Having postponed homeownership by what many think is 10 years, it's taking a
toll on our homeownership rates and the natural progression of home - buying, from the first - time purchase to the trade - up home to one's forever home.
Since the 45 - 54 and 55 - 64 age groups account for nearly half of all owner - occupied households combined, shifts in homeownership among these cohorts will have the largest
effects on homeownership rates, and other aspects of the housing market, going forward.
Stagnant incomes and constrained credit have had greater impacts
on homeownership rates since the end of the housing boom than long - term demographic changes, and will likely continue to drive homeownership trends in the near future.»
The «opportunity cost» of homeownership — the additional monthly amount that a tenant household can expect to pay to become an owner household — also appears to have an
influence on the homeownership rate, says the study.