For every dollar a single male homeowner earns on home equity, a single female homeowner earns 92 cents.
According to Redfin, who studied 79,517 home purchases in 18 major metros, single men made a median of $186,403 of equity over five years, compared to $171,313 for single women.
Redfin listed a few factors that contribute to the gender equity gap. Men have been found to spend more on homes, and buy homes in more expensive locations, where equity is more likely to swell. Men are more likely to make a 20 percent down payment, while a larger portion of women make down payments under 5 percent.
Lastly, while both genders have their share of debt problems, women are more likely to attend college (and accumulate student loans) than men, and they usually take on childcare responsibilities and costs. Debts and larger mortgage payments lessen the ability of women to spend more on homes.
The equity gap was found to be highest in markets including Seattle, Columbus, Ohio, and Baltimore. The gap was smallest in Omaha, Neb., Denver, and Portland. In New Orleans, single women earned more equity than men, the only metro in the study where this was the case.
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