IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/cep/cepdps/dp2123.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

The social spillovers of homeownership: evidence from institutional investors

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen B. Billings
  • Adam Soliman

Abstract

We provide novel evidence on the social spillovers of homeownership by exploiting the recent rise of institutional investors purchasing single-family homes and converting them into permanent rentals. Using a granular difference-in-differences design based on proximity to each investor-purchased property, we find that neighboring property values decline by 1% relative to those slightly farther away. This decline grows over time yet decays across space, and these same properties experience increases in crime and decreases in property maintenance and voter registration. Supplemental analysis suggests these externalities arise from both landlord practices and tenant composition. Previously circulated as 'The erosion of homeownership and minority wealth', Paper Number CEPDP1967.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen B. Billings & Adam Soliman, 2025. "The social spillovers of homeownership: evidence from institutional investors," CEP Discussion Papers dp2123, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp2123
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp2123.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rohan Ganduri & Steven Chong Xiao & Serena Wenjing Xiao, 2023. "Tracing the source of liquidity for distressed housing markets," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 51(2), pages 408-440, March.
    2. Patrick Bayer & Stephen L. Ross & Giorgio Topa, 2008. "Place of Work and Place of Residence: Informal Hiring Networks and Labor Market Outcomes," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 116(6), pages 1150-1196, December.
    3. Disney, Richard & Gathergood, John & Machin, Stephen & Sandi, Matteo, 2020. "Does homeownership reduce crime? A radical housing reform in Britain," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 108426, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Elliot Anenberg & Edward Kung, 2014. "Estimates of the Size and Source of Price Declines Due to Nearby Foreclosures," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(8), pages 2527-2551, August.
    5. Ellen, Ingrid Gould & Lacoe, Johanna & Sharygin, Claudia Ayanna, 2013. "Do foreclosures cause crime?," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 59-70.
    6. Paolo Sodini & Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh & Roine Vestman & Ulf von Lilienfeld-Toal, 2023. "Identifying the Benefits from Homeownership: A Swedish Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(12), pages 3173-3212, December.
    7. Charles Towe & Chad Lawley, 2013. "The Contagion Effect of Neighboring Foreclosures," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 5(2), pages 313-335, May.
    8. Gerardi, Kristopher & Rosenblatt, Eric & Willen, Paul S. & Yao, Vincent, 2015. "Foreclosure externalities: New evidence," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 42-56.
    9. Fernando V. Ferreira & Jeanna H. Kenney & Benjamin Smith, 2023. "Household Mobility, Networks, and Gentrification of Minority Neighborhoods in the US," NBER Working Papers 31480, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. DiPasquale, Denise & Glaeser, Edward L., 1999. "Incentives and Social Capital: Are Homeowners Better Citizens?," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 354-384, March.
    11. Harding, John P. & Rosenblatt, Eric & Yao, Vincent W., 2009. "The contagion effect of foreclosed properties," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 164-178, November.
    12. Coulson, N. Edward & Li, Herman, 2013. "Measuring the external benefits of homeownership," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 57-67.
    13. John Y. Campbell & Stefano Giglio & Parag Pathak, 2011. "Forced Sales and House Prices," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(5), pages 2108-2131, August.
    14. Rebecca Diamond & Tim McQuade & Franklin Qian, 2019. "The Effects of Rent Control Expansion on Tenants, Landlords, and Inequality: Evidence from San Francisco," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(9), pages 3365-3394, September.
    15. Patrick Bayer & Marcus D. Casey & W. Ben McCartney & John Orellana-Li & Calvin S. Zhang, 2022. "Distinguishing Causes of Neighborhood Racial Change: A Nearest Neighbor Design," NBER Working Papers 30487, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Richard Disney & John Gathergood & Stephen Machin & Matteo Sandi, 2023. "Does Homeownership Reduce Crime? A Radical Housing Reform from the UK," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(655), pages 2640-2675.
    17. Bernstein, Asaf & Billings, Stephen B. & Gustafson, Matthew T. & Lewis, Ryan, 2022. "Partisan residential sorting on climate change risk," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(3), pages 989-1015.
    18. Cui, Lin & Walsh, Randall, 2015. "Foreclosure, vacancy and crime," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 72-84.
    19. Green, Richard K. & White, Michelle J., 1997. "Measuring the Benefits of Homeowning: Effects on Children," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 441-461, May.
    20. Janet Currie & Lucas Davis & Michael Greenstone & Reed Walker, 2015. "Environmental Health Risks and Housing Values: Evidence from 1,600 Toxic Plant Openings and Closings," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(2), pages 678-709, February.
    21. Clarke, Wyatt & Freedman, Matthew, 2019. "The rise and effects of homeowners associations," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1-15.
    22. John Harding & Thomas J. Miceli & C.F. Sirmans, 2000. "Do Owners Take Better Care of Their Housing Than Renters?," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 28(4), pages 663-681.
