Single Income, No Kids? The Rise Of the SINK Homebuyers And How Much You Need To Buy Solo

The group vice presidential candidate JD Vance called "childless cat ladies" are taking charge of their future and purchasing homes in large numbers.

Single women have historically led the way in single-person homeownership, according to Realtor.com senior economist Ralph McLaughlin.

In 2023, single women accounted for 19% of all homebuyers. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that single women own 20.3 million homes in the U.S., compared to 14.9 million owned by single men.

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"Single-female homeownership tends to be in more aged markets and at least partially reflects the fact that females tend to outlive males and that older females are more likely to be divorced and widowed," McLaughlin said.

Real estate agents report that many of their clients are female SINKS (single income, no kids).

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"I have a lot of SINK clients and most of them are women between the ages of 35 and 65," said Stacy Miller, a real estate agent with Re/Max Fine Properties in Phoenix.

Miller said many of her older SINK clients relocate to Arizona from other states to be closer to grown children, grandchildren or aging parents or because they are newly divorced or widowed.

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SINKs prioritize safety and security and are often drawn to areas where they can get more value for their money.

"Regardless of gender, single-person homeownership tends to be higher in smaller, less expensive markets, presumably where it's easier for single-income households to afford homes," McLaughlin said.

In 2022, eight of the top 10 metro areas for single-family homeownership had median home prices below the national average.

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The top five metros for single female ownership are Barnstable Town, Massachusetts; Topeka, Kansas; Rocky Mount, North Carolina; Wildwood-The Villages, Florida; and Ocala, Florida.

Lake Havasu City, Arizona, is the top spot for single male ownership and Ohio is the most popular state for single male homeowners.

The No. 1 advantage of being a SINK homeowner is the freedom to decide solely based on personal preferences.

"In my experience, SINKs' decision-making process is much more efficient because they don't have to compromise to the wants or needs of another or ‘be on the same page' with a co-buyer," said Robert Dodson, sales manager and broker at Charles Burt Realtors in Joplin, Missouri.

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SINKs also don't have to factor in school districts, giving them more flexibility in choosing where to buy. They can focus on urban, walkable areas with vibrant nightlife without prioritizing a kid-friendly neighborhood.

For SINKs, the ability to afford a home on a single income is a major consideration when deciding whether to purchase a property.

The typical monthly mortgage payment – based on a median list price of $438,950, a 6.49% mortgage rate and a 20% down payment – is about $2,222, not including taxes, insurance and other fees.

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