Will House-Hunting Unleash the Battle of the Sexes?

When my husband and I purchased our home, we went to war with one another over the various amenities and aesthetic differences that make a house a home. It got me thinking: How do men and women differ when house-hunting? And who wins out in the end? Surprisingly,
I uncovered very little research documenting the precise differences between men and women when it comes to house-hunting as couples, but there is plenty that applies to singles.

The following conclusions were drawn from the National Association of Realtors' 2006 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

Location

This is arguably the most important aspect of house-hunting, but men and women differ largely in the details. For example, single women are most interested in living within close proximity of friends and family, while men prefer to live near their places of employment. The survey also indicates that women prefer the suburbs; men like the metropolitan or the urban areas.

As far as couples go, however, school districts rate high among both men and women, which means that women often win out on the location battle of the sexes because the best school districts are statistically found in residential areas.

Functionality

In keeping with the stereotypical roles of men and women, the house-hunting battle of the sexes comes down to individual needs. Women prefer functional houses where the placement of rooms and furniture "makes sense", while men are far more likely to view a house in terms of maintenance requirements. A pool might be a nice convenience for the dry season, but men are more likely than women to pass because it requires significant up-keep.

Exterior

For many years, homes have been a status symbol, primarily coveted by men. In fact, cavemen probably searched for the caves with the largest entrances and greenest foliage. In general, men are more likely to purchase a home that is set near the front of a subdivision for maximum visibility. They want lots of landscaping, plenty of crown moldings and grand entrance ways that announce their affluence. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to gravitate toward secluded homes with plenty of trees to facilitate privacy.

Moving In

The survey also addresses the issue of men and women moving in together, whether as married couples or not. When two people decide to live together, house-hunting usually goes out the window entirely. The survey indicates that men are more likely to move in with their wives or girlfriends than the other way around. Women "nest" in their homes, while men simply want a place to crash.

Interior

The interior of a home is historically the woman's domain, but men enjoy putting pieces of themselves on the walls, bookcases, kitchen cabinets and living room floors. Most men prefer darker decor inside their homes, with darker paint and/or wallpaper and less sunlight from windows. Women are more inclined to purchase a house with light colors on the inside and plenty of windows to admit natural light. When it comes to house-hunting, men and women differ on just about everything, but interior aesthetics rise to the top of the list.

The Bottom Line

Men and women will always differ when house-hunting, but the survey indicates that women will usually win. The details of a home are typically more important to women, and men would prefer to choose their battles---paint choices not being one of them.

Egedi Oluwatoyin