Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
What happened
About 28% of U.S. houses with three or more bedrooms are owned by baby boomers living alone or with another adult, while millennials with children own 14% of such homes, Redfin found in a recent analysis of 2022 census data. And most Americans 60 and older don't intend to ever move, according to a recent Fannie May survey.
Who said what
Boomers tend to have low housing costs and most of them "are only in their 60s, still young enough that they can take care of themselves and their home without help," said Redfin senior economist Sheharyar Bokhari.
The commentary
"'OK Boomer' might sting more when it comes from millennials eyeing the keys to your three-bedroom house," Sami Sparber said at Axios.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Empty-nest boomers have defied expectations they would sell "their big houses en masse," The Wall Street Journal said, but even if they did, it "wouldn't actually solve the overarching issue that there are not enough homes on the market. Instead, it would likely lead to more competition for smaller homes."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The UK’s ‘wallaby boom’Under the Radar The Australian marsupial has ‘colonised’ the Isle of Man and is now making regular appearances on the UK mainland
-
Fast food is no longer affordable to low-income AmericansThe explainer Cheap meals are getting farther out of reach
-
‘The money to fix this problem already exists’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
US mints final penny after 232-year runSpeed Read Production of the one-cent coin has ended
-
Would a 50-year mortgage make home ownership attainable?Today's Big Question Trump critics say the proposal is bad policy
-
Warner Bros. explores sale amid Paramount bidsSpeed Read The media giant, home to HBO and DC Studios, has received interest from multiple buying parties
-
Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial uneaseSpeed Read Investors are worried about President Donald Trump’s trade war
-
Electronic Arts to go private in record $55B dealspeed read The video game giant is behind ‘The Sims’ and ‘Madden NFL’
-
New York court tosses Trump's $500M fraud fineSpeed Read A divided appeals court threw out a hefty penalty against President Trump for fraudulently inflating his wealth
-
Trump said to seek government stake in IntelSpeed Read The president and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan reportedly discussed the proposal at a recent meeting
-
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac helped trigger the Great Recession. Would an IPO create new dangers?In the Spotlight It depends on the 'implicit guarantee'
