Families and Housing Decisions: A Look Across OECD Countries

Homeownership trends developed in 22 OECD countries over the past three to four decades are examined and differences related to the homeownership gap for women and men are discussed, with a focus on most recent trends. The US and countries with varying institutional structures are compared with particular attention being paid to differences across family types. The estimation techniques allow us to discuss the role of determinants from a gender perspective. We find that single women are better off than single men without children and a reverse trend exists in families with children. The general negative effect for women remains for younger cohorts in the face of risking homeownership. The latest crisis did not change the general long-running trend of the homeownership gap except for the US and France. The findings of this chapter provide an international perspective on differential homeownership rates among women and men, across countries and over time. Given that the value of one’s own home (home equity) is the largest financial reserve in a household’s wealth portfolio, it is important to have a better understanding of the differences resulting from gender and family types.