J
essica Chestler, 33, bought a three-bedroom home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for $3.25 million in 2022, entirely on her own. As a single woman and real-estate agent with Douglas Elliman, she's part of a growing trend: new data from the National Association of Realtors shows that single female buyers made up 20% of all homebuyers from July 2023 to June 2024.

    Chestler has always prioritized building her future over her love life. She co-owns a real-estate team with her partner, Ben Jacobs, and they specialize in high-end luxury properties in New York and Florida. Despite the challenges of affording homeownership in one of the most expensive cities in the country, Chestler was determined to buy a home as soon as possible.

    She purchased her condo with a 30% down payment and a 10-year mortgage at a 2% interest rate, which she felt comfortable with given her financial situation. The building has a doorman, amenities, and relatively low monthly maintenance fees, plus a tax abatement for another 15 years that keeps her taxes extremely low.

    Chestler worked with a designer from London to completely renovate her condo, gutting the original space and adding new floors, bathrooms, closets, radiant heat, and more. She designed it with the vision of having a family in the future while also building it out to be her dream home.

    Buying a home without a spouse has its pros and cons, Chestler notes. On one hand, she had the freedom to renovate however she wanted, without considering anyone else's opinion. On the other hand, she's responsible for every decision and everything that could go wrong, which can be difficult to handle as someone who works 24/7.

    Despite the challenges, Chestler is proud of her achievement and believes it's an empowering experience for single women. She encourages others to consider buying a home independently, but also emphasizes the importance of understanding the process and ensuring it's the right decision for them.