Why More Single Women in America Are Turning to Home Sharing

Earlier this year, we worked on an article (Can Social Media Algorithms Predict Your Ideal Partner?), in which we discussed the sudden rise of marketing home-sharing in recent Zillow and real estate commercials. Today, my single mother, 62, received a notice in the mail titled “This is Home Sharing.” On the back of the flyer, it reads:

"Do you have a spare bedroom or extra space in your home? Our FREE Home Sharing Program may be the answer. We can help you find a responsible, compatible guest to move in and share expenses. You’ll earn extra income while gaining companionship."

While this is not a new concept, it’s no longer considered a last-ditch effort to save your home or supplement your income. It’s now being marketed to older single women, but my guess is that, eventually, it will be more heavily marketed to younger single women (ages 25-55). The commercials we see now have already started this trend—but why? And what does this mean for you, the single woman in 2025?

Apps like Bumble BFF may soon look to capitalize on this trend, offering BFF Home Sharing options for those actively looking for a friend who could potentially become a roommate. But as most of us know, the economy is in shambles, and while we were hoping for some relief, it doesn’t appear to be coming anytime soon.

Related articles: What To Keep In Your Wallet To Attract Money
Related articles: How to Make Money as an Influencer

As of early 2025, the median home price in the United States is projected to reach approximately $410,000, reflecting a 2% increase from the previous year, according to Reuters. For single women, affording a home at this median price can be particularly challenging. Assuming a 20% down payment, the remaining mortgage would be around $328,560. With an average 30-year fixed mortgage rate projected at 6%, this translates to an estimated monthly payment of around $1,970.00, excluding taxes and insurance.

In 2023, the overall median household income was $80,610. Single female householders generally earn less than this median, which can further complicate efforts to afford homeownership—unless you’re working multiple jobs and have multiple streams of income. As mentioned previously, home sharing used to be a last-ditch effort to supplement income for many new homeowners or renters—those who did not have a two-family home.

But now, it may be a necessity, and while it can be cost-effective, it comes with several psychological disadvantages. Some of these include increased stress and conflict, social overload and isolation, compromised sleep and productivity, emotional drain from different personalities, lack of privacy, and even long-term psychological fatigue. When you find yourself constantly adapting to the needs of others, it can contribute to emotional exhaustion over time, making it harder to focus on personal growth and mental well-being.

Related articles: The Hidden Cost of Dating Apps: Time, Money, and Emotional Investment
Related articles: Types of Financial Planning

Can living with someone be a stepping stone to eventually settling into your own place? Yes and no. Most people who adapt to home sharing fall into the inevitable trap of lifestyle creep. If you find that you’re earning $3,400 a month and saving an extra $1,000 from splitting your rent, you’re more likely to spend the money elsewhere—whether on food, due to a lack of privacy and not feeling encouraged to cook at home, or on traveling and other expenses outside of your home. When you have a roommate, you’ll seek to do more activities outdoors, which means spending more money on transportation and so forth.

Home sharing and its rise in popularity are not solely about helping the American people save money—it’s designed so that you’re living in a cramped two-bedroom space that you will slowly come to loathe. A chaotic and unpredictable home environment can also make it harder to develop healthy routines and self-care habits. Many of us fall victim to this once we begin to self-reflect, believing that we’re falling behind in the social race somehow.

If you’re like me and have no desire to resort to home sharing, then it’s a good idea to start thinking of ways to be proactive and earn additional income while you’re still in undergrad or living with your parents. No one prepares you for the financial hardships that come with living alone—rent, insurance, car payments, phone bills, food, toiletries, and so on. It is your responsibility to start small. Consider putting away $500 a month while you’re still at home with your parents and see how you manage. If you are living a lifestyle that cannot be sustained without extra income, then it’s safe to say that you’re living above your means and should consider alternative ways to make more money.

SWITCH JOBS OFTEN.
Once you’ve established yourself as an asset to a company and you’re not being placed on performance reviews, it’s a good idea to either leave the company or request a pay raise. At my last job, I was making $32,000 a year and threatened to leave because I had to work two jobs just to survive. One day, I decided that was no longer feasible—one of those jobs would have to pay me a livable wage, or I would quit.

Needless to say, my daytime job increased my salary to $45,000 a year, allowing me to leave my second job. But when another position in the company opened up, I applied and was hired, bringing my salary to $60,000 per year. Later, I found that my heart was no longer in it, so I moved on to my current position, where I started making $65,000 per year. Since then, I have invested in stocks and life insurance policies and will be closing on my first home by the end of the year. I am 31 years old.

Hard times can happen to anyone—no one is immune from struggle, and it can occur at any point in our lives. You should never allow yourself to be tethered to one situation for too long if you’ve either outgrown that position or that stage in your life. Life is about evolving, gaining new experiences, and truly living.

Home sharing should always be a last resort, and if it’s something you’re considering, do not go into it expecting it to be a permanent solution. My mother receiving this flyer at the age of 62 is baffling to me and, in my opinion, somewhat disrespectful. It’s as if, in America, you’re never expected to have solitude or be able to sustain yourself independently at any point in your life. That is absolutely ridiculous.

We have a few more articles on wealth building that you can check out below.

Related articles: Smart Money Moves Every Single Woman in Her 30s and 40s Should Know
Related articles: How Burnout Is Affecting Romantic Connections in Millennials and Gen Z

by Riley Cook