Renters Were 3X More Likely To Miss Payments Than Homeowners In September, October

Renters were three times more likely to miss payments than homeowners during September and October, according to research from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Research Institute for Housing American (RIHA). The study, titled Housing-Related Financial Distress During the Pandemic, found that the share of renters who missed, delayed, or made a reduced payment rose to 9.6% in September and 10.9% in October. In July, that number was 9.6%.  The share of homeowners who missed payments declined in the same period, to 3.2% in September, though it rose again in October to 3.8%. In July, that number was 3.8%, while in June it was 4.6%. Of those who missed their June rent, 17.2% also missed their September rent. Of homeowners who…

RIHA: Americans’ Net Worth Rose 17.6% From 2016 To 2019

The median net worth of American households rose 17.6% between 2016 and 2019, according to a new report from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Research Institute for Housing America (RIHA). The report, titled The Distribution of Wealth in America Since 2016, found that median net worth increased from $103,000 in 2016 to $127,000 in 2019, the highest amount since 2007.  “The increase in homeownership, and the steady rise in home values and the stock market drove the increase in middle-class wealth. The median net worth of every racial and ethnic category also increased, with the largest increases coming from Black and Hispanic households,”  said Dr. John C. Weicher, author of the report and Director for the Center for Housing and…