The homeownership rate in the United States rose slightly in 2022, reaching the highest figure since 2011. However, in the third quarter of 2024, the proportion of households occupied by owners declined to 65.6 percent. The U.S. homeownership rate was the highest in 2004 before the 2007-2009 recession hit and decimated the housing market. Homeownership since the recession The rate of homeownership in the U.S. fell in the lead up to the recession and continued to do so until 2016. In spite of this trend, the share of Americans who perceived homeownership as part of their personal American dream remained relatively stable. This suggests that the financial hardship caused by the recession led to the fall in homeownership, rather than a change in opinion about the importance of homeownership itself. What the future holds for homeownership Homeownership trends vary from generation to generation. Homeownership among Americans over 65 years old is declining, whereas most Millennial renters plan to buy a home in the near future. This suggests that homeownership will remain important in the future, as Millennials are forecast to head most households over the next two decades.

The U.S. homeownership rate for householders over 65 years of age fluctuated between 78.8 percent and 80.9 percent since 2011. In the third quarter of 2024, approximately 79 percent of people over 65 years of age inhabited an owner-occupied home. This was much higher than the average homeownership rate in the United States.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate for the United States (USHOWN) from 1984 to 2024 about homeownership, housing, rate, and USA.

The homeownership rate in the United States amounted to nearly 66 percent in the third quarter of 2024. While there are many factors that affect people’s decision to buy a house, the recent decrease can be attributed to the higher mortgage interest rates, which make taking out a mortgage less affordable for potential buyers, especially considering the surge in house prices in recent years. Which factors affect homeownership? Age and ethnicity have a strong correlation with homeownership. Baby boomers, for example, are twice as likely to own their home than Millennials. Also, the homeownership rate among white Americans is substantially higher than among any other ethnicity. How does the U.S. homeownership rate compare with other countries? Having a home is an integral part of the “American Dream”. Compared with selected European countries, the U.S. ranks alongside the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and Ireland. Many countries in Europe, however, exceed 80 percent homeownership rate.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity: Non-Hispanic White Alone in the United States (NHWAHORUSQ156N) from Q1 1994 to Q4 2024 about homeownership, white, non-hispanic, rate, and USA.

The homeownership rate was the highest among Americans in their early 70s and the lowest among people in their early 20s in 2023. In that year, approximately 81 percent of individuals aged 70 to 75 resided in a residence they owned, compared to approximately 23.6 percent among individuals under the age of 25. On average, 65.9 percent of Americans lived in an owner-occupied home. The homeownership rate was the highest in 2004 but has since declined.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity: Black Alone in the United States (BOAAAHORUSQ156N) from Q1 1994 to Q4 2024 about homeownership, African-American, rate, and USA.

Homeownership Rate for California was 55.30% in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Homeownership Rate for California reached a record high of 60.20 in January of 2006 and a record low of 53.60 in January of 1989. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Homeownership Rate for California - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

House prices grew year-on-year in most states in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2024. The District of Columbia was the only exception, with a decline of three percent. The annual appreciation for single-family housing in the U.S. was 0.71 percent, while in Hawaii—the state where homes appreciated the most—the increase exceeded 10 percent. How have home prices developed in recent years? House price growth in the U.S. has been going strong for years. In 2024, the median sales price of a single-family home exceeded 413,000 U.S. dollars, up from 277,000 U.S. dollars five years ago. One of the factors driving house prices was the cost of credit. The record-low federal funds effective rate allowed mortgage lenders to set mortgage interest rates as low as 2.3 percent. With interest rates on the rise, home buying has also slowed, causing fluctuations in house prices. Why are house prices growing? Many markets in the U.S. are overheated because supply has not been able to keep up with demand. How many homes enter the housing market depends on the construction output, whereas the availability of existing homes for purchase depends on many other factors, such as the willingness of owners to sell. Furthermore, growing investor appetite in the housing sector means that prospective homebuyers have some extra competition to worry about. In certain metros, for example, the share of homes bought by investors exceeded 20 percent in 2024.

