“For boomer women, how financially secure they are likely to be as they age will be greatly influenced by their present and future housing choices.” Eric S. Belsky, Executive Director, and Rachel Drew, Research Analyst, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University

In “Home Ownership: A Boon to Boomer Women,” Eric Belsky and Rachel Drew explore the often overlooked relationship between housing and the economic security for baby boomer women. The authors investigate the financial impact housing has on boomer women, including the advantages of home ownership versus renting, aging-in-place as opposed to moving, and other diverse alternative housing choices and solutions. Noting that many boomer women will not be able to afford housing cost burdens as they age, the authors advocate that there is an urgent need for a national public policy response to the economic security of aging baby boomer women that is built around housing.