If you’ve felt a quiet tug recently—the urge to browse property sites at midnight or fantasise about knocking down a wall to build that dreamy open-plan kitchen—you’re not alone. According to the latest Absa Homeowner Sentiment Index, South Africans are feeling more confident about property than they have in years. In fact, our national optimism now sits at a glowing 85%, up from 81% just two years ago.

And yes… women are leading the charge.

Speaking on HOT Business with Simon Brown standing in for Jeremy Maggs, Tshepo Mashashane, Head of Strategic Positioning and Partnerships at Absa Home Loans, unpacked why so many South Africans—especially single women—are stepping boldly into the market.

More than half of all first-time home loan applications in 2025 have come from single women, a shift Mashashane calls “staggering, but inspiring.”

Listen to the full interview on HOT Business with Jeremy Maggs below:

Why now? A few reasons. Lower interest rates, easing inflation, and what she calls a “balanced economic outlook” are unlocking opportunities for buyers who previously sat on the sidelines. But beyond the spreadsheets and forecasts, there’s something deeper happening: a moment of empowerment. Women aren’t just buying homes; they’re building legacies.

Another trend Tshepo highlighted is the growing renovation bug. Around 45% of homeowners say they want to improve their properties—not only to boost resale value, but to make their living spaces more beautiful, more functional, and frankly… more themselves. Think sunlit studios, spa-like bathrooms and kitchen islands big enough to host a whole book club.

Eco-conscious living is also having its moment. Even though load shedding has quietened down, homeowners are increasingly exploring solar, rainwater harvesting and boreholes—part cost-savings, part planet-saving, and part “I never want to panic-boil a kettle during Stage 6 again.”

In short: the property market is buzzing, women are claiming their space, and home is still the one investment South Africans trust to grow with them.