RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
  • Agents
  • Brokers
  • Teams
  • Marketing
  • Coaching
  • Technology
  • More
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • Consumer
    • National
    • Our Editors
Join Premier
Sign In
RISMedia
  • News
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • Events
  • Power Broker
  • Newsmakers
  • More
    • Publications
    • Education
No Result
View All Result
RISMedia
No Result
View All Result

Remote Work Trend Due to Virus Could Drive Renters Toward Homeownership

Home Industry News
By RISMedia Staff
September 8, 2020
Reading Time: 2 mins read

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, remote work has been on the rise, and it could impact the homeownership rate. According to a new Zillow® analysis, the increase in remote work could potentially unlock homeownership for almost two million renter households.

This potential highly depends on location and starter-home affordability. In San Francisco, for example, 22 percent of renters are priced out of their metro area, but they can afford monthly payments on a typical U.S. starter home (estimated at $725). With commuting constraints out of the way, that leaves the option for purchasing farther away from work.

“If remote work becomes a bona fide long-term option especially with the pandemic, that could reshape the U.S. housing market by opening up homeownership to people renting in expensive parts of the country,” said Zillow economist Jeff Tucker. “However, it’s unclear how many people would make the move to buy their first home. Proximity to work is just one of the factors people consider when choosing where to live. Other factors may keep them from moving including proximity to friends and family, cultural and natural amenities, and their kids’ schools.”

The impact would be greatest for the millennial generation. According to Zillow, millennials represent nearly half of the 1.92 million renter households who could afford homeownership if they had the flexibility to work remotely.

“Two-thirds of our buyers are millennials,” said Zillow Premier Agent Holly Mellstrom, a Pelham, N.Y.-based associate broker at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty. “They’re looking to put down roots and get more space for their money after high-rise city living. Many have young families and were planning to move to the suburbs in the future, but they’re making the move now because they don’t anticipate having to commute into the city to work every day.”

For some buyers, the pandemic has provided new options. For example, Chris Chan, 40, and his wife, Eunice Lee, 35, became homeowners during the pandemic, according to Zillow.

“The tipping point was envisioning both of us working from home indefinitely alongside our daughter and a second child on the way,” said Chan, who works in Connecticut. “We wanted to maintain the balance between space and proximity to the city. We could get more for our money just outside city limits and we’re still only 30 minutes from Grand Central Station.”

For more information, please visit www.zillow.com.

ShareTweetShare

RISMedia Staff

Related Posts

NAR
Industry News

NAR Praises ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ as ‘Major Win’ for Real Estate

July 3, 2025
Mortgage Rates Post Biggest Drop Since March 2025
Industry News

Mortgage Rates Post Biggest Drop Since March 2025

July 3, 2025
Upbeat New Jobs Report in June Leaves Housing in ‘Holding Pattern’
Agents

Upbeat New Jobs Report in June Leaves Housing in ‘Holding Pattern’

July 3, 2025
The AI Advantage: Experts Share How AI Is Revolutionizing Real Estate—and Why the Potential for Agents Is Limitless
Best Practices

The AI Advantage: Experts Share How AI Is Revolutionizing Real Estate—and Why the Potential for Agents Is Limitless

July 3, 2025
5 Signs a Senior Homeowner May Be Ready to Downsize
Agents

5 Signs a Senior Homeowner May Be Ready to Downsize

July 2, 2025
MRED
Agents

Midwest Real Estate Data Welcomes Quad City Area REALTORS® as Newest Association Partner

July 2, 2025
Please login to join discussion
Tip of the Day

4 Ways to Market to the Next Generation of Buyers

Every new generation has a chance to upend the status quo, introduce new ideas into the zeitgeist and radically shift the priorities of a society. Read more.

Business Tip of the Day provided by

Recent Posts

  • NAR Praises ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ as ‘Major Win’ for Real Estate
  • Mortgage Rates Post Biggest Drop Since March 2025
  • Upbeat New Jobs Report in June Leaves Housing in ‘Holding Pattern’

Categories

  • Spotlights
  • Best Practices
  • Advice
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Social Media

The Most Important Real Estate News & Events

Click below to receive the latest real estate news and events directly to your inbox.

Sign Up
By signing up, you agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

About Blog Our Products Our Team Contact Advertise/Sponsor Media Kit Email Whitelist Terms & Policies ACE Marketing Technologies LLC

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Premier
  • Reports
  • News
    • Agents
    • Brokers
    • Teams
    • Consumer
    • Marketing
    • Coaching
    • Technology
    • Headliners New
    • Luxury
    • Best Practices
    • National
    • Our Editors
  • Publications
    • Real Estate Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Custom Covers
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Podcasts
    • Event Coverage
  • Education
    • Get Licensed
    • REALTOR® Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Luxury Designation
    • Real Estate Tools
  • Newsmakers
    • 2025 Newsmakers
    • 2024 Newsmakers
    • 2023 Newsmakers
    • 2022 Newsmakers
    • 2021 Newsmakers
    • 2020 Newsmakers
    • 2019 Newsmakers
  • Power Broker
    • 2025 Power Broker
    • 2024 Power Broker
    • 2023 Power Broker
    • 2022 Power Broker
    • 2021 Power Broker
    • 2020 Power Broker
    • 2019 Power Broker
  • Join Premier
  • Sign In

© 2025 RISMedia. All Rights Reserved. Design by Real Estate Webmasters.

X