Top trend: Developers focusing on what women want

We all know that single women have become a major force in the SA property market over the past few years, and now account for almost as many home purchases as couples or partners.

But not as much has been said about how they are actually shaping the form of new housing delivery as developers respond to their particular preferences and demands.

And our experience is that these extend well beyond the security, personal safety and affordability concerns they have in common with the majority of homebuyers.

They include, for example, a location that is not only close to work and amenities such as shops, green spaces, public transport and schools or daycare centres, but also within easy reach of their existing community of family and friends. This speaks to the fact that they want convenience but not at the cost of personal connections and is stimulating the development of new housing within established areas.

When it comes to home size and layout, single women buyers tend to be very practical and prioritise kitchens that are both functional and good looking, clinical bathrooms, spacious entertainment areas and storage space, and will only pay for extra bedrooms if they have children.

On the other hand, they will often seek out homes where they feel comfortable and happy and will generally show more appreciation for architectural features, natural light and overall ambience than other buyers. And developers are already responding by including more high-quality finishes and fittings in smaller studio and one-bedroom apartments.

The majority of single women homebuyers also prefer low-maintenance homes and his leads them to purchase new builds, especially in Sectional Title complexes, rather than pre-owned properties. Such homes also address their security needs and are often also more affordable because there is no transfer duty payable.

However, developers have noted that if they wish to attract single women with children, they should plan to provide appropriate facilities within the bounds of their complex or estate, such as garden spaces, playgrounds and even a daycare or after-school centre.

Single women buyers also often look to the future, anticipating possible changes in their life circumstances or family size by assessing the potential for appreciation in the value of the property and the surrounding area. They want to know about plans for other residential or commercial developments or infrastructure improvements that could affect the future resale value of their home.

And finally, developers and originators have noted that single women are likely to explore various home loan options before buying and to make more use of housing subsidies and other financial assistance than other categories of buyers. Appreciating that they usually only have one salary coming in, they are also better than most at buying well within their budget and allowing for the additional costs of home ownership such as property taxes, insurance and levies.