Field Guide to Women Homebuyers
(Updated November 2005)
According to the State of the Nations Housing: 2004 report, compiled by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, “social and economic trends have given women a more powerful presence in housing markets. Between 1980 and 2000, the number of households headed by unmarried women increased by almost 10 million." The same study, however, also states that, “because women still earn less on average than men do, they are more likely to face housing problems than either married-couple households or households headed by unmarried men.”
This Field Guide contains books, Web sites, statistics, reports and journal articles on women and new homeownership trends, homebuying needs and special issues concerning women and financing. (D. Winchester, Information Specialist)
Contents:
Women & Homeownership Trends | Home Repair & Construction | Financing Homeownership | Useful Websites | Books, eBooks & Other Resources
Statistics on Women and Homeownership
The single female segment of the homebuyer population accounted for 18% of all homebuyers in 2004.
Single women purchased approximately one in five homes in 2003, while more than one in ten were purchased by single men.
More women (15.5 million) than men (11.8 million) lived alone. Among these, women were more likely than men to own their homes (56% vs. 47%).
About one-quarter of the nation's nearly eight million single mothers spend more than half of their incomes on housing, compared with one-tenth of households headed by single fathers.
Over the time period of 1994-2002, the number of unmarried females owning homes climbed from 13.9 million to 17.5 million.
Sources: 2006 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, (Chicago, IL: National Association of REALTORS®, 2005).
2000 census delivers insights on homeownership, (Community Banker, Mar. 2002). Q
The State of the Nation's Housing: 2005, (Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, 2005).
Women & Homeownership Trends
They're buying solo, (Newsday.com, March 16, 2007).
Single women head for homes, (Sacramento Bee, Feb. 18, 2007).
Singles taking stride in the home buying market, (The Hammond Times, Feb. 17, 2007).
As the Nation Changes, So Do Home Buyers, (RISMedia.com, Feb. 13, 2007).
A place to call her own, (Mlive.com, Oct. 23, 2005).
Single women snap up homes, (Nashville City Paper, Oct. 19, 2005).
Appeal to women targets growing market, (Houston Business Journal, Sept. 29, 2005).
Girl Power, (Austin Business Journal, Jan. 7, 2005).
What Trends and Issues Will Most Impact Real Estate in the New Year?, (RIS Media, Dec. 2004).
How to guard unmarried couples' home purchases, (Detroit News, Nov. 29, 2004).
Single Women Become A Force in Home-Buying, (Wall Street Journal, Nov. 24, 2004).
Single women strong on the scene as new breed of home buyer, (Houston Business Journal, Nov. 19, 2004).
A helping hand into ownership, (Star Tribune, Nov. 13, 2004).
Home alone, (Seattle Weekly, Nov. 10, 2004).
Single black women are purchasing more homes, (San Diego Union Tribune, July 11, 2004).
Women propel housing market, (Chicago Tribune, Aug. 22, 2004).
Home Repair & Construction
Do-It-Herself Redesign, (Buffalo News, Mar. 23, 2007).
Women Learn To Handle Tools of Construction Trade, (WLOX 13 Biloxi, Feb. 26, 2007).
Women are construction crew to help single mom build her Habitat home, (San Diego Union-Tribune, Feb. 24, 2007).
Female factor changes face of new-home buying, (Boston.com, Nov. 16, 2005).
Home improvement: Women customers comprise 46%, (RISMedia.com, Nov. 4, 2005).
Hardware store chains target women customers, (Sacramento Business Journal, Oct. 21, 2005).
Millions of women tackle home repair, (Texas A&M Real Estate Center, July 2004).
Women Who Project Manage Their Home Construction, RL Rouse, 2004).
Is There a 'Handywoman' in the House?, (Buzzle.com, Nov. 2001).
Financing Homeownership
Buying a home, (Hud.gov, 2005).
Home improvement financing for home buyers, (Fannie Mae, 2005).
Buying a home: Getting Financing, (MsMoney.com, 2005). Q
Buying a Home, (Women's Financial Network, 2004). Q
Goverment Offers Government Grants and Loans to Women, Minorities and the Credit Impaired, (PR Web, July 13, 2004).
Useful Websites
Fair housing laws and presidential executive orders, (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2003).
Women and housing: A status report, (Silver Spring, MD: McCauley Institute, 2003).
State of the nation's housing, (Cambridge, MA: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, 2004).
eBooks & Other Resources
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Buying solo: the single woman's guide to buying a first home, (New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2005). HF 5438 Su6
2004 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, (Chicago, IL: National Association of REALTORS®, 2004). HD 1341 N21hs
Redesigning the American dream: Gender, housing, and family life, New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Co., 2002). HD 7293 H39
10 tips for selling to female buyers, (Communique, Apr. 2000).
Americans and their homes: demographics of homeownership, (Ithaca, NY: New Strategist Publications, 1998). HD 1341 R91
Don't overlook single women buyers!, (Today's Buyer's Rep, May 1998).
Assisting women head of households to own more homes, (California Real Estate, May 1997).
Home of her own, (Georgia REALTOR®, Jan. 1997).
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Women in Real Estate
Field Guide to Remodeling
Field Guide to Buying vs. Renting
InfoCentral Blog
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The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
