Report: Low Housing Production Stymies Entry-Level Buyers

According to this report, the trends point to a "less diverse, older, higher-income" crop of homebuyers as low production locks out the young and many people of color.

1 minute read

January 8, 2020, 8:00 AM PST

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Housing Construction

Christian Delbert / Shutterstock

Research conducted by U.C. Berkeley's Terner Center for Housing Innovation "concludes that, increasingly, homebuying is becoming a privilege within the purview of only a few wealthy classes of Americans," Adam Brinklow writes.

Although that trend is most pronounced in the Bay Area and other coastal urban markets, "home prices are up more than 25 percent nationwide after inflation compared to 2000, with housing significantly less affordable in almost every major metro area."

Notably, the housing crisis is taking its toll on young and black homebuyers. "The rate of new homebuyers who are black declined from 8.5 percent in 2000 to 6.6 percent 16 years later. And the number of homebuyers under 35 crashed from 36 percent to 31.6 percent."

The report suggests that changes to the supply side of the housing equation could do much to boost ownership among younger and lower-income buyers. 

Tuesday, December 17, 2019 in Curbed San Francisco

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City