Are buying houses!
You don't need to have a ring on it to buy a house! Via giphy
Growing up I remember thinking my life would take a certain course. I’d graduate from school, fall in love, get married, buy a house, & have a family. That’s what I expected, what most of us girls expected. Apparently, someone forgot to tell the universe. In 2012, I was 27, single, underemployed, and living with my brother. I kept waiting to meet “the one” so the rest of my life to begin.
Statistically, I wasn’t alone. The government reported that the average age for women to get married (first timers only 😉) is currently 27.4. Considering why my parents got married that number was closer to 21, that’s a pretty big shift.
Via giphy
After my brother got engaged (and seeing too many engagement posts on facebook 💍) I got mad. I was tired of waiting, waiting for the universe to drop Mr. Right into my life. Tired of waiting for the rest of my life to get started. I decided in that moment I was going to do something about it.
Since forcing a man to marry you at gunpoint is frowned on, my next best idea was to buy my own house. Because really…who wants to live with literal newlyweds? 9 months & 3 real estate agents later I was the proud owner of a tiny little house, purchased with my own money.
It wasn’t easy and wasn’t nearly as fun as HGTV led me to believe. But, it was the best decision I have ever made. Not only did I get a new career out of it, but I got to experience what true independence felt like. I also learned TONS.
And guess what? We single ladies are a trend. The national association of realtors have reported it here, here, and here. Currently single women make up 17% of all home buyers. What about the boys? Single men only make up 7%. Hello! That means that we’re buying homes at twice the rate as our male peers. Why are we buying? Because, despite the rebound of the housing market, it’s still cheaper to own then rent in the majority of America. One statistic that make me angry? Bloomberg reports that women tend to buy homes at a lower price point. Why? I’d like to say it’s because we’re savvier, thriftier, or just plain smarter. But, in reality, the wage gap continues to haunt us.
I personally think that we need to make that number increase. Little girls need to know from an early age that they don’t have to wait for a man to make important life decisions or plan their finances. How can we do that? In true Nerdy Girl fashion, through knowledge.
When I started down the path to buying a home, I felt pretty damn confident. Not only had I recently seen a family member go through the same process, but I was nerd. If anyone could hack their way through it, it was me! Head meet silver platter, because I got schooled. And that my friends is why I’m a real estate nerd today. Our goal is to make sure that everyone (especially the single ladies) has a better understanding of the homebuying process. That’s why we are writing a special guide to help our buyers out. Check back soon for our Single Ladies Guide to Homeownership!
Via giphy
