After three years of decline, single women and first-time homebuyers have significantly increased their share in the housing market within the past month. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, single women have reached homeowner levels unseen since 2011, while first-time buyers climb to the second-highest percentage in years.

Young adults and single women “for years have indicated a strong desire to own a home of their own, as well as an inclination to live closer to friends and family,” NAR Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, reported. “With job growth holding steady and credit conditions becoming somewhat less stringent than in past years, the willingness and opportunity to buy is becoming more feasible.”

Although married couples continue to make up the largest share of homebuyers with 66 percent, single women and first-time homebuyers have certainly increased their share. This year, single women represented 17 percent of the buyer market—that’s a two percent increase since the end of last year. First-time homebuyers increased even more, rising from last year’s 30-year low of 32 percent to 35 percent, the highest level since 2013.

Yun explained that this shift in homeownership for first-time and single women homebuyers may be a result of today’s high rent rates in many parts of the country. “Demand increased over the past year because of a robust job market for those with a college degree and renter fatigue at a time when homeowners continue to see their equity rise.”

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