The face of homeownership in America is changing, at least according to the recent statistics I keep running across.
For starters, single women are increasingly buying their own homes -- presumably, in many cases, instead of waiting to first meet Mr. (or Ms.) Right, with whom they would jointly buy a home. According to an article in TheProvidence Journal, after married couples, single women made up the next-largest category of homebuyers in 2005. They clocked in at 21% of homes bought, versus 9% for single men and 61% for married couples.
Businesses aren't ignoring this phenomenon. Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) has designed its stores to appeal to women, and you'll find many tutorials offered at outlets like Home Depot (NYSE: HD) to help women learn to paint, build, and fix things.
Homebuilders are getting involved, too. Companies such as KB Homes (NYSE: KBH) and Pulte (NYSE: PHM) are adding features in their buildings that appeal to women, such as upstairs laundry rooms, bathroom skylights, security elements, built-in vacuums, gourmet kitchens, and more. Even Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE: MSO) has designed homes geared for women.
So this all sounds good, right? Indeed, homeownership is rising nationwide, with almost 70% of Americans owning a home -- a record level. But the news isn't so good for some groups. According to a USA Today article, "The rate of homeownership for working families with children is lower than in 1978 . The surprising trend is being driven by a combination of factors: soaring housing costs that have overshot wage increases, higher health-care bills, and a rise in the number of single parents." The article added: "Minority working families have struggled the most. Their homeownership rate has stagnated at 45%, far below white families (71%) as of 2003, the last year for which figures are available."
These numbers reflect serious problems. One possible help might lie in proposed legislation. The House and Senate tax conference committee is looking into permitting the deduction of home mortgage insurance, for example. Stay tuned for other proposals aimed at boosting homeownership. It's a worthy goal; for many Americans, their home is their biggest investment, and one that can serve them well for the rest of their lives.
If you're interested in homebuying and homeowning issues, visit our Home Center, which features lots of money-saving tips and even some special mortgage rates.
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Longtime Fool contributor Selena Maranjian owns shares of Home Depot, which is a
Motley Fool Inside Value
pick. The Fool's disclosure policy is always hospitable.
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