Homeownership rate in US rises as buyer competition cools
The homeownership rate increased in the third quarter, a sign that first-time buyers may be seeing the cooldown as a buying opportunity.
The homeownership rate in the United States increased in the third quarter, a sign that first-time buyers may be seeing the cooldown in housing as a buying opportunity.
The share was 64.4 percent, according to a Census Bureau report released Tuesday. It was up from 64.3 percent in the previous three months and 63.9 percent a year earlier.
The fevered price gains of the past six years are slowing, meaning more buyers can take their time to find the best deal without the pressure of bidding wars. The recent jump in mortgage rates has also taken the edge off demand. With such a large population of Americans under 45, the homeownership rate can still rise as more renters make their first purchase, said Tian Liu, chief economist at Genworth Mortgage Insurance, before the announcement.
“There is a benefit to potential first-time buyers in the market today: There is less competition for available homes,’’ Liu said in a phone interview. “Now, they may be able to afford — through slower home-price growth — a more desirable home than before.’’
For Americans under age 35, the homeownership rate rose to 36.8 percent in the third quarter from 35.6 percent a year earlier. The share for the 35-to-45 age group was 59.5 percent, up from 59.3 percent.
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