Men versus women: Who buys more homes?

From the Community…

• 
  Posted by fools_and_sages Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:12pm PST

  So if female homeowners are becoming more prevalent, why did a FEMALE customer service rep with my mortgage administrator insist on calling me "Mrs." when I'm not married and I'm a DOCTOR? Why did she ask if I wanted my husband to be able to access the account? I got angry with her after the 80th time she called me Mrs. even after I told her to address me a doctor. I actually said, "I'm sorry. But I have told you several times that I'm not married and I'm a doctor. And you should not assume that a woman cannot buy and own a home on her own without a man's involvement."

  Single women are buying houses for a few reasons. First, many women are saying single longer or even never marrying. Second, the blog mentions a set of jobs that pay well and enable women to buy houses on their own.

  But one thing I don't agree with is the women and nesting idea. Twenty years ago, men were expected to build a nest (buy a house ) and move his wife in after they were married. Why, suddenly, it is the woman's job to make the nest and attract the man?

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Dubs Thu Nov 26, 2009 10:29am PST

  Posted by fools_and_ sages

  "But one thing I don't agree with is the women and nesting idea. Twenty years ago, men were expected to build a nest (buy a house ) and move his wife in after they were married. Why, suddenly, it is the woman's job to make the nest and attract the man?"

  Why not?

  Times change and recessions influence genders differently especially in fields where one gender dominated field becomes outsourced for cheaper labor which is pretty much what has been happening with the manufacturing industry in this country. When these occupational gender demographics get thrown into the unemployment mixer we still are complacent with holding onto traditional courtship expectations because the retention of social benefits is better than taking the risks where a dynamic may change (home ownership for example). Women have choice...then they can have risk too. I'd rather see this as a partnership and a collaborative venture than solely one gender's job to have something available for the other to simply....move into.. to proceed onward justifying one's commitment to the relationship.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by fools_and_sages Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:54pm PST

  The blog mentions the cultural influence women feel to nest. I'm not sure this cultural influence exists anymore and I'm pretty sure the influence was on men to build a nest to attract a mate. I just bought a house recently and the last thing I though of was using it to attract a mate and I won't be raising nay kids in it either.

  Changing times that allow women to earn more and buy a house on their own does not necessarily equate to a logical extension of the nesting idea to female motivations for buying a house. This assumption is laden with traditional ideals that equate houses with attracting mates and having a family. Even in our current economic state, buying a house is viewed as an investment not a mate magnate. This has certainly been true for the last 20 or so years for single men, single women, and married couples. So, in the end, the potential profit involved in owning a house has come to outweigh the social ideals of nesting and my point becomes that nesting is an outdated concept that doesn't apply anymore.

  Even if it did remotely apply to either men or women. . why would a woman buy a house to attract a man? If the other sexist ideals that nesting implies actually hold true-- that women look for men who are strong, independent, and capable of supporting her and her children-- then I wonder why a woman would buy a home and risk attracting a mate who could be dependent and incapable of supporting a family?

  I'm not saying that all single men who don't own a house are potential house husbands. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with being a house husband. I am saying that the nesting concept implies that the one who provides the home also provides for everybody who lives in that home. Again, this proves that the nesting concept is completely outdated and useless because today's family can struggle even when both parents work full-time jobs and the couple buys the house together.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by vixenvena Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:51am PST

  fools, get another agent. I wouldn't deal with someone that didn't take me seriously as a buyer.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Iamhome Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:50pm PST

  Dear "fools",

  I agree with you...now a days the women buy the home and then attract the man. Can someone say freeloader? As of a year ago, my mom recently remarried, they both had homes. She sold her's and moved into his house! That's how it should be done! I think any other way you can create your own monster, the man will treat you like his mom and not his wife!

  Report Abuse