The Structures of Poverty: Renter Poverty Rates Are Highest in Low-Density Multifamily Units
As the poverty rate among America’s homeowners has trended downward over the past four decades, it has steadily marched upward among renters. Poverty rates are highest among black renters and single parents, and in older, low-density multifamily rental units, which are often found in suburbs.
Healthy Housing: Where Higher Rents Are Correlated With Worse Health
There is a strong correlation nationwide between communities with higher median rents and a larger proportion of local residents in poor health – even when incomes in those communities are similar.
Subdued new home construction activity in recent years is pushing up the price and age of those homes that do sell, and contributing to slower depreciation in value among aging homes that otherwise would become more affordable. As a result, those homes that are affordable for lower-income, renter households are increasingly older and potentially a lot more hazardous.
Close to Home: Why Stay-at-Home Parenting is Increasingly a Luxury
The share of U.S. children with a stay-at-home parent has plummeted since the 1970s, a result of changing demographics and social norms. With housing costs and child care among the two largest budget items for many working families, the shifts help explain both growing demand for child care and the evolving work-life balance of many U.S. families.
A Picture’s Worth: Suburban vs. Urban Living
Housing and childcare are typically the two largest budget items for young families, and the choice of exactly where to live – even within a larger metro area – can result in substantially higher or lower costs.
Suburban Savings: Differences in Housing and Childcare Costs in Cities and Suburbs
Housing and childcare are typically the two largest budget items for young families, and the choice of exactly where to live – even within a larger metro area – can result in substantially higher or lower costs. Zillow teamed up with childcare website Care.com to explore how much families can save (or expect to spend) on housing and childcare by moving from the city to the suburbs.
Q4 2016 Housing Affordability: Accelerating Home Values, Rising Rates Cause Rapid Deterioration
Rising mortgage interest rates and continued home value growth helped make mortgages less affordable by the end of 2016 than they’ve been in half a decade. And while mortgages remain “affordable” relative to historic norms, as growth in housing costs continues to outpace growth in wages, affordability should be expected to continue to rapidly deteriorate.
Experts: 2017 Looks to be the Year in Which Rising Mortgage Rates Finally Impact Home Value Growth
For years, falling interest rates have been a boon to the U.S. housing market, keeping monthly mortgage payments low for first-time buyers and move-up buyers alike, even as home values rose. But in 2017, rising mortgage interest rates will have the opposite effect and are set to have a larger impact than any other housing trend this year, according to the Q1 2017 Zillow Home Price Expectations survey (ZHPE).
Local Opportunities: Finding Relatively Affordable Housing, Even in Largely Unaffordable Markets
Some of the metros with the best job prospects are also the ones with the least affordable housing, making it difficult for new residents – especially renters – to get a toehold in the housing market. But even within these very expensive metros, pockets of relative affordability do exist at a city level, offering some hope for new residents and would-be job seekers.
How to Fix Housing Assistance With the Funds We Already Have
We are doing a lousy job providing housing assistance to the millions of Americans that need and qualify for it, failing to reach three in four eligible households. But with disciplined accounting and a hard look at ineffective programs long past their prime, we can essentially bring that number to 100 percent without spending an extra dime.
