Young South Africans are buying homes solo

• Young South Africans are buying homes earlier and increasingly doing so without a partner.
• Banks are expanding zero-deposit and cost-inclusive loans to support first-time buyers.
• Urban apartments and sectional-title homes remain the preferred choice for independent buyers.

Homeownership comes before marriage‍

South Africa's youngest generation of homeowners is redefining the path to property ownership.

‍Instead of waiting for marriage or starting a family, many buyers under 35 are purchasing homes earlier in life, viewing property as the foundation for financial independence and long-term wealth creation.

According to Gavin Lomberg, CEO of ooba Home Loans, today's buyers are making homeownership one of their first major financial decisions.

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"Buying a home is no longer something that happens after people settle down. It's becoming an early step towards building financial security and long-term wealth."

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Single buyers are leading the market‍

One of the biggest shifts is the rise of single homebuyers. Despite affordability pressures and rising house prices, more young South Africans are choosing to buy on their own rather than waiting for a partner. 

Quick Stats

• 18 - 24 years: 76.9% of applications are from single buyers (68.4% in 2016)
• 25 - 34 years: 65.5% are single applicants (56.6% in 2016)
• 35+ years: 67.3% are single applicants (57.1% in 2016)

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"Across every age group, single applicants continue to dominate the market," says Lomberg. The data also shows many buyers are entering the market before starting families.

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Another key trend among buyers:

• 18 - 24: 92.5% have no dependants
• 25 - 34: 72.2% have no dependants
• 35+: 57.7% have no dependants

The traditional sequence of marriage, children and then homeownership is changing.

Banks are adapting‍

Buying on one income isn't easy, but lenders are increasingly adapting to younger buyers' financial realities.

‍Banks continue to offer zero-deposit and cost-inclusive home loans, recognising that many young professionals can comfortably afford monthly repayments but struggle to save for deposits and transfer costs.

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"Zero-deposit home loans remain widely available to younger buyers with strong credit profiles," says Lomberg.

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‍Loan Trends

Cost-inclusive loans

• 18 - 24: 0.9% to 16.1%
• 25 - 34: 0.4% to 14.6%

Zero-deposit loans

• 25 - 34: 51.2% to 59.7%
• 35+: 38.7% to 56.1%

These products are becoming increasingly important as affordability pressures continue.

Urban Living is driving demand‍

Lifestyle changes are also influencing what younger South Africans buy.

Sectional-title apartments, townhouses and secure estates have become the preferred entry point into the market thanks to lower prices, reduced maintenance and proximity to work and amenities.

Sectional Title Growth

• 18 - 24: 52.2% of purchases
• 25 - 34: 41.5%
• 35+: 30.9%

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"Urban jobs and urban lifestyles continue to favour smaller, more affordable homes," says Lomberg.

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The trend is particularly evident in the Western Cape, where average purchase prices for younger buyers often exceed R1.5 million.

Homeownership still comes first‍

Although property investment has become increasingly popular, most young buyers are still purchasing homes to live in rather than rent out.

Investment purchases account for only:

• 8.6% of buyers aged 18 - 24
• 5.9% of buyers aged 25 - 34

For most, the priority remains creating stability, financial independence and long-term wealth.

The next generation is rewriting the rules‍

According to Lomberg, today's buyers are adapting to a different economic reality rather than abandoning the dream of homeownership.

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‍"Today's young homebuyers are more likely to purchase independently, buy in urban centres and prioritise a primary residence over an investment property. They are making different trade-offs, but the aspiration remains the same."

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He believes these buyers will shape the future of South Africa's residential property market.

The Bigger Picture‍

South Africa's next generation of homeowners is changing the property market from the ground up.

Single-income buyers, flexible lending solutions and growing demand for urban, sectional-title living are reshaping residential development and financing.

For developers, banks and estate agents, the message is clear: tomorrow's property market will increasingly be driven by independent young professionals who see homeownership not as the end of the journey, but as the beginning of building long-term wealth.

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