording homeownership here has become increasingly difficult.

I've always recognized New York's value, so early on, I set a goal to buy a home here as soon as possible. I'm fortunate to have made that happen on my own.

I was in the financial position to buy on my own

In 2022, as a single woman, I purchased a three-bedroom condo in Williamsburg for $3.25 million with a 30% down payment. My home has 1,700 square feet of interior space and an additional 1,000 square feet of exterior space.

I saw the purchase as an opportunity to secure a valuable property at a price below its true market value.

Back then, interest rates were very low, and the real-estate market was booming — a very different world. I got a 10-year mortgage at a 2% interest rate, with a monthly payment of about $4,000.

Although I've always worked on commission and never had a traditional salary, I felt comfortable buying at that price. I knew my monthly costs, and I understood my financial situation.

The building I live in is by the waterfront and has a doorman, a variety of amenities, and relatively low monthly maintenance fees.

Most importantly, it has a tax abatement for another 15 years, so I pay just $9 in taxes each month. For most apartments of my size, the taxes are usually much higher — like a four-figure number.

I wanted to live in a place that could accommodate my future family and also serve as a solid investment. I'm confident that if I ever decide to rent or sell my condo, it will offer a strong return.

The value of Williamsburg has gone up exponentially in recent years.

It used to be more of an industrial neighborhood, but it has since been gentrified — for better or worse. Still, home prices in the area are slightly lower than in other parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

People like living in Williamsburg because there's a lot of opportunity. It's a bit calmer than Manhattan; you're close to the airports, and there are amazing parks, restaurants, and shops. It also is a large community with a strong neighborhood feel.

Buying a home without a spouse has pros and cons

I worked with a designer from London to completely gut and renovate my condo.

I don't want to share exactly how much I spent, but I worked with an Architectural Digest-level designer and architect, and it took about 18 months to finish.

Not a single thing from the original apartment remains. I updated both the indoor and outdoor spaces and added new floors throughout the home. I also added new bathrooms, updated closets, installed radiant heat, and replaced the AC unit's coverings.

I'm very happy with the results. I designed it with the vision of having a family in the future while also building it out to be my dream home.

I do receive a lot of offers from people who want to buy it in the mail, but unless someone is willing to pay an astronomical price, there's no reason for me to move. Like I said, I bought it with the intention of living here with my future family.

I had the freedom to renovate my home however I wanted

One of the benefits of buying and renovating a home alone was that I only had to consider myself.

I didn't have to worry about anyone else's opinion. I loved the apartment, knew my numbers, and was confident I could make it work — that comfort was really important to me.

When you're buying a home with someone else, there's obviously a lot more to consider, especially if you're not married.

There's always that uncertainty: What if the person you're buying with doesn't like it or wants a different lifestyle? What if they want to live in a different neighborhood? What happens if you break up — how do you divide the assets?

There's a certain trepidation — whether you're a woman or a man — when you're single and unsure about your future, which can make people hesitant to buy a home.

Since they're uncertain how their life might change, many singles choose to rent.

The harder parts of homeownership

The biggest drawback of owning a home alone is that I'm responsible for every decision and everything that could go wrong. As someone who works 24/7, this can be difficult to handle at times.

Looking back on my renovation and now knowing how intense a complete gut job can be, it would have been nice to share the experience with someone I was excited to live with.

I truly love my home; I've built my own equity here, and it's a space I look forward to sharing with someone else someday.

The old script of what is expected of women is very different now.

Like me, many other single women are choosing to buy homes independently, and it's an incredibly empowering achievement.

For those considering buying a home, I think it's important to talk to a real-estate agent to understand the process and ensure it's the right decision for you.

At the very least, it will clarify whether it's a good fit. At best, you'll have a place to call your own.