What Are the Real Determinants of Housing Tenure Decisions? The Empirical Evidence on Five Hypotheses

For many years in the United States, there has been consistent interest in academic research and policy debate regarding household tenure choice as researchers aim to drive policy that promotes higher levels of homeownership. Despite myriad studies and debates concerning the real causes of changes in housing tenure, there is still much disagreement on the contributing factors to this phenomenon. This article offers a summary and critique of the U.S. empirical evidence on five hypotheses concerning the determinants of tenure decision: (1) income, wealth, and employment status; (2) life-cycle factors; (3) user cost, financial constraints, and economic downturn; (4) residential mobility and location; and (5) prior tenure. This study provides useful information for local and state policymakers and incorporates comprehensive empirical evidence, methodologies, and variables for tenure-choice research.