Mascot | Mascot | Getty Images
Women in their 20s are buying more and more homes, according to a new study. You may want to combine the purchase with another financial task: creating an estate plan.
According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2026 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report, based on transactions between July 2024 and June 2025, more than a third, 35%, of Generation Z home buyers are single women. Generation Z buyers were between 18 and 26 years old.
The proportion is up from 30% last year and is the highest of all age groups, the study shows. Additionally, nearly twice as many 18% of Gen Z shoppers are single men.
More about women and wealth:
Financial advisors say that despite acquiring what may be their largest asset at the moment, these new homeowners may not have taken steps to protect it.
An estate plan is part of this consideration. In simple terms, it is a series of legal documents that outline both what should happen to your assets – including your home – when you die, and who has the authority to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated at any time beforehand.
“There are the rare people who think about it … but the vast majority buy the house and then get pushed right back into their 40- or 50-hour work weeks,” said certified financial planner Jeff Judge, managing partner at Chesapeake Financial Planners in Forest Hill, Maryland.
60% of women do not have an estate plan
According to the Pew Research Center, single women have long made up a larger share of homeowners than single men, although the gap is narrowing. In 2022, women owned 58% of the nearly 35.2 million homes owned by unmarried Americans, compared to 42% for men, the group said. In 2000 it was 64% and 36% respectively.
However, according to Trust & Will’s 2026 Estate Planning Report, 60% of women have no estate planning documents, compared to 50% of men. And among all single people, the share of those who have a will – an important estate planning document – is 16%, compared to 37% of married people.
At the same time, homeownership can help advance estate planning: 40% of homeowners have a will, compared to 16% of renters, according to the Trust & Will report.
Ways to leave your home to an heir
For single homeowners, a will is typically the document in which you designate who will inherit your home in the event of your death. If you die without a will – a so-called “dying will” – or you do not name an heir to your home, state law determines who inherits the property.
“Make sure you at least have a will,” Richter said. “This ensures that if something happens, the house goes to the person you wanted it to.”
Note that assets transferred through the will are generally subject to probate. This is the process of settling an estate in which the will is confirmed by the court, taxes and debts are paid, and assets are distributed to the heirs.
Make sure you have at least a will.
Jeff Judge
Managing Partner at Chesapeake Financial Planners
All accounts where you can name a beneficiary – e.g. B. retirement accounts, health savings accounts, life insurance, retirement accounts — typically go directly to those beneficiaries and bypass probate, Judge said.
For houses, you can title the house under more than one name. This can help joint buyers but would mean sharing the property if you are single. However, in some states, you may be able to attach a legal document to the deed, allowing the home to be transferred directly to the heir and avoiding probate, he said.
Depending on your situation, a position of trust may also make sense. Some people place their home—and other assets that may be subject to probate—in a revocable trust. This allows you to manage your assets during your lifetime and then pass them directly to the intended beneficiary without the need for probate.
In any case, it may not make sense to leave your home to multiple heirs.
“I strongly recommend not giving the house to more than one person,” said CFP Alex Caswell, founder of Wealth Script Advisors in San Francisco. “It is an asset that is difficult to divide, and if there are disagreements about how to handle it, chaos can ensue.”
You can also indicate in your will that you want the home to be sold and the proceeds to go to the heir or heirs, Caswell said.
Thoughts long before death
Some parts of an estate plan address non-death considerations that still help protect your home. For example, you should give someone you trust the power of attorney to manage your finances if you are ever unable to work due to an accident or illness.
This person could access your bank account and pay your bills, including your mortgage.
“They don’t have access unless you have a legal document saying they have access,” said CFP Eric Roberge, founder of Beyond Your Hammock in Boston.
It’s also smart to give someone health care power of attorney, he said, so they can make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so.
Additionally, it’s worth purchasing long-term disability insurance to protect your income, Roberge said. Typically, these policies provide a percentage of your income if you are unable to work for an extended period of time due to an injury or illness.
“It is the most underrated but extremely important insurance for a working-age person,” he said. “If you can’t work… it’s important to have this kind of insurance so you can pay your bills, especially if you own a home.”
Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.