Boomers, Elders Finding Housing Unaffordable

Older Americans are having a hard time finding affordable housing, a new study finds.

AARP’s Public Policy Institute released a nationwide snapshot of the changing housing landscape for boomers and elders, expanding on a 2007 report on housing for Americans 50+.

Conditions have changed greatly for older households during the last decade, the study found Housing has become less affordable for many older adults who currently devote an unsustainable amount of their budget to paying rent or for their home.

“The American dream is getting harder for many older Americans to sustain,” said Susan Reinhard, Senior Vice President for Public Policy at AARP. “While just a decade ago Americans were more likely to own their homes and cover their rent, today many are faced with the harsh reality that they cannot afford to live their lives the way they choose.”

Key findings in the report include:

* More older Americans are facing an increasing “housing cost-burden,” with more than 30% of their income devoted to housing costs
* Fewer Americans 50+ own their homes free and clear and more are still paying mortgages
* 50+ households are less likely to be married and living with a spouse than in the past
* More men 50+ are living alone, while fewer women 50+ are living alone 
* People age 50+ are more likely to live in older homes than in the past

The full report report is available online.