Women now make up 47% of mortgage applicants following surge in solo buyers

In alignment with the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, 'Give to Gain,' Mojo Mortgages is opening its proprietary archives, sharing 50 years of historical context alongside real-time application data.

Last year marked half a century since the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 legally enabled women to apply for mortgages independently. Before 1975, banks could legally refuse loans to unmarried women or demand a male guarantor.

In 2026, almost 21% of women applicants are now first-time buyers.

Mojo’s latest analysis revealed a 17% surge in solo women applicants over the last five years. Women moved from 36% of applicants in 2020 to 47% by 2025, and 12% of all applicants in early 2026 are solo women, rapidly closing the gap with solo men at 15%.

The 'prime' age for women first-time buyers remains 25-34, accounting for 58% of all women first-time buyer applications.

However, despite progress, women still require an extra 8 years and 9 months to save for a deposit compared to men due to the persistent 15% gender pay gap.

Today, women leaders at Mojo are calling for a shift from gatekeeping to knowledge-sharing to ensure this momentum continues.

"The 'Give to Gain' philosophy is very important," says Kayleigh Jackson, mortgage sales manager at Mojo Mortgages. "While 2026 marks 50 years of legal right to independent credit, research from Pay UK shows there is still a 'confidence gap' to bridge, with only 25% of women feeling confident managing finances compared to 35% of men. 

"Free advice and awareness can help support a more diverse, resilient, and empowered homeownership future."