![Can empty-nesters boost housing affordability? - podcast episode cover](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/12/18/show-artwork_sq-90ca0d005843d57386c118b786f62eb8dc7d6201.jpg?s=3000&c=66&f=jpg)
Episode description
The "silver tsunami" of aging Americans is often seen as a potential way to alleviate the country's housing affordability woes. However, the data suggests that an influx of empty-nester homes coming on the market won't have much of an impact on the problem—because of a geographical mismatch.Today on the show, we speak to an economist who's looked into the silver tsunami's impact on the housing market and thinks this theory might be more of a red herring.
This episode was fact checked by Sierra Juarez
Related episodes:
The graying of America
What would it take to fix retirement?
How big is the US housing shortage?
The highs and lows of US rents
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