Homeownership is a critical wealth-building tool, but not everyone has the same opportunities to become a homeowner. To better understand the trajectory of homeownership rates—where they have been, where they are going, who has been able to benefit from homeownership, who has not, and who might be able to in the future—the Urban Institute looked at US household formation and homeownership rates by race and ethnicity over time and projected them over the next 20 years.

We found that a combination of economic cycles and public policies have widened racial gaps in homeownership and wealth equity. Our projections reveal significant implications for racial homeownership gaps, seniors’ housing needs, and future housing supply. These national and state-level trends and projections will be key to informing policymakers, thought leaders, and changemakers working to create a more equitable and sustainable housing landscape.

Join us for a summary of our findings and recommendations and a panel discussion of their implications for housing and wealth equity.