In the early years, married women had no property rights and had to pay property taxes but couldn't vote on the rates. In the late 1960s, lenders required single women to sign documents stating they were not pregnant and could not become pregnant. Single women now face more manageable obstacles, Mundy said. The first of which is simply the fear of being rejected. So many women are afraid of even trying to buy a home.
Credit sometimes can be a challenge.
Circumstances such as divorce, bankruptcy or no credit at all must be addressed. Income can be difficult as well. Agencies like HUD are trying to make it easier for single women to buy a house, Mundy said. Currently, there's about 150 Tri-City houses available in that price range. Using the federal FHA mortgage program, qualified first-time buyers can get a house for a 3 percent down payment.