The last few years have seen significant improvement for the housing market overall, as the steps forward taken in the broader economy have fueled more interest among buyers who are now starting to get their feet back under them financially after potentially years of prior difficulty. However, it seems that many such would-be buyers might find themselves running into roadblocks, and one of the largest is their marital status.

Many consumers know full well that lenders are keeping restrictions quite tight when it comes to their mortgage standards specifically, because many were badly burned in the wake of the housing market's collapse several years ago, according to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, the strictures they've set up have also served to keep a potentially large population of buyers out of the sector as well, because many make it difficult for unmarried young adults to buy properties.

"Lenders look more favorably toward dual incomes, and perhaps they have more buying power as well," Jessica Lautz, director of member and consumer research for the National Association of Realtors, told the newspaper. "So, unfortunately, we have seen both the share of single female and single male homebuyers drop off."

How big is the impact?
Interestingly, though, these issues haven't really brought the number of single buyers in the market down to historically low levels; quite the opposite, in fact, the report said. While the number was well above the long-time averages just a few years ago (28 percent in 2011), that number dropped to just 1 in 4 last year. But even that is on the high-end of the norms seen over the last several decades, which usually fluctuate at between 20 and 25 percent.

However, many young people who might be willing to take advantage of the market's high affordability levels might find themselves disappointed for a number of reasons, the report said. The economy still hasn't been especially kind to this demographic in particular, as their unemployment rates remain high, they typically still carry massive student loan balances, and their annual salaries aren't as robust as those of their parents at the same age.

Further, affordability in the market is only going to decline from the levels that have been near all-time highs for some time now, as mortgage rates and home prices are both expected to tick up considerably in the coming year.