A Seismic Demographic Shift in Housing

Ethnic and minority marketing is a key areaWhere does this lead? It turns out that of new
where properties can differentiate themselves.households, Hispanic Latinos are 36% (50% of the
Over the next decade this is an even more72%) of the total. If we extrapolate from this
significant fact as more than 72% of newpoint, we know that of total household figures we
households will be minority according to the 2009conclude we are headed for much lower
Joint Housing Study. This implies a seismic shift inhomeownership and much higher home rentership.
the proportion rental homes for the nation. ForIf this trend holds, homeownership will fall below
the first time since records have been tracked50% over the next decade or two a fact no
U.S. homeownership is on track to move belowstudy has explicitly recognized. Should this trend
the historic average of 62% toward a low 50%hold the course, besides indicating drastically
range (and this does not consider impact of thereduced single family household growth there will
housing crisis driven recession on homeownerbe a equally large rise in multifamily housing
trends).requirements. Further, management companies
Since minorities have lower incomes and in generalthat do not address winning larger portions of this
rent at a greater rate than Caucasians this willdemographic will struggle to maintain occupancy.
have a disproportionately strong effect onSpanish leasing and marketing tools are a critical
rentership. In fact, if we break this down further,step to address this trend.
U.S. census data shows that blacks rent at aFurther, we believe that beyond the steps taken
greater than 50% rate compared to homethat research toward understanding these trends
ownership. This jumps to more than 60% for theare key competitive differentiators.
Hispanic Latino population.