Dating is hard, whether you’re a college grad looking for love or back on the scene after a divorce. It proves especially difficult, however, when you’re living with your parents.
According to Trulia’s “Love and Housing” survey, only 5 percent of unmarried U.S. adults would prefer to date someone who lives with their parents.
That begs the question: Is your housing situation driving potential mates away? As it turns out, the answer varies depending on who you’re trying to attract.
On the whole, 62 percent of singles – both men and women – would prefer to date someone who lives alone. That’s not surprising, considering roommates make nearly every aspect of a relationship difficult.
Only 14 percent of men and nine percent of women say they’d date someone living with roommates, whether they live in the city or the suburbs. And if those roommates are your parents, good luck: a mere 6 percent of men and 4 percent of women would prefer to date someone living with the ‘rents.
Location is also a factor. Ladies, if you’re looking to land your dream man, the city is where it’s at. Thirty-two percent of men surveyed say they’d prefer their significant other live in an apartment in the city, sans roommates. All’s not lost if you’re living alone in the ‘burbs, though. Twenty-nine percent of men would prefer to date someone in that living situation.
But in so many cases, there’s a mismatch when it comes to love and location: If you’re on the prowl for a single lady, you’re in luck if you live in suburbia. Thirty-seven percent of single women would choose a mate who lives alone in a house in the suburbs.
But don’t fret if you’re living it up in the city and looking for the girl of your dreams, because 25 percent of women surveyed prefer a mate who lives alone in the city.
What about settling down once you’ve found a match? Not surprisingly, the Trulia study found that men and women have different views on shacking up with their honeys.
When it comes to moving in with a boyfriend or girlfriend, men and women agree that it’s not always about love. Nearly three-quarters – 74 percent – of unmarried renters say they would be at least somewhat willing to live with their significant other to save money.
Men are more likely than women to live with a partner for saving purposes. Twenty-three percent of men say they’d be “very willing” to move in together to stash away their cash. Comparatively, only 18 percent of women would make that choice.
Despite the disparity on the topic of living together, most young singles agree: buying a home signals commitment. Forty-four percent of single 18- to 34-year-olds believe if a potential mate is a homeowner, they’re more likely to be serious about a long-term relationship or marriage.
Older singles are more skeptical. Only 26 percent of Baby Boomers – those aged 55 and up – believe homeownership signals commitment, while 47 percent say it’s no indication of a partner’s willingness to stand by their side for the long haul. I’d say the Boomers have it right.
Buying a home means you love the place, but doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to settle down with someone for good. Most of us know at least one homeowner who is perpetually single and uses their bachelor(ette) pad to reel in the dates.
This is great stuff for singles on the dating scene to keep in mind when making housing decisions, but the bottom line is this: homeownership is not a deal breaker. Sixty-three percent of unmarried adults say it doesn’t matter whether their S.O. owns a home.
While living with your parents is sure to keep suitors away, the majority of single men and women don’t care whether you own or rent.
Courtesy of Ilyce R. Glink, Yahoo! Real Estate
