This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Rosslyn resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!
Question: Is it true that more people are choosing to rent than buy a home?
Answer: I’ve certainly been hearing this theory for a while now too — people are foregoing the American Dream of owning their own home for the ease and flexibility they get from renting. That’s usually paired with some scary data about how Millennials only rent and are ruining everything (see my August 2018 column about this topic). While that trend was true for most of the last 10-12 years, it’s proven false over the last two years.
Home Ownership Way Up, Renting Slightly Down
On a National level, the US Census Bureau is reporting a third straight year in increased home ownership with 2018 being by far the largest growth we’ve had in home ownership since 2004. The numbers of renters dropped for a second year in a row, the first drop in National rental rates since 2004.
Why The Sudden Change?
I believe there are two main reasons why the trends have reversed course over the last two years.
First, the majority of Millennials are finally of home-buying and settling down age and have had some time to build up a savings after taking on historically high amounts of student debt and graduating into a recessions/slow economy. I always laughed when I heard “experts” claim Millennials would never buy homes while most of them were under 30 and financially unprepared for a mortgage.
The second reason is the strong economy we’ve witnessed over the last few years that has finally led to higher income. Better pay and more job security will always lead to higher rates of home ownership.
What About Arlington?
As of 2016, the home ownership rate in Arlington was just 44.2%; well below the National (63.6%), Virginia (65.8%) and Greater Metro Area (63%) average ownership rate. Arlington home ownership has only increased by .3% since then.
I recently heard that 20% of Arlington’s population moves every year (most in the Country) so you can expect such a transient population to favor renting over ownership when compared to the rest of the country.
Given how expensive it is to live in Arlington, I don’t see the ownership rate increasing much over the next five years, which is a good thing because there’s already nowhere near enough homes for sale to support the current ownership rate.
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at www.EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, (202) 518-8781.
Graphic via the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
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Located in National Landing, these performance-based camps are designed for students of all ages – no theater or performance experience required.
Led by professional teaching artists, campers learn acting, movement, and technical theater skills through the lens of Physical Theater. Physical Theater incorporates acting, movement, dance, mime, and acrobatics. If you’ve seen a Cirque du Soleil performance, you’ll find many similarities.
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EDBS Dental Billing Solutions is pleased to announce that it has achieved compliance with the federally mandated standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) through the use of Compliancy Group’s proprietary HIPAA methodology, The Guard® compliance tracking software, and HIPAA Seal of Compliance®.
The HIPAA Seal of Compliance is issued to organizations that have implemented an effective HIPAA compliance program through the use of The Guard, Compliancy Group’s proprietary compliance tracking solution.
Clients and patients are becoming more aware of the requirements of HIPAA compliance and how the regulation protects their personal information. Forward-thinking providers like EDBS Dental Billing Solutions choose the HIPAA Seal of Compliance to differentiate their services.
“Since the nature of our business being exclusively remote, we take HIPAA compliance very seriously. With the help of Compliancy Group, we are able to take steps to fortify our systems to protect PHI information and familiarize each employee about HIPAA and how we can further safeguard PHI data.” said EDBS Dental Billing Solutions founder Goldie De Leon.
WHS Spring Festival
Join us at the WHS Spring Festival on April 22, 2023, from 10am- 3pm at Wakefield High School(main parking lot). Come out to shop, play, and eat!
Shop local vendors, arts & crafts, new and used items, food vendors/trucks, and
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