Dating Study Finds Homeownership Matters Most to Women
DatingScout.com's 2026 survey of 53,902 people in 18 countries examines which qualities online daters want and reject in partners.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Romance
Live Poll
Would financial stability, like owning a home, be a dealbreaker for you in a partner?
DatingScout.com released The State of Online Dating 2026 study, based on responses from 53,902 people in 18 countries. The findings show a wide gender gap in preferences, with women far more likely than men to want a partner who owns a home.
Why it matters
The results offer a snapshot of what people in online dating look for in a partner, including financial stability and housing status. Because the study draws on a self-selected reader survey, the findings describe respondents' stated preferences rather than a representative sample of all daters.
In the survey, 40.4% of American women and 18.9% of American men said they want a partner who owns a home, while 52.2% of women and 31.6% of men said high debt is a deal-breaker. The survey is drawn from 53,902 respondents, and it is unclear whether these self-reported preferences predict actual dating decisions.
The players
DatingScout.com
An online dating resource site that publishes annual surveys and statistics on dating habits and preferences.
National Association of Realtors
A U.S. trade association for real estate professionals that publishes housing market data, including the typical age of first-time homebuyers.
The details
Respondents could select several qualities they want in a partner, and the findings highlight a sharp gender split. Women were far more likely than men to rule out unemployed partners (42.1% vs. 14.1%) and to say living with parents was a deal-breaker (39.9% vs. 16.7%), while men were more likely to expect the man to pay on a first date (43% vs. 24.5%).
Timeline
January 2025: Dating Scout began collecting responses for its reader survey.
November 10, 2026: DatingScout.com released The State of Online Dating 2026 study.
Market Landscape
The average American online dater in the study is 39.5 years old, close to the National Association of Realtors' estimate that the typical first-time buyer is 40. That overlap places homeownership expectations at the center of many dating decisions made during the years when people are also buying their first homes.
Anyone using online dating apps may notice that partners often screen for homeownership, unemployment, and debt, which can shape how profiles are written and which matches are pursued. The gender gaps in expectations around first-date payment suggest that daters should discuss money and expectations early.
The takeaway
Clarifying financial expectations such as housing, employment, and debt early in online dating conversations may help avoid mismatches. The study suggests these factors weigh differently by gender, so openness about them can be useful.
Further reading
Explore more on Romance for related coverage of dating trends and relationship expectations.
More information
Read the complete full country-by-country State of Online Dating 2026 study from DatingScout.com.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
Live Poll
Would financial stability, like owning a home, be a dealbreaker for you in a partner?
