Housing Focus

Experts at the Kansas City Fed have developed a collection of research and resources exploring the impact of housing markets and real estate trends on the economy.

Keeping a pulse on housings markets and real estate trends is critical to understanding both the local and national economy. Because housing is an essential sector, it's an important indicator for consumer spending and confidence.

The Kansas City Fed monitors housing markets through the work of experts and economists. Below, you’ll find an archive of the Bank’s latest research and resources related to housing.


34 result(s) found
Article Title Author(s) Date Type

Comparing Measures of Rental Prices Can Inform Monetary Policy

Shelter makes up one-third of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and is important to understanding inflation developments. Comparing two measures of shelter prices—the official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) dataset and the Zillow rental price index—shows that the Zillow series leads the BLS series by about six to 10 months. Changes in the Zillow series should eventually be reflected in the BLS data, so any positive gap between the two suggests that tighter monetary conditions may be needed to lower CPI inflation.

Peter McAdam Expandable Row
September 29, 2023
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Nebraska Real Estate Markets Searching for Balance

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the use of space over the last three years, boosting demand for residential and industrial space and suppressing demand for office space.

Nate Kauffman
John McCoy Expandable Row
June 30, 2023
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Jordan Rappaport Expandable Row
May 17, 2023
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Equilibrium Evictions

Restricting landlords’ ability to evict may reduce housing supply, so paying delinquent tenants’ rent is a better policy.

Dean Corbae
Andrew Glover
Michael Nattinger Expandable Row
April 21, 2023
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Home Prices Are Overvalued but Will Decline Only Gradually

The surge in home prices since the start of the pandemic and the sharp increase in interest rates during 2022 have made purchasing a home much less affordable. Homeownership costs relative to rents suggest home prices are considerably overvalued. However, relief is unlikely in the near future: owners have an incentive to remain in their current homes until rates decrease, mitigating downward pressure on prices.

Jordan Rappaport Expandable Row
February 17, 2023
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Steven Howland Expandable Row
February 10, 2023
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Hybrid Working, Commuting Time, and the Coming Long-Term Boom in Home Construction

In the long run, hybrid working could lead single-family home construction to almost double in the largest metropolitan areas.

Jordan Rappaport Expandable Row
September 29, 2022
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Jennifer Wilding Expandable Row
April 26, 2022
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The Effect of Housing First Programs on Future Homelessness and Socioeconomic Outcomes

Evidence suggests that the Housing First approach to addressing homelessness generates positive and cost-effective housing and non-housing outcomes.

Elior Cohen Expandable Row
March 29, 2022
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Nebraska Home Prices Surging Amid Strong Demand and Limited Supply

Home prices in Nebraska have surged to all-time highs over the past two years.

Nate Kauffman
John McCoy Expandable Row
January 13, 2022
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