Hey Lady, Why Don't You Buy Yourself a House?

Congrats, ladies. Single women now make up 18 percent of homeowners, surpassing single men at 10 percent. This data comes to us via the National Association of Realtors' 2012 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. This trend of female buyers started in the mid-1990s, peaking in 2006 when single women made up 22 percent of homebuyers.

"Buying a home has become a powerful way to pivot from one life stage into another," explains Eric Klinenberg, author of Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone. "It's a signal, to themselves and those who know them, that they are ready to invest in themselves."

According to Redfin's real estate blog, there are three main reasons women decide to buy: "Strong desire to own her own home, need more space or want smaller home," and "relocate closer to job, school or family."

Some financial analysts worry about the implications of rushed homeownership, but it seems there's less to worry about than we may think — women are actually set to out-earn their husbands in the next generation. Although it's important each one of us makes a wise decision when it comes to renting vs. buying, it's heartening to hear that not all women wait for a man to sign a mortgage.