More single female homebuyers are expected in 2016

Prior to the housing crisis, single females played a large part in the nation’s home buying market, out-buying their single, male counterparts.

However, after the housing crisis, mortgages were harder to obtain. The number of single female homebuyers began- and continued- to drop, hitting 15 percent in 2015, down from 21 percent in 2009.

Yet, with the housing market back on track, it seems that single women are looking to make their comeback, according to Bloomberg.

Since 2012, women have made up the majority of respondents to potential homebuyer surveys by Redfin. This is according to more than 17,000 surveys. While the surveys did not ask for respondents’ martial status, Bloomberg reported that when comparing the results to Census data, it would appear that more respondents are not married.

The Census also reported rising income for single women. Rising income is a huge factor in this data, as it allows single women to afford the purchase of homes with one income. In at least 10 major U.S. cities, the number of women making more than $100,000 a year has increased between 2012 and 2014, while decreasing for men.

Many of the buyers are single mothers or widows, Jessica Lautz, managing director of survey research for NAR told Bloomberg. “They are making sacrifices financially because they have a really strong desire to be a part of a community.”

Despite higher wages, single women have a lower household income, which typically sends them to the same price range as investors searching for rental properties, according to Lautz. Investors did not purchase as much in many local housing markets in 2015, and if this trend continues, there could be more affordable properties for single women.