NAHB recently updated the online tool that provides economic and housing market statistics for all local Home Builder Associations (HBAs). It covers twelve key economic and demographic statistics at three different levels, which allows local HBAs to easily compare local housing markets across the country. All the statistics are derived from the 2014 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and the 2014 Building Permit Survey. HBA jurisdictions are defined as of the annual Board of Directors Meeting on September 29, 2015. This post lists the five local HBAs with the highest homeownership rates.

The homeownership rate is calculated by dividing the number of owner-occupied housing units by the total number of occupied units. The number of occupied units include both owner- and renter-occupied housing units. The higher the homeownership rate, the lower the rental rate.

The top five list reflects distinct regional differences in homeownership rates. The first two HBAs are located in Midwest, which has the highest concentration of owner-occupied homes at the regional level. The local HBA with the highest homeownership rate is HBA of Livingston County, MI, where 84.7% of housing units are owned, compared to the national homeownership rate of 64.4%.

Homeownership is determined not only by macroeconomic and housing market conditions (e.g. home values), but also financial conditions of households (e.g. household income). Generally, homeownership rates are higher in areas where housing is more affordable. Socio-demographic characteristics, such as age, marital/family status, and educational attainment, also shape tenure choices, whether to own or rent. Location is another key factor influencing homeownership rates. Urban areas with high homeownership costs normally have lower homeownership rates than rural areas where owning a home is more affordable.

Tags: homeownership rates, local HBAs, snapshot