Women drive SA’s Property Market as ownership surges

• Nearly 70% of South African homeowners are women, solo or joint buyers
• Under-40 women lead in home loan applications, says BetterBond data
• Women increasingly buy property for independence, security, and investment

Introduction - Women’s Month Spotlight

‍August is Women’s Month in South Africa, and nowhere is female empowerment more visible than in the property market. Women are not just participating, they are leading.

According to Lightstone, almost 70% of all homeowners in the country are women, either purchasing on their own or jointly with men. More than ever before, women are choosing to invest solo, using property ownership as a vehicle for independence, wealth-building, and family security.

The rise of female buyers - The Data

‍Bradd Bendall, BetterBond’s National Head of Sales, says:

‍

‍“The percentage of home loan applications from women has risen from 36% in 2016 to almost 42% in 2025. Younger women are driving this growth, with over 53% of female applications coming from buyers under 40.”

‍

‍Lightstone reports that of 140 000 sole-buyer transactions last year, 75 000 were by women purchasing alone, and 60 000 were joint purchases with male partners. Solo women ownership has jumped from 30% in 2014 to 39% in 2025, while mixed-couple ownership has dropped to 30%.

Women as a force in the market

‍Shifts in household structures, with more female-headed homes (up 2.4% in 2024), are fuelling the trend. Women now dominate the under-R250 000 market and remain strong buyers up to R1 million.

They also lead in sectional title sales at 37% and favour secure living environments, whether in estates or lock-up-and-go apartments.

While barriers remain such as pay gaps and greater reliance on subsidised housing - women are accessing the market through new developments, transfer duty exemptions, and bank products offering up to 110% home loans for qualifying young professionals.

The Driving Force

‍Women are no longer an emerging segment; they are the driving force reshaping South Africa’s residential property market.

‍

As Bendall concludes: “They’re taking ownership of their financial futures. Women aren’t just buying homes, they’re transforming the market itself.”

‍