The rise of woman homebuyers: Transforming the South African property market

THE face of the average homebuyer in South Africa is changing, and increasingly, it is female, from single professionals to entrepreneurial mothers and retirees, and they are transforming the market, said REMAX Southern Africa regional director and CEO Adrian Goslett.

- EDWARD WEST

Their influence is driving change across buyer priorities, development planning, and agent strategy across the country," he said on Wednesday.

Standard Bank head of Home Services Toni Anderson said their home loan data showed women had consistently made up 70% of all home loan clients in the past 19 years, whether as joint or sole applicants.

However, in a noteworthy shift, nearly 40% of all main applicants for home loans today are women.

"Even more compelling is the independence with which women are now entering the market. In the past two years, 66% of female main applicants bought homes without a co-applicant, signaling a shift in the housing markets," said Anderson.