Remember June Cleaver decked out in a dress and a simple strand of pearls waiting for her hubby, Ward, to get home? June didn’t make decisions, that was Ward’s job. After all, according to June, he was a man and knew better. Fast-forward five decades and the role of women has dramatically changed. Women have taken control of their own lives; become savvy entrepreneurs, business leaders, creative professionals, domestic goddesses and decision-makers. And many single women are making the decision to buy a home.

According to the National Association of REALTORS^® 2008 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 20% of homes purchased last year were bought by single women compared to 10% purchased by single men. Nearly one quarter of first-time buyers were single females while 12% were single men. Among repeat homebuyers, single women took 17% of the pie chart, while single men purchasing repeat homes weighed in at 9%.

Rosemary Scardina, CEO of the Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS^®, has seen more and more single women purchasing homes since she began her career in real estate 25 years ago. “Over the last decade, our members are seeing an increase in the number of single women buying homes,” says Scardina. According to the National Association of REALTORS^® 2008 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, single women are just that – single with diverse circumstances. They may have never been married, are widowed or are divorced either with or without children. Unmarried couples have their own category in the Profile of Buyers and Sellers.

“Single women no longer feel that they have to wait for Mr. Right in order to become a homeowner,” says Scardina. “Women enjoy buying the home they want with no need for compromise. They may choose to change the house and design the décor to their personal style and taste.” According to the National Association of REALTORS^® 2008 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 44% of both single men and women report that their primary reason for buying a home was their desire to own a home. A change in family situation ranked as the second reason for 14% of single women and 10% of single men to purchase a home.

The Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers also examines the prior living arrangements by adult composition of household. The results show that 49% of both single men and women previously rented an apartment or house, with 33% owning a previous residence.

“If you’re a single woman, now is the time to take the plunge into home ownership,” says Scardina. “Interest rates are at an historic low with mortgage monies available, FHA loans are available with as little as 3.5% down payment, qualified first-time homebuyers may receive up to an $8,000 tax credit and there are homes available on the market for under $100,000 to over $1 million.”

If you’re interested in finding the perfect house for your lifestyle and tastes, contact a member of the Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS^®.

This article is provided courtesy of the members of the Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS^®. Visit us at www.lehighvalleyarea.com and check out our open houses at www.lehighvalleyopenhouses.biz