After 4 decades of increase since 1940, the Nation's homeownership rate fell from 66 percent in 1980 to 64 percent in 1991. This decline actually took place between 1980 and 1985; since then, the rate has remained stable. But will it begin to rebound by the year 2000? This brief explains how it might change.

First it reviews how homeownership changed for different age groups during the 1980's. Then, it projects how owners' age and family composition could change. Two sources are used. One is the Census Bureau estimates for the 1990's (based on "Series B" projections originally published in 1986) of changes in the number of households of various types. Second is the actual 1989 homeownership rates for these groups (from the Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey). These projections thus assume there will be no changes during the 1990's in the homeownership rates for various ages and kinds of households.

Others in Series

Publication

How Consumers Spend Their Money

March 1992

This brief uses data collected between 1917 and 1990 by the Consumer Expenditure Surveys to examine how spending patterns have changed over the years.

Publication

Homeownership in the 1980's

April 1991

This brief studies the decline in homeownership rates, the first such decline since the 1930's.

Publication

Housing Vacancy Rates: 1989 to 1991

September 1992

This brief examines how vacancy rates changed in different geographic areas and what the rates were for homes with specific characteristics.

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Related Information

Housing Publications

Population and Housing Unit Estimates Publications

Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021

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