He Said, She Said

October 2, 2009 THE EXPOSITOR; Lifestyle section

It often seems as though men and women are from different planets, but every day millions of couples navigate through day-today and even life-altering decisions.

Because a home is the biggest purchase most people will make in their lifetime, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC recently surveyed 1,000 individuals to discover how much men and women differ in the home-buying process.

The real estate company commissioned International Communications Research (ICR) to ask questions like, "How long did it take for you to know that the last home you purchased was right for you?" and "Who wears the pants in the relationship (when it comes to making major financial decisions)?"

Here are the highlights from the study:

Women may be inclined to make up their mind more quickly than men...

-When asked how long it took before they knew their home was "right" for them, almost 70% of women had made up their mind the day they walked into the house, vs. 62% of men. Conversely, significantly more men needed two or more visits: (32% of men vs. 23% of women).

Women would rather live closer to their extended family than to their job...

-55% of women find it more important to be closer to their extended family (those that do not live in their household) than to their job, compared to only 37% of men.

A home's security is a deal-breaker for both men and women...

-64% of women said that if they found the home of their dreams but had concerns about its security, they would no longer be interested. More than half of men agreed (51%).

When asked who wears the pants in the relationship when it comes to major financial decisions such as purchasing a home)...

-Almost 70% of respondents living with their significant other said it's actually mutual. However, 23% think that they, themselves, wear the pants in the relationship, not their partner. More men than women said this (26% vs. 20%, respectively).

When the respondents were asked how they would use an extra 12 x 12 room if it could be anything they wanted...

-Men and women agreed on the top three most popular, and very practical, responses:

-Bedroom: 25% - Office / Study: 15% - Family Room / Den: 11%

Article ID# 1778654