Harvard Housing Report: Housing Market Still Short-Changing Renters, Young Americans

It's the 30th annual edition of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University's "State of the Nation's Housing" report.

1 minute read

June 20, 2018, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Tenderloin

EQRoy / Shutterstock

The Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies released its 2018 "State of the Nation's Housing" report on Tuesday, continuing an annual event first launched in 1988. A website announcing the new report relates some of the findings from the 2018 to the findings of the 1988 report. For instance, homeownership rates among young adults are lower in 1988 than they were in 1988, and a larger share of renters is cost burdened now than in 1988. The report pins the blame for those realities on the soaring cost of housing.

Despite the declining homeownership rate among young Americans, the overall homeownership rate increased in 2017 for the first time in 13 years. Another key finding of the report is ongoing changes to the demographics of households in the county. Aging baby boomers means an aging household, on average. A final point to mention here is the report's finding that multi-family residential construction has leveled off, potentially placing more of the housing market at risk of housing cost burdens.

While you dig into the 2018 report, don't forget to reference the details of the 2017 report, which focused on the nation's dwindling affordable housing supply

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 in Joint Center for Housing Studies

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.