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16 | TH E M R EP O RT 16 | TH E M R EP O RT COVER STORY compared to about 28 percent of men in the same age group. Mark Fleming, Chief Economist of First American, said this increasing education lends itself to higher income levels. "As more women reap the benefits of their education, I would expect to see homebuying among this group increase," Fleming said. It's likely to keep increasing, too. According to Hepp, women with higher degrees are less likely to marry men without similar educa- tion levels. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows college-educated women are also less likely to be married in general. A Helping Hand W hile more education typically means higher incomes, that's not the only way females are upping their financial secu- rity in lieu of marriage. According to Hepp, millennials and Gen Xers are also more likely to receive help from their parents for a down payment than previous generations were. "This is due to the home equity wealth accumulation among baby boomers who are now in position to help their children and willing to do so," Hepp said. According to the 2016 Generations and Boomer Survey from the California Association of Realtors, 53 percent of boomers said they would help their kids with a down payment, while 24 percent said they already did. "I think for any single buyer, and particu- larly women since they still earn less than men for the same job, buying alone can be especially challenging in the current environ- ment where they may be competing against dual-income couples, cash buyers, investors, and other buyers who are less budget con- strained," Hepp said. Because of this, single-women buyers may be more sensitive to changes in the interest rates. Fortunately, rates have been relatively favorable despite the Fed's recent increases. Going forward though, if the rates increase notably, Hepp said the share of women buy- ing alone could drop. Solo Parenting W omen are significantly more likely to be single parents than their male counterparts—another influence likely push- ing single-female homebuying upward, said Nela Richardson, Chief Economist at Redfin. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were about 12 million single-parent house- holds in the U.S. in 2016, and more than 80 percent of those had a female at the helm. Data provided by Seiler shows women are four times more likely to have a single-parent household than men. Seiler said when people have children, they want to be more settled down and live in better areas, and that's one of the reasons that this group is more motivated to buy homes. "But, those shifting trends don't mean that women don't want their piece of the American dream," Richardson said. "Women are embracing the single life, excelling in their careers, and feeling empowered to purchase a home on their own terms, without feeling like they need to be married first." What a Woman Wants W hat are these single females looking for in the housing market? Accord- ing to Lautz, 20 percent of Americans have considered moving out of their local com- munities and into more affordable areas. Single-female buyers—and those who are watching their pocketbooks—might look to the Midwest and South areas, where home prices are more within reach. "When single women purchase homes, they want the financial and psychological stability homeownership provides," Lautz said. "For single-female homebuyers, affordability is key, as they are single-income earner households. Single-female buyers could be more attracted to areas that are out of city centers as they look for a home that fits her family's needs." According to Hepp, the continually strong home price appreciation, which is due to lack of inventory, serves as a struggle for single women house hunting. "There is not only the supply issue for women buying alone and increased competi- tion from other buyers, but also price increases which may price them out of the markets where they would like to purchase," she said. No matter the reason behind it or the market that suits single women best, the ever-changing society continues to grow in favor of female independence. Looking back at the nation's history and discovering from industry experts the reasons that are driving women to feel liberated provides knowledge and insight to the progressing industry. But for a simple explanation to the question, "Why are single women buying homes?" Just say, "Because they can." NICOLE CASPERSON is the Associate Editor of DS News and MReport. She graduated from Texas Tech University where she received her M.A. in Mass Communications and her B.A. in Journalism. Casperson previously worked as a graduate teaching instructor at Texas Tech's College of Media and Communications. Her thesis will be published by the International Communication Association this fall. To contact Casperson, email: nicole.casperson@thefivestar.com.