Charlotte, NC - Sunday dinner preps in Southwest Charlotte and Melissa McAtee is doing it for herself.

She says, “So many guys think that you need someone to take care of you and that's not the case. I own my own house, I own my own car, I have my own job."

The divorced mother of two is part of a growing number of single woman who own their homes.

McAtee says, “It's a lot more appealing because I have my own space, I don't have to share with anybody else."

The National Association of Realtors says single women made up 11% of home buyers in 1981. Fast forward 30 years and that number climbs to 18%.

The percentage of single men buying a home stayed steady at 10%.

In Northeast Charlotte Fontella Johnson says owning her home is about not waiting for a man, “Why postpone your goals that you have in life."

Realtor Frank Cantadore says, “Maybe women just have it a little more together."

Cantadore works with the Benham Real Estate Group. He says he's noticed a spike in female buyers the last few years. He chalks it up partly to divorce rates and women waiting to get married. But he says it's definitely attractive to the opposite sex.

Cantadore says, “Finding someone with a house that they own, that shows stability and maturity."

He's right about the preference. A recent real estate survey performed for real estate site Trulia found more than a third of woman and nearly 20% of men would rather date a homeowner than a renter.

Back in Southwest Charlotte Melissa McAtee agrees. She says strong men are attracted to strong women and her home is under her control.

McAtee says, “Women in general are feeling like they want to have more property ownership, they want to have more control over things."

Another housing related dating tip, no roommate. More than 60% of singles, both male & female, prefer to date singles who live alone.