South African women are rewriting property market stereotypes across the board, and REALGLEN Properties – a real estate company proudly owned and run by women – could not be more thrilled. The era of women living in homes owned and run by their husbands has given way to an age of freedom and empowerment. We celebrated Women’s Month by taking a deep dive into some of the relevant facts and stats.
Lightstone data reveals that sole female buyers now significantly outnumber sole male buyers in the under-R250 000 price bracket. This makes a bold statement that women are not allowing socioeconomic challenges or patriarchal norms to prevent them from pursuing homeownership and ultimately independence. Over and above this, single women buyers are dominating every price category under the R1 million mark.
The proportion of South African homes owned exclusively by women (not by women and their partners) has increased from 30% in 2014 to 39% in 2025. This statistic refers to women who are the sole registered owners of a property – regardless of whether they’re married, in a relationship or single.
It’s also interesting to note that, according to the Lightstone data, there’s not a single price category where men buying on their own are dominating the marketplace. Every category from R1 million to above R4 million is characterised by men and women buying property together.
Here’s another way to break down the statistics: Lightstone reveals that there were approximately 200 000 residential property transactions made by natural persons in South Africa over the past year. Of these properties, 140 000 were purchased by sole buyers, and 75 000 of these were sole woman buyers. Furthermore, another 60 000 transactions involved a woman buying a property jointly with a man.
Types of properties that women are choosing to buy
Excluding those who buy properties with the help of government subsidies, 47% of women are choosing the freedom that comes with buying freehold properties. Another 37% have opted for the comfort and security of sectional titles, with homes in estates making up the balance. Across the board, this shows a slight preference for the security of sectional titles and estates.
Another interesting fact is that the share of women purchasing property on their own grows with age. At 30, they make up half of buyers, but this rises to 73% by the age of 74.
Motivations behind property purchases – and surprising impacts
It’s clear from the statistics that women from all backgrounds and walks of life are prioritising property purchases. From dynamic young professionals to those looking for security for themselves (and their children and grandchildren) in their senior years, women are taking care of themselves in ways that they have never been able to do before.
Due to the strong focus on security, this transformation in the market is having an impact on property development. Thanks to women dominating the property market, there’s now a stronger focus on sectional title and estate development. Across the country, real estate professionals are reporting a marked rise in single professional women, mothers and even retired women investing in real estate and driving demand in developments.
The upswing in women buying property isn’t unique to South Africa, and around the world, building and housing trends are being influenced by the influx of women into the market. Buildings are increasingly offering multipurpose spaces that can serve as guest rooms or home offices. In complexes and estates, features like social spaces, pet-friendly areas and maintained exteriors are being highly valued.
The trend of women investing in property is set to grow from strength to strength, and industry analysts are estimating that by 2030, at least 70% of South African home purchases will be initiated by women.
The team at REALGLEN Properties is uplifted and inspired by the ongoing trend of our South African women pursuing independence and homeownership in South Africa. If you’re a woman and you’re interested in buying a property to invest in your future, get in touch and we’d be honoured to hand over the keys to your home and future stability.
