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<p>Existing literature suggests that homeowners are relatively less geographically mobile and experience longer unemployment spells compared to renters. This paper examines the relationship between homeownership and commuting time. We first develop a simple model showing that higher housing prices lead to longer commutes for homeowners due to the “drive-’til-you-qualify for mortgages”. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we provide evidence that homeowners spend significantly more time commuting than renters, even after controlling for observables. Our results remain robust to concerns about endogeneity, unobserved household characteristics, and functional misspecifications. Moreover, the effect is particularly pronounced among households in metropolitan areas, minority households, and those with lower income and wealth. While homeownership subsidies in the U.S. are often justified by their presumed economic and social benefits, this paper highlights a potential downside: increased commuting time.</p>

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Do Homeowners Have Longer Commutes?

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月15日

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  • Mingzhi Hu,
  • Zhenguo Lin,
  • Yingchun Liu

摘要

Existing literature suggests that homeowners are relatively less geographically mobile and experience longer unemployment spells compared to renters. This paper examines the relationship between homeownership and commuting time. We first develop a simple model showing that higher housing prices lead to longer commutes for homeowners due to the “drive-’til-you-qualify for mortgages”. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we provide evidence that homeowners spend significantly more time commuting than renters, even after controlling for observables. Our results remain robust to concerns about endogeneity, unobserved household characteristics, and functional misspecifications. Moreover, the effect is particularly pronounced among households in metropolitan areas, minority households, and those with lower income and wealth. While homeownership subsidies in the U.S. are often justified by their presumed economic and social benefits, this paper highlights a potential downside: increased commuting time.