Senior Migration and Housing Consumption Findings from Metropolitan Baltimore

Abstract This study examines the intersection between residential mobility and housing consumption for seniors who migrate inward from the suburbs of the Baltimore metropolitan statistical area (MSA), with a particular focus on marital status. Using probit and multinomial logistic specifications that are developed with the dataset drawn from the 2013–2017 Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS), the findings support the argument that preferences for tenure vary greatly with respect to the life-cycle phase. Throughout the Baltimore MSA, seniors show a strong tendency toward downsizing and becoming renters – specifically of apartments – regardless of location. Single status itself does not have a positive effect on the likelihood that a senior may migrate inward nor does it directly impact whether or not a senior adjusts their housing wealth. Nonetheless, recent widowhood significantly increases one’s propensity to move inward; but there is mixed evidence on one’s decision to dissave their housing wealth. This study seeks to provide a better understanding of the varied correlations between senior migration and housing consumption in the Baltimore MSA.