From Habitat Detroit staff, to volunteers, to homeowners, we don’t have to look far for inspirational female figures, stories, and mentors during International Women’s Month! Just take a look at our last three home dedications. All three homeowners are single mothers who put in years of hard work–not just for themselves, but for the future of their children. And that’s just in the last three months!
This growing number of female homeowners at Habitat Detroit is especially motivational given the relatively short history of female homeownership. Until 1900, women could not even own property in all 50 states. On top of that, women couldn’t get their own mortgages (without a male co-signer) until 1974! How far we’ve come!
We want to take a moment and recognize all of the women out there who have had a hand in making Habitat Detroit what it is today!
Did you know…
Across the U.S., single women own 2.71 million more homes than single men
In 1981, 73% of home buyers were married couples, 11% were single women and 10% were single men. Today, those shares stand at 59% married couples, 19% single women, and 10% single men.
Single women own and occupy 10.76 million homes in the U.S.
It wasn’t until 1900 that all states allowed women to hold property in their own names
It wasn’t until 1974 that women were apply for and obtain mortgages on their own —without a male co-signer
The median age of a single female first-time homebuyer is 38, compared to 37 for a single male
Women spend about 2% more when they buy a house than men and sell for 2% less. As a result, they realize 1.5% annualized lower returns, or $1,600 a year, on their homes. Sounds small, but it adds up to $20,000 over 13 years (the U.S. average length of homeownership)
