According to a study by the National Association of RealtorsÒ single women are buying homes at twice the rate of single men and this trend is influencing home building design. This marketing niche has grown since changes in Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage qualification requirements and the tax laws have helped make it possible for more single women to purchase homes.
The increase in women buyers and the fact that the number of households headed by single females is climbing has resulted in new home layouts and decorating designs from home builders interested in appealing to their tastes.
Doris Pearlman, president of Possibilities for Design, a Denver-based consulting firm, told CBS MarketWatch that "women have more buying power, and the number of women in powerful roles is growing."
The features of new home design and layout specifically designed for women include:
- Storage--lots of it--in garages, closets, and pantries;
- Granite and ceramic surfaces;
- Cotton and linen fabrics;
- Real wood laid on the diagonal; and
- Sage green and gray tones.
Pat Rioux
