Family Facts: Social Science Research on Family, Society & Religion

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This finding looks at the relationship between family structure and the likelihood of applying for a mortgage among households that rent.

Among individuals who rented in 1991, those who were already married or married between 1991 and 1996 were 31% more likely to apply for a mortgage than single individuals. In a related finding, households that had an additional child between 1991 and 1996 were 12 percent more likely to apply for a mortgage than households that did not have more children during this period. Finally, individuals that divorced between 1991 and 1996 were 28% less likely to apply for a mortgage than individuals who remained single.

Sample or Data Description
Data came from the 1991 and 1996 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), a nationally representative survey. The analytic sample consisted of individuals who participated in the PSID between 1991 and 1996, rented their homes in 1991, were white or African American, and between the ages of 20 and 60 (N=1,475).

Source
"The Transition to Home Ownership and the Black-White Wealth Gap."
Charles, K. K.
Hurst, E.
The Review of Economics and Statistics Vol. 84, Number . , 2002. Page(s) 281 – 297.

FindingID: 8620