Beth Scharwath, REALTOR® | 30 Years Serving Hattiesburg
Published: May 31, 2026
Quick Answer: Single women are now the second-largest group of homebuyers in the country — about 25% of all buyers, more than double the 11% who are single men. In Hattiesburg, I see it across the whole spectrum: young first-time buyers, and a steady wave of single senior women right-sizing out of a larger home. You don’t need a partner or a big income to own a home here — you need a plan.
The picture most people carry of a homebuyer — a young married couple — is decades out of date. More and more, the person signing at the closing table is doing it on her own.
And it’s not a blip. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, single women have been gaining ground as homebuyers since the early 1980s, and they now trail only married couples as the largest buyer group in America. Here in the Pine Belt, I’ve watched it happen one closing at a time.
How many homebuyers are single women now?
A lot more than most people guess.
Single women make up about 25% of all homebuyers — single men account for just 11%. Among first-time buyers the gap is similar: roughly 25% are single women versus 10% single men. And while the homeownership rate among single women held steady around 51% last year, the raw number hit a record high — more than 20 million single women now own their homes.
In other words, this isn’t a trend that’s coming. It’s already here, and it’s been building for forty years.
Are young women really outpacing young men?
Yes — and by a wide margin at the youngest end.
The newest NAR data shows single Gen Z women are buying homes at roughly twice the rate of single Gen Z men — about 35% of Gen Z buyers versus 18%. No generation has a larger share of single women buyers. Young women in the Pine Belt are watching rent climb, doing the math, and deciding they’d rather build equity than hand it to a landlord.
What about older single women?
This is the part I see most in my own business, and it’s the half of the story the headlines miss.
A large share of single women buyers are at the other end — widowed, divorced, or simply on their own later in life, selling a house that’s gotten too big and right-sizing into something that fits the life they’re living now. The data backs it up: widowed women have about a 73% homeownership rate, tend to stay in their homes an average of 18 years, and have a median age around 63.
I see them at Chapel Hill regularly — women selling the family home and building or buying something smaller, lower-maintenance, and easier to live in. They’re often equity-rich, which gives them options a lot of buyers don’t have. (If that’s you, here’s my full guide to downsizing your home in Hattiesburg.)
How do single women afford a home on one income?
Strategically. The income gap is real — single women buyers earn a median of about $58,000 a year versus roughly $69,000 for single men, so women tend to put a larger share of their pay toward housing. It’s a tighter budget, but it’s a trade many make gladly for a front door that’s theirs.
Two things work in your favor here. First, Hattiesburg home prices sit well below the national median, so a given income stretches further in the Pine Belt than it would in most of the country. Second, single women tend to play the long game — staying put, paying down the loan, and letting rising values turn the home into real equity over time.
What financing helps solo buyers in Hattiesburg?
You may need less cash up front than you think. The programs that make solo buying work here:
- USDA loans — zero down. Many areas around Hattiesburg, especially in Lamar and Forrest County outside the city core, qualify for USDA’s rural development loans, which can mean no down payment at all.
- FHA loans — 3.5% down. A low-down-payment option that’s forgiving on credit and widely used by first-time buyers.
- Mississippi Home Corporation assistance. The state offers down-payment and closing-cost help for eligible buyers — worth a conversation before you assume you can’t swing it.
- Conventional with equity. If you’re a downsizer bringing proceeds from a sale, a large down payment can shrink the loan and soften today’s higher rates.
A short conversation with a good local lender will tell you which door fits — and you may be closer to ready than you assume.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re buying your first place in your twenties or selling the family home to right-size in your seventies, you are not an exception to the market anymore — you are the market. The women I work with aren’t waiting for permission or a second income. They’re being consistent, playing the long game, and building real wealth through the front door.
If you’re thinking about buying solo in Hattiesburg — your first or your next — let’s talk about what’s actually possible. And if you’re new to the area, start with my guide to moving to Hattiesburg.
Beth Scharwath | REALTOR® | RE/MAX Real Estate Partners | (601) 606-3001 | bethscharwath.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I buy a home on a single income in Hattiesburg?
A: Yes — many people do, on a median income around $58,000. Hattiesburg’s home prices run below the national median, and low- or no-down-payment programs like USDA and FHA make a single income go further here than in most of the country.
Q: What’s the best loan for a first-time single buyer?
A: It depends on where you’re buying and your credit. USDA loans offer zero down in eligible areas around Hattiesburg; FHA needs 3.5% down and is flexible on credit; and Mississippi Home Corporation offers down-payment assistance. A local lender can match you to the right one.
Q: Are single women really buying more homes than single men?
A: Yes. Single women are about 25% of all U.S. homebuyers versus 11% for single men, and the gap is even wider among Gen Z buyers (about 35% versus 18%). More than 20 million single women now own their homes — a record.
Q: I want to downsize but I’m on my own — where do I start?
A: Start by understanding two numbers: what your current home is worth today and what a smaller home or new build would cost. Many single downsizers are equity-rich, which opens up options. Communities like Chapel Hill offer smaller, lower-maintenance homes built for this stage of life.
