Marriage and Mortgages

Abstract

Using annualised data, this paper uses a regression model to help explain the relationship between home ownership, marriage, and key economic variables. By investigating the current body of knowledge this paper highlights support for two main theories that explain a fall in home ownership among those aged less than 35. Social trends, particularly delays in relationship formation (marriages), are cited by many academics as being the main reason for the decline in ownership among the young. However, there is more recent support for economic factors, suggesting affordability is much more of an issue for those who wish to achieve home ownership. The regression model, which uses home finance as a proxy for entry to home ownership, suggests that there is a statistically significant relationship between marriages and homeownership from 1979 - 2010 but not between median house prices and home ownership.