In South Africa, women over 55 are the fastest-growing segment of property buyers, particularly single women purchasing homes from middle age onwards, according to bond originator BetterBond. These women are increasingly investing in freehold homes priced between R500,000 and R1 million, with a focus on stability and long-term ownership. This aligns with a global trend of older women valuing homeownership later in life.

Single women currently own 83,418 more homes than single men in South Africa, often as repeat buyers. This trend is supported by FNB, which revealed that women made up 53% of property purchases, with many transactions occurring in economic hubs such as Gauteng and the Western Cape. Women are now more active in the property market, comprising 55% of first-time homebuyers in 2023, up from 53% in 2022. Despite lower participation in the labour market and gender pay disparities, women are finding ways to invest in property.

Life expectancy for South African women is nearly 70 years, and many are outliving their partners. This has prompted some to downsize to smaller, more manageable homes, while others seek homes that can accommodate extended family members. From 2019 to 2024, single women purchased 61% more freehold homes than sectional title properties.

Though gender pay gaps persist—women earning only 76% of men’s wages—this has not deterred them from property investment, often driven by a desire to secure stability for themselves and their children, with 45% of children in South Africa living with their mothers.