What does it say about the American Dream when more people are renting than ever before? At the turn of the 21st century, the housing market seemed to be heading in a single, confident direction: Homeownership was the goal, equity was attainable, and renting was usually just a stop along the way. But that sense of stability quickly unraveled. The housing crash of the late 2000s, followed by a decade of uneven recovery and the…

The idea that people should be free to choose their communities, rather than remain tethered to where they were born is a distinctly American concept. This means that, for much of its history, the U.S. was unmatched in its level of geographic mobility with both interstate and same-state moves showing people’s desire to do better. In fact, in the 19th century, nearly one third of Americans moved each year, often to seek better opportunities in…

Key Takeaways Renting in Baltimore is the norm, not the exception. Last year, more than half the households were renting, making it one of the renter-majority big cities in the United States. By comparison, Maryland’s overall rentership rate stood at just over 32%. This difference reflects Baltimore’s urban housing dynamics. The area has long attracted a large student population and young professionals, thanks to institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.…