Ageing in Place or Moving On? Exploring Older Homeowners’ Housing Situation in the Context of Housing Market Dynamics And Policy Incentives

This study sheds light on housing decisions among older adults and their choice to age in place or move on. Little attention has been paid to the role of financial factors in such decisions, particularly using qualitative methods. This study aimed to deepen the understanding of how single-family homeowners 55 years or older reason about their housing situation. The specific focus was on local housing market circumstances, national policies on housing taxation and subsidies, and housing provision. We conducted focus groups involving 30 participants recruited from four municipalities in Sweden.

Content analysis of data from focus group interviews revealed a central theme: "The many benefits of living in the current home outweigh economic and local housing market challenges." This theme emerged from four distinct categories: (1) Desire to stay in place; (2) Discrimination against older homeowners; (3) Local and national housing market conditions; (4) Reflecting on future housing situation. These preliminary findings deepen the understanding of older homeowners' housing decisions, emphasizing the importance of minimizing housing costs, and the role of housing availability in encouraging relocation. The lack of suitable housing for older adults may stem from ageist attitudes and low prioritization by local policymakers.