Homeownership Rate for Florida was 68.40% in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Homeownership Rate for Florida reached a record high of 72.40 in January of 2005 and a record low of 64.10 in January of 2017. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Homeownership Rate for Florida - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Homeownership Rate for North Carolina was 64.50% in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Homeownership Rate for North Carolina reached a record high of 71.70 in January of 1999 and a record low of 64.50 in January of 2024. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Homeownership Rate for North Carolina - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate for Washington (WAHOWN) from 1984 to 2024 about homeownership, WA, housing, rate, and USA.

Homeownership Rate in the United States was 65.70% in October of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Homeownership Rate in the United States reached a record high of 69.40 in April of 2004 and a record low of 63.10 in April of 2016. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Homeownership Rate in the United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate for Idaho (IDHOWN) from 1984 to 2024 about ID, homeownership, housing, rate, and USA.

The number of housing units in the United States has grown year-on-year and in 2024, there were approximately 147 million homes. That was an increase of about one percent from the previous year. Homeownership in the U.S. Most of the housing stock in the U.S. is owner-occupied, meaning that the person who owns the home uses it as a primary residence. Homeownership is an integral part of the American Dream, with about two in three Americans living in an owner-occupied home. For older generations, the homeownership rate is even higher, showing that buying a home is an important milestone in life. Housing transactions slowing down During the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. experienced a housing market boom and witnessed an increase in the number of homes sold. Since 2020, when the market peaked, new homes transactions have slowed down and so have the sales of existing homes. That has affected the development of home prices, with several states across the country experiencing a decline in house prices.

The homeowner vacancy rate in the United States reached its lowest value in 2022, followed by an uptick in 2023. The rate shows what share of owner-occupied housing units were vacant and for sale. That figure peaked in 2008, when nearly three percent of homes were vacant, and gradually fell below one percent after the 2020 housing boom. Homeownership is a form of living arrangement where the owner of the inhabited property, whether apartment, house, or type of real estate, lives on the premises. Due to usually high costs associated with owning a property and perceived advantages or disadvantages associated with such a long-term investment, homeownership rates differ greatly around the world, based on both cultural and economic factors. In Europe, Romania is the country with the highest rate of homeownership, while the lowest homeownership rate was observed in Switzerland. Homeownership attitude in the U.S. Individuals may have very different opportunities or inclination to become homeowners based on nationality, age, financial status, social status, occupation, marital status, education or even ethnicity and whether one is local-born or foreign-born. In 2023, the homeownership rate among older Americans was higher than for younger Americans. In the U.S., homeownership is generally believed to be a good investment, in terms of security (no risk of eviction) and financial aspect (owning a valuable real estate property). In 2023, there were approximately 86 million owner-occupied housing units, a stark increase compared to four decades prior. Why is homeownership sentiment low? The housing market has been suffering chronic undersupply, leading to a surge in prices and eroding affordability. In 2023, the housing affordability index plummeted, reflecting the growing challenge that homeowners face when looking for property. Insufficient income, savings, and high home prices are some of the major obstacles that come in the way of a property purchase. Though affordability varied widely across different metros, just about 15 percent of U.S. renters could afford to buy the median priced home in their area.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate for Maine (MEHOWN) from 1984 to 2024 about ME, homeownership, housing, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Homeownership Rate for Nevada (NVHOWN) from 1984 to 2024 about NV, homeownership, housing, rate, and USA.

New Home Sales in the United States increased to 676 Thousand units in February from 664 Thousand units in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States New Home Sales - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

According to a November 2024 survey, the high cost of living is the leading reason preventing U.S. homeowners from pursuing homeownership. Other factors standing in the way of becoming a homeowner included having sufficient savings for a down payment (33 percent) and enough income (32 percent). In 2024, the homeownership rate in the U.S. was nearly 66 percent.