Seniors are to blame for housing shortage, study finds

Millions of senior citizens are staying in their homes longer than their predecessors in earlier generations, keeping homes off the market and making it more difficult for younger Americans to break into ownership.

According to an analysis from economists at Freddie Mac, 1.1 million homes have been “held off the market” by owners born between 1931 and 1941, and another 300,000 by those born between 1942 and 1947.

Another 250,000 homes are still being occupied by their baby boomer owners – those born between 1948 and 1958 – although most analysts believe there’s a big wave of boomer retirements ahead that may change the aging-in-place dynamic quantified so far...

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RSK: One reason being we are much healthier and wealthier today than ever before. This allows people to stay in their homes longer by just making a few modifications and hiring out yard work, cleaning, repairs etc.

Ken Notes: I would add that we are not building the inventory boomers want. We need amenities, flexibility, walkability, events, food, entertainment... As a boomer let me tell you I am not moving into anything that looks even remotely like a "home"...