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Aging in place or moving on? Exploring older homeowners’ housing situation in the context of housing market dynamics and policy incentives

Dahlgren, David LU orcid ; Magnusson, Lina LU orcid ; Hansson, Åsa LU ; Schmidt, Steven M. LU orcid ; Iwarsson, Susanne LU and Kylén, Maya LU orcid (2026) In Housing and Society
Abstract

Housing preferences in later life vary, and housing decisions are complex. While much attention has been paid to health and accessibility, less is known about how financial factors influence housing decisions among older homeowners. This qualitative study aimed to deepen understanding of how single-family homeowners aged 55 and older reason about their housing situation. We conducted focus groups with 30 participants from four Swedish municipalities, selected for their distinct demographic and housing market characteristics. Content analysis revealed a central theme: The many benefits of living in the current house outweigh economic and local housing market challenges. This theme emerged from four categories: (1) Desire to stay in... (More)

Housing preferences in later life vary, and housing decisions are complex. While much attention has been paid to health and accessibility, less is known about how financial factors influence housing decisions among older homeowners. This qualitative study aimed to deepen understanding of how single-family homeowners aged 55 and older reason about their housing situation. We conducted focus groups with 30 participants from four Swedish municipalities, selected for their distinct demographic and housing market characteristics. Content analysis revealed a central theme: The many benefits of living in the current house outweigh economic and local housing market challenges. This theme emerged from four categories: (1) Desire to stay in place; (2) Discrimination toward older homeowners; (3) Local and national housing market conditions; (4) Reflecting on the future housing situation. The study demonstrates that preferences for aging in place are shaped by health status, emotional attachment, and financial concerns. Participants often viewed relocation as financially disadvantageous, and a limited supply of suitable housing and perceived lack of political prioritization further constrained their possibility of moving. These findings suggest a potential mismatch between housing policy goals and homeowners’ preferences, underlining the need for planning strategies that reflect local realities and support aging in place.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
Aging in place, housing decision, minimizing housing costs, relocation
in
Housing and Society
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:105032426053
ISSN
0888-2746
DOI
10.1080/08882746.2026.2634523
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
id
e9b3125a-519a-4437-9813-9e93475cda17
date added to LUP
2026-05-19 13:14:53
date last changed
2026-05-19 13:56:42
@article{e9b3125a-519a-4437-9813-9e93475cda17,
  abstract     = {{<p>Housing preferences in later life vary, and housing decisions are complex. While much attention has been paid to health and accessibility, less is known about how financial factors influence housing decisions among older homeowners. This qualitative study aimed to deepen understanding of how single-family homeowners aged 55 and older reason about their housing situation. We conducted focus groups with 30 participants from four Swedish municipalities, selected for their distinct demographic and housing market characteristics. Content analysis revealed a central theme: The many benefits of living in the current house outweigh economic and local housing market challenges. This theme emerged from four categories: (1) Desire to stay in place; (2) Discrimination toward older homeowners; (3) Local and national housing market conditions; (4) Reflecting on the future housing situation. The study demonstrates that preferences for aging in place are shaped by health status, emotional attachment, and financial concerns. Participants often viewed relocation as financially disadvantageous, and a limited supply of suitable housing and perceived lack of political prioritization further constrained their possibility of moving. These findings suggest a potential mismatch between housing policy goals and homeowners’ preferences, underlining the need for planning strategies that reflect local realities and support aging in place.</p>}},
  author       = {{Dahlgren, David and Magnusson, Lina and Hansson, Åsa and Schmidt, Steven M. and Iwarsson, Susanne and Kylén, Maya}},
  issn         = {{0888-2746}},
  keywords     = {{Aging in place; housing decision; minimizing housing costs; relocation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Housing and Society}},
  title        = {{Aging in place or moving on? Exploring older homeowners’ housing situation in the context of housing market dynamics and policy incentives}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08882746.2026.2634523}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/08882746.2026.2634523}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}