Did you know that single women make up 20% of the home buyers nationwide? That’s according to the most recent issue of REALTOR® magazine, published by the National Association of Realtors®.
WE’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!
They report that this up 50% during the past eight years. AND, 83% of those women are choosing single-family homes versus condos! That’s exciting news.
YOU GO GIRL!
I know I’ve read where females now make up more than half the college population, so with their higher-earning power, it stands to reason that they’re in better position to afford homes. They’re also more savvy with their finances, and more aware that it’s better to place their money in a home rather than “throwing it away” by renting.
My client base probably is similar to the 20% single women statistic. It’s especially fun to work with them as they buy their first home. I know how they feel, and share in their excitement.
BEEN THERE … DONE THAT!
I purchased/built my first home in 1987 and easily remember all the up & down emotions of going through that process. Signing the initial papers was easy and didn’t seem much different than buying a car. Reality set in when I stopped by the lot on the day they dug the hole for the basement. I stood there staring at the heavy equipment, thinking “OMG, I’m PAYING for that big digger! What have I done!”
I didn’t use a Realtor® (and wasn’t one at that time) so I had to “fight my battles” with the builder alone. That builder is no longer building homes, and that’s a good thing. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had thought to use a Realtor® to be there with me and to know what to watch for.
The other thing I didn’t know was that I could have a home inspection prior to closing. That would have been a good thing to do because I found out later that some of the subs were angry with the builder and sabotaged the home as payback. They plugged the outgoing sewer line with a soda bottle, which didn’t cause a back-up into the house until a day after closing as showers were taken. Three months later (in the Fall) when I couldn’t get the furnace pilot light lit, a neighbor who worked for the gas company found that a small slice had been made in the gas line. I could have gone
“POOF” had it not been for the neighbor. The builder did similar things to the other homes, so we were on the look-out for such things.
I now have a strong urge to break out with the Helen Reddy song ………..
Copyright © 2007. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.
Hi Elaine that soda bottle story sent a shiver to the back of my neck. We have come a long way. How about Aretha and Respect too!
Happy New Year my Friend!
Regarding the soda bottle, it was UGLY! Thank goodness for Roto-Rooter and their equipment to break the bottle.
As you covered in your post about your Mom, it’s “almost” hard to remember what it was like for us 20-30 years ago – and before.
New Year will be secondary to the 7th! If we beat LSU, THEN it will be a good New Year.
Elaine – I can still sing that Helen Reddy song by heart – I am woman watch me ROAR….it’s great news and we are seeing the same thing. Excellent article pulling together all the “facts” – thanks – Cyndee Haydon
Cyndee – it was my favorite song back in the late 70′s. I’m so glad that my granddaughters don’t have to live by the same restrictions I had to when I was their age. They’re free to be or do anything they want to … including buying a house without a man’s signature.