On June 8, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae issued their first ever Equitable Housing Finance (EHF) plans with the goal of reducing racial homeownership gaps.
Climbing interest rates have taken some heat out of the homebuying market, but according to our new report, for those who were already struggling, the pressure of high housing costs is unlikely to relent.
Lower-income homeowners often have difficulty making needed repairs to their homes, and spend much larger shares of income on maintenance compared to higher-income owners.
With support from our Center, 28 Harvard students will spend this summer researching and working on a host of issues related to housing and community development.
Joint Center for Housing Studies
of Harvard University
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies helps leaders in government, business, and the civic sectors make decisions that effectively address the needs of cities and communities.
After a record-shattering year in 2021, the housing market is at an inflection point. Higher interest rates have taken some heat out of the homebuying market, and the large number of apartments under construction should bring some relief on the rental side. For lower-income households and households of color, though, the pressure of high housing costs is unlikely to relent.
The Emergency Rental Assistance program provides unprecedented support for renters facing hardships who are unable to pay their rent or utilities. While the implicit rationale of the program is to help renters get caught up on payments and prevent evictions, there are other potential short-term benefits beyond housing stability, including improved financial well-being and mental health. This paper uses the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey to investigate the potential short-term benefits of ERA receipt.
Although still fragmented, the homebuilding industry has undergone changes in recent years that have increased the share of production by larger builders. The top 100 builders nationally now account for about half of all new single-family home sales, up from just over a third two decades ago. However, most of these gains reflect the growing market share of just two home construction companies – D.R. Horton and Lennar.