    23. James Mills & Raven Molloy & Rebecca Zarutskie, 2019. "Large‐Scale Buy‐to‐Rent Investors in the Single‐Family Housing Market: The Emergence of a New Asset Class," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 47(2), pages 399-430, June.
    24. Patrick S. Smith & Crocker H. Liu, 2020. "Institutional Investment, Asset Illiquidity and Post‐Crash Housing Market Dynamics," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 48(3), pages 673-709, September.
    25. Engelhardt, Gary V. & Eriksen, Michael D. & Gale, William G. & Mills, Gregory B., 2010. "What are the social benefits of homeownership? Experimental evidence for low-income households," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 249-258, May.
    26. Ihlanfeldt, Keith & Yang, Cynthia Fan, 2021. "Single-family rentals and neighborhood racial integration✰," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    27. Harding, John P. & Rosenthal, Stuart S. & Sirmans, C.F., 2007. "Depreciation of housing capital, maintenance, and house price inflation: Estimates from a repeat sales model," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 193-217, March.
    28. Naomi Hausman & Tamar Ramot-Nyska & Noam Zussman, 2022. "Homeownership, Labor Supply, and Neighborhood Quality," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 14(2), pages 193-230, May.
    29. McCartney, W. Ben & Shah, Avni M., 2022. "Household mortgage refinancing decisions are neighbor influenced, especially along racial lines," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    30. Umit G Gurun & Jiabin Wu & Steven Chong & Serena Wenjing & Tarun Ramadorai, 2023. "Do Wall Street Landlords Undermine Renters’ Welfare?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 36(1), pages 70-121.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Billings, Stephen B. & Soliman, Adam, 2023. "The erosion of homeownership and minority wealth," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 126821, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. John P. Harding & Jing Li & Stuart S. Rosenthal & Xirui Zhang, 2022. "Forced moves and home maintenance: The amplifying effects of mortgage payment burden on underwater homeowners," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 50(2), pages 498-533, June.
    3. Geoffrey K. Turnbull & Arno J. van der Vlist, 2023. "After the Boom: Transitory and Legacy Effects of Foreclosures," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 66(2), pages 422-442, February.
    4. Anthony Yezer & Yishen Liu, 2017. "Can Differences Deceive? The Case of “Foreclosure Externalities"," Working Papers 2017-29, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    5. Anthony Yezer, 2016. "Testing the Association between Foreclosure and Nearby House Values: Can Differences Deceive?," Working Papers 2016-29, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    6. Christos A. Makridis & Michael Ohlrogge, 2022. "Foreclosure spillovers and individual well‐being: Evidence from the Great Recession," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 50(1), pages 122-146, March.
    7. Gerardi, Kristopher & Rosenblatt, Eric & Willen, Paul S. & Yao, Vincent, 2015. "Foreclosure externalities: New evidence," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 42-56.
    8. Kanayama, Yuki & Sadayuki, Taisuke, 2021. "What types of houses remain vacant? Evidence from a municipality in Tokyo, Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    9. Jeffrey P. Cohen & Cletus C. Coughlin & Vincent W. Yao, 2016. "Sales of Distressed Residential Property: What Have We Learned from Recent Research?," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 98(3), pages 159-188.
    10. Yishen Liu & Anthony M. Yezer, 2021. "Foreclosure Externalities: Have We Confused the Cure with the Disease?," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 49(S2), pages 428-460, September.
    11. Michael J. Seiler & Liuming Yang, 2023. "Gun‐ownership disclosure and localized home prices," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 51(6), pages 1399-1436, November.
    12. Weiran Huang & Ashlyn Nelson & Stephen L. Ross, 2018. "Foreclosure Spillovers within Broad Neighborhoods," Working Papers 2018-096, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    13. Lagomarsino, Bruno Cardinale & Rossi, Martin A., 2024. "JUE insight: The unintended effect of Argentina's subsidized homeownership lottery program on intimate partner violence," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    14. Lambie-Hanson, Lauren, 2015. "When does delinquency result in neglect? Mortgage distress and property maintenance," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 1-16.
    15. Geoffrey K. Turnbull & Arno J. van der Vlist, 2024. "Foreclosures and housing prices: does neighborhood configuration matter?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 72(2), pages 407-433, February.
    16. Michele Loberto, 2023. "Foreclosures and House Prices," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 9(1), pages 397-424, March.
    17. Coulson, N. Edward & Li, Herman, 2013. "Measuring the external benefits of homeownership," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 57-67.
    18. McCartney, W. Ben & Shah, Avni M., 2022. "Household mortgage refinancing decisions are neighbor influenced, especially along racial lines," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    19. Simlai, Prodosh, 2019. "Subprime credit, idiosyncratic risk, and foreclosures," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 175-189.
    20. Chen, Denghui & Kiefer, Hua & Liu, Xiaodong, 2022. "Estimation of discrete choice network models with missing outcome data," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp2123. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: the person in charge (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/discussion-papers/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.