More women are planning to buy a home alone rather than with a partner, signalling a dynamic shift in the way women are approaching property ownership.
Research from Skipton Building Society found 37% of women who aspire to be first-time buyers intend to purchase alone, above the 35% who plan to buy with a partner.
Skipton’s own mortgage data found that in 2024, it had 11.5% more applications from solo female buyers than solo male buyers, and this trend has continued so far in 2025, with the number of females buying alone outpacing solo male buyers by nearly 7%.
Among those intending to buy solo, half (50%) cited a desire for independence as their primary motivation. A further 41% want full control over where they live and 36% view homeownership alone as a long-term investment in their future.
However, Skipton said despite this, many solo buyers face a disproportionate number of barriers. The most common challenge is saving for a deposit on a single income (38%), while 37% raised concerns around affording legal and survey costs alone. A similar proportion (36%) reported difficulties with finding properties within budget in a preferred location and 34% cited securing a mortgage without a second income.
Those currently saving to buy alone have, on average, £9,420 set aside, but expect to need around £27,414 to realistically get on the property ladder.
Jen Lloyd, head of mortgage products and proposition at Skipton Building Society, said: “Our research shows while solo buyers are incredibly motivated, they face a disproportionate number of barriers, from saving for a deposit on one income to shouldering all the upfront costs alone.
“The challenges are significant and too often overlooked. The risks and pressures of buying alone can feel amplified, but that shouldn’t prevent people from pursuing this path. It’s clear there’s demand for more flexible, accessible products tailored to today’s buyers.
“We also need to do more to raise awareness of existing support, so solo buyers feel seen, supported, and confident in their homeownership journey.”
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