Changing households: Percentage of married couples declines

The adult composition of home buying households has changed dramatically since 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

In 2001, 68 percent of recent home buyers were married couples. In 2010, only 58 percent of home buyers were married couples.

The share of single buyers, both single females and single males, has risen. For single males, the share of buyers rose from 7 percent in 2001 to 12 percent in 2010. For single females, the share of buyers rose from 15 percent in 2001 to 20 percent in 2010.

Unmarried couples have remained fairly constant between 9 and 7 percent of recent home buyers. In 2010, 8 percent of home buyers were unmarried couples.