Empty Nest Households Are on the Rise
Pricey markets and those with weak labor markets have high concentrations of empty nests. Low densities of empty nests are found in booming cities with strong job markets, new family-oriented areas, and retirement communities.
Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Live Far From Healthy Food, Some by Choice and Some Not
For many people, using a car to reach healthy food stores is a lifestyle choice. But 20 percent of the country’s non-rural population – or 47.3 million people – have both low incomes and low access to fresh food. Of the households living in food deserts, 7.9 percent don’t have access to a vehicle and must rely on public transportation or walking to reach an area with healthy food.
Viewed from Beijing, Even Silicon Valley Housing Looks Affordable
Homes in China’s most expensive metros sell for thousands of dollars more per square meter than homes in San Francisco and San Jose. But incomes in those U.S. metros are four to five times higher than incomes in Beijing.
Down Payment the Top Hurdle Holding Back Would-Be Home Buyers
Saving a sufficient down payment is the biggest obstacle for renters looking to transition to homeownership, regardless of their age, income, gender or geography – a hurdle likely to get worse for many before it gets better.
Calculator: Need a Raise to Cover That Rent Increase?
The best way to cover a rent increase, if you can swing it, is to get a raise. That’s money out of your employer’s pocket and not your own – which, if they want to keep you and keep you happy, is a solid deal for everyone. But how much of a raise, exactly, do you need to ask for?
Movin’ On Up: How Much More Will a Larger Home Cost per Month?
Growing families and households looking for more space this home-shopping season probably already anticipate paying more each month for that larger home. But just how much their monthly mortgage payments rise depends largely on where they’re looking to live and how much more space they want.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968: What It Does and Why It’s Important
As Fair Housing Month begins, it’s important to look back at the landmark legislation that helped bring us to this point. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 reversed decades of overtly (and more subtle) discriminatory housing practices, and established a number of critical protections still important today.
If President Trump is Looking for a Policy Win, Try GSE Reform
President Trump is eager to notch a successful legislative victory and his displeasure with the House Freedom Caucus’s role in the Republicans’ failure to repeal Obamacare might be making him more willing to work with Democrats to achieve legislative success. I’ve got a shovel-ready project that achieves both of these goals: Fix Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
A Picture’s Worth: How Housing Affordability Changes Across Racial Communities
Nationwide and in many metro markets, rent in black and Hispanic communities consumes a much larger share of household income than in white communities, widening the great divide that already exists between white America and communities of color.
