Saving for a Down Payment Is Hardest for Single Homebuyers

Depending on the location, it can take the typical single homebuyer between 11 and 30 years to save a down payment for a median home, more than twice the time it would take for a couple.

When evaluated by metro, the cities with the greatest difference between what a single person can afford versus what a couple can afford are Portland, Oregon and Sacramento, California. Couples are able to afford between 73 to 75 percent of homes in both cities, while a single buyer can only afford between 6 to 8 percent of homes, per Zillow's research. Indianapolis was found to be more favorable to single buyers, as saving for a down payment takes fewer than eight years.

After the down payment is saved, singles are faced with fewer affordable options because they have smaller budgets. A typical single buyer can afford a home up to $176,100, less than the national median home value – which means fewer than half – in fact, 45 percent – of all U.S. homes are affordable for her. A married or partnered couple, by contrast, could afford 82 percent of all homes.

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