Rising Housing Costs Cited as Root Cause of Laggin

MCLEAN, Va., June 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Financial headwinds and societal shifts, such as declining marriage and fertility rates, have depressed homeownership levels among young adults. However, according to new research from Freddie Mac (OTCQB:FMCC), the biggest barrier slowing young prospective buyers has been housing costs rising faster than incomes.

Freddie Mac’s June Insight examined economic and demographic trends from 2000 to 2016 to identify the causes behind the eight percent decrease in the homeownership rate among young adults (under age 35) since the rate’s peak in 2004.

The findings reveal that higher rents and home prices are the primary reason for the decline in young homeowners (49 percent), followed by lower marriage and fertility rates (22 percent), and a likely combination of student debt, a preference towards renting, borrowing constraints and other factors (13 percent). The younger, more racially diverse population (12 percent), and increased migration to more densely-populated metro areas, which tend to be more expensive (11 percent), have also suppressed homeownership.

“Historically low mortgage rates and increasingly favorable employment conditions should have generated a far greater number of home purchases by young adults, especially in the last five years,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Unfortunately, home-price and rent growth above incomes – driven primarily by a severe shortage of housing supply – have been too high of a hurdle for many would-be buyers to clear.”

Added Khater, “At a time when rising home values continue to build housing wealth for most homeowners, these weaker affordability conditions have led to a missed opportunity for the interested young buyers who are unfortunately priced out of the market.”

The research also looked ahead to 2025 to estimate the homeownership rate among two age cohorts: those ages 25-34 in 2016, and those who will be of that age seven years from now. Under the baseline scenario, Freddie Mac estimates that homeownership rates in 2025 will increase for both cohorts as they age, but still remain below the historical average for their respective age groups.

“Demographics, housing preferences and economic conditions will all play a role in the direction of homeownership in coming years,” added Khater. “If economic conditions improve, and incomes and entry-level housing supply increase in a meaningful way, homeownership rates for today and tomorrow’s young adults could exceed our current projections.”  

Insight Highlights

• The home price-to-income ratio has increased substantially since 2000, depressing homeownership. The ratio has grown more for young adults than the overall population, and even more so for young adults living in metro areas.
     •   Around 700,000 young adults did not buy a home between 2000 and 2016 because of increases in inflation-adjusted home prices and rents.
• Homeownership rates for younger age groups fell steeply after the financial crisis, and this lag is likely to persist through 2025.
• The homeownership rate for young adults (ages 25-34 in 2016) is due to rise as they age, but that increase varies. By 2025 Freddie Mac projects:
     •   Under a baseline scenario, the homeownership rate of young adults rises to 58.1 percent.
     •   Under an optimistic scenario, the homeownership rate could rise as high as 60.0 percent – 1.9 percentage points more than the baseline.
     •   In a pessimistic scenario, the homeownership rate only increases to 55.9 percent – 2.2 percentage points less than baseline.
     •   For those who will be 25-34 years old in 2025, the homeownership rate is forecast to be 36.6 percent.
• Additional economic and demographic factors also impact homeownership rates among young adults, including:
     •   Those self-employed are 5 percent more likely to become a homeowner than those who work for an employer.   
     •   Living in a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) – where employment opportunities and amenities abound – results in a 5 percent less chance of becoming a homeowner versus those living outside metro areas.
     •   Those foreign-born are 11 percent less likely to become a homeowner, but the effect fades away as the number of years resided in the United States increases.
     •   Living in a multigenerational household results in being 5 percent more likely to become a homeowner.   

Freddie Mac makes home possible for millions of families and individuals by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Since our creation by Congress in 1970, we’ve made housing more accessible and affordable for homebuyers and renters in communities nationwide. We are building a better housing finance system for homebuyers, renters, lenders and taxpayers. Learn more at FreddieMac.com , Twitter @FreddieMac and Freddie Mac’s blog FreddieMac.com/blog .

MEDIA CONTACT: Adam DeSanctis
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Adam_DeSanctis@freddiemac.com