In this paper we shall examine homeownership trends over the past 3 to 4 decades and discuss
differences related to the homeownership gap for women and men, with a focus on most recent trends.
We shall compare differences in the US to those in countries with different institutional structures and shall
pay particular attention to differences across family types. Our estimation techniques will allow us to
discuss the role of determinants from a gender perspective. We find that single women are better off than
single men without children and a reverse trend exists in families with children. The general negative effect
for women remains for younger cohorts in the face of risking homeownership. The latest crisis did not
change the general long-running trend of the homeownership gap except for the US and France. The
findings of this paper could provide an international perspective on differential homeownership rates
among women and men, across countries and over time. Given that the value of one’s own home (home
equity) is the largest financial reserve in a household’s wealth portfolio, it is important to have a better
understanding of the differences resulting from gender and family types.