One of the biggest hesitations I hear from single women considering buying a home isn’t always about whether they can afford it.

It’s this:

“But what if my life changes?”

What if I meet someone? What if I change jobs? What if I decide I want to move? What if I don’t know where I’ll be five years from now?

Those are completely reasonable questions.

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to know exactly what the next five years of your life look like to make a good decision about buying a home today.

You just need to be thoughtful about whether homeownership makes sense for the life you have now and the future you can reasonably see coming.

What If I Buy a House and Then Meet Someone?

This one comes up more than you might think.

Sometimes women hesitate to buy because they imagine meeting someone a year or two from now and suddenly having a house that no longer fits the plan.

But I don't think you should put your life on hold waiting for a hypothetical person to arrive.

If you meet someone later, you have options.

Maybe you stay in your home. Maybe they move in. Maybe you eventually sell it. Maybe you keep it and turn it into a rental. Maybe the two of you eventually buy something together.

You don't have to make today's housing decision around a relationship that doesn't exist yet.

And if your circumstances do change someday, you can make a new decision with the information you have then.

You Also Don't Need Your Entire Career Figured Out

Maybe you love your job.

Maybe you're considering a career change.

Maybe there's a possibility you'll relocate someday.

The question isn't whether there's any possibility your life could change. Of course it could.

Instead, ask yourself:

Is there a specific reason I believe I'll need to move in the near future?

There's a big difference between:

"My company is probably transferring me next year."

and:

"Maybe someday I'll want to live somewhere else."

If a move is genuinely likely in the near future, that absolutely belongs in the conversation about whether buying makes sense.

But I wouldn't automatically postpone homeownership because something might change someday.

Something always might change.

How Long Do I Need to Live in a House for Buying to Make Sense?

This is where I don't believe in giving people a generic answer like, "You need to stay five years."

There are transaction costs involved when you buy and eventually sell a home, and real estate markets don't appreciate at a guaranteed rate.

Whether buying makes financial sense depends on things like:

• The price of the home
• Your financing and interest rate
• Your down payment and closing costs
• Property taxes and insurance
• HOA costs, if applicable
• Maintenance and repairs
• What comparable rent would cost you
• The local real estate market
• How long you realistically expect to own the property

That's why I would rather run through your actual situation than give you an arbitrary number of years and pretend it applies to everyone.

Don't Buy Just Because You Can

This is an important one.

I am a huge believer in homeownership and the opportunity it can create to build long-term wealth.

But that doesn't mean I think every single woman should immediately go buy a house.

Being approved for a mortgage doesn't automatically mean buying is the right decision.

I want you to be able to afford your home and still have a life.

If buying means draining your savings, giving up everything you enjoy, or living stressed about every unexpected expense, we may need a different plan.

Maybe that means buying something less expensive.

Maybe it means waiting six months or a year.

Maybe we create a plan now so you're in a stronger position later.

There's nothing wrong with deciding, "I want to buy, but I'm not ready yet."

That's very different from assuming you can't do it at all.

Your First Home Doesn't Have to Be Your Forever Home

I think the phrase forever home has put unnecessary pressure on people.

Your first home doesn't need to accommodate every possible version of your future life.

It doesn't need rooms for children you may or may not have.

It doesn't need to work for a future partner you haven't met.

It doesn't have to be somewhere you're willing to live until you're 80.

It needs to make sense for you.

Your life right now.

Your finances.

Your priorities.

Your goals.

And ideally, it should give you enough flexibility that if life does change, you have options.

What Should You Consider Before Buying?

If you're single and aren't sure what the next several years look like, I'd start with a few questions.

Do I actually want to own a home?

Not because my parents think I should. Not because I'm a certain age. Not because everyone around me is buying.

Do you want it?

Can I comfortably afford the payment by myself?

Your budget needs to work on the income you actually have, without relying on a future partner or hypothetical raise.

Do I have money left after buying?

I don't want to see someone wipe out every dollar they've saved just to get the keys.

Is there a specific life change coming that could make buying impractical?

Separate what's actually likely from what's simply possible.

Would owning this home move me closer to the life I'm trying to build?

That might mean stability. Independence. More space. A yard for your dog. Building equity. Having somewhere that actually feels like yours.

Your reason doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

You Don't Have to Wait for Your Life to Be "Settled"

This may be the biggest thing I want single women to understand.

There isn't necessarily going to be a magical moment when your career, finances, relationships and future plans are all perfectly settled.

Life keeps changing.

Marriage doesn't guarantee certainty.

A relationship doesn't guarantee a second income forever.

A job doesn't guarantee you'll never change careers.

And buying a home doesn't lock you into one version of your life forever either.

You can make a smart decision based on the information you have today and adjust later if life changes.

Start With a Conversation, Not a Commitment

If you're thinking about buying a home in the Denver Metro area but aren't sure whether it makes sense for you yet, you don't have to wait until you've made the decision to talk to someone.

In fact, I'd rather talk to you before you've decided.

We can look at what homes in your price range actually look like, what the monthly numbers could be, what your timeline might look like and whether buying now makes sense at all.

And if the answer is not yet, that's okay.

Then we build a plan.

Because the goal isn't simply to buy a house.

It's to build a life you love, and make sure your real estate decisions support it.