HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOUSING TRANSITIONS: EXPLAINING THE DEMOGRAPHIC COMPOSITION

We document the evolution of homeownership rate across various age groups for the period 1995-2015. We find that variations in the homeownership rates are relatively large for the young, which is mostly driven by renter-to-owner transitions. In order to explain these empirical facts, we consider a life-cycle model featuring housing tenure decisions. Housing is modeled as an indivisible and lumpy investment subject to both loan-to-value (LTV) and debt-to-income (DTI) credit constraints and transaction fees. Our analysis suggests that variations in the DTI limit play a crucial role in accounting for the uneven behavior across age groups.