Women Outnumber Men as Sole Property Owners in South African Metros, Data Shows

Women are strengthening their grip on South Africa's property market, outnumbering men among sole owners of non-subsidised properties, though men continue to own higher-value assets, according to property data company Lightstone.

The latest Lightstone analysis, which focuses on properties registered to a single individual, shows that for every 100 male sectional-title owners there are 130 women owners. In estates, the ratio was 112 women for every 100 men, while freehold ownership was closer to parity at 103 women to every 100 men.

The ownership trend is matched by women's participation in property financing. Mortgage originator BetterBond said just more than half of its bond applications over the past year came from women, compared with 49.89 per cent from men. With the prime lending rate at 10.5 per cent and the national bond approval ratio climbing to 63.5 per cent, "more women are making deliberate financial decisions and investing in property as part of their long-term wealth planning", said BetterBond's national head of sales, Bradd Bendall.

Lightstone's data shows that women aged 35 to 55 accounted for the largest share of women buyers in 2025, purchasing about 34,200 properties, followed by women under 35, who bought 21,400 properties, and those aged 55 and older, who bought 14,100. Most purchases were concentrated below R1 million, although about 5,900 women aged 35 to 55 bought properties worth more than R2 million.

BetterBond's figures further show that buyers spent an average of R737,000 on deposits in the 12 months to January, underlining the financial commitment involved in entering the market. "For many women, homeownership is no longer a milestone but a cornerstone of wealth creation and long-term financial security," Bendall said.