While 63 percent of unmarried respondents to a Trulia "Love and Housing Survey" said it doesn’t matter to them whether the person they date owns a home or rents one, 36 percent of women and 19 percent of men taking the survey said they’d prefer to date a homeowner vs. 2 percent of men and women who said they’d prefer to date a renter.
A slightly higher percentage of women (36 percent) than men (33 percent) said owning a home was an indication someone may be serious about being in a long-term committed relationship such as marriage, but 43 percent of respondents overall said homeownership was not a signal that someone was ready to settle down.
Market research firm Harris Interactive surveyed 2,236 U.S. adults on Trulia’s behalf between Jan. 30, 2012, and Feb. 1, 2012.
Millennials (18-34) were more likely to associate homeownership with commitment than respondents 45 or older (44 percent vs. 26 percent).
Nearly three-quarters of unmarried renters said they were at least somewhat willing to move in with a significant other to save money. Men were more likely than women to be willing or very willing: 51 percent vs. 34 percent.
More than half of unmarried respondents said they would prefer dating someone who lived alone, while 14 percent said they would prefer dating someone with roommates.
The ultimate turnoff? Living with parents. Only 5 percent of unmarried adults said they would prefer to date someone who lived with their parents.
Unmarried women were more likely than unmarried men to prefer to date someone who lived alone in a house in the suburbs (37 percent vs. 29 percent). Unmarried men were more likely than unmarried women to prefer to date someone who lived alone in an apartment in the city (32 percent vs. 25 percent).
When it came to amenities that make people fall in love with a home, however, both genders agreed: master bathrooms and walk-in closets rule. More than half also considered a gourmet kitchen and outdoor deck important.
