Galentine’s Day Spotlight: The Rise of Single Women Homebuyers

Single Women Are Winning in the Alabama Housing Market

As an Alabama Realtor, I love seeing strong, independent women building wealth through homeownership. And this Galentine’s Day feels like the perfect time to celebrate something powerful happening in real estate right now.

Single women are leading the way in today’s housing market.

According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and recent insights shared through List It Reports, single women now make up 21% of all homebuyers nationwide — more than double the share of single men at 9%, and second only to married couples at 61%.

That’s not just a national statistic. We’re seeing this right here in Alabama real estate.

A Look Back at How Far Women Have Come

It’s easy to forget that before 1974, women couldn’t even obtain a mortgage without a co-signer. The Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act changed that, giving women legal protection in lending and housing transactions.

Fast forward to 1981, when NAR first began tracking buyer demographics:

73% of homebuyers were married couples

11% were single women

10% were single men

Today, the numbers tell a completely different story:

61% married couples

21% single women

9% single men

Single women have consistently outpaced single men in home purchases for decades — even in an increasingly competitive and sometimes unaffordable housing market.

First-Time Homebuyers in Alabama

The shift is even more noticeable among first-time homebuyers.

In 1985, 75% of first-time buyers were married couples. Today that number has dropped to 50%.

Meanwhile:

Single women now represent 25% of first-time homebuyers

Single men account for about 10%

As someone who works with first-time homebuyers in Alabama every day, I can tell you this trend is very real. Women are buying their first home earlier, investing on their own, and making smart long-term financial decisions.

What This Means for the Alabama Real Estate Market

Whether you’re looking at homes for sale in Alabama, relocating to Birmingham or Huntsville, or buying your first home in a smaller community, the opportunity is there.

Single women are proving that you don’t need to wait on marriage to build equity. You don’t need two incomes to start investing in real estate. You need a plan, the right guidance, and a strategy that fits your financial goals.

And for single men buyers — there is absolutely opportunity there too. With the right loan programs, down payment assistance options, and local market knowledge, buying solo is achievable.

Celebrating Independence and Smart Investment

This Galentine’s Day, I’m celebrating the women who are securing keys to their own homes and building generational wealth in Alabama.

And if you’re thinking about buying a home in Alabama — whether you’re single, married, divorced, widowed, or just ready for the next chapter — I’d love to help you navigate the process.

Real estate isn’t just about buying property. It’s about building stability, wealth, and confidence.

Let’s make it happen.

Sources: National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 2026 report; List It Reports housing market insights, 2026.