New Publication: Selling low-value housing to owner occupants or investors: The effect on property disinvestment in Detroit

Can increasing homeownership help prevent neighborhood decline?

HSHE research expert, Margaret Dewar, PhD and HSHE Director Roshanak Mehdipanah, PhD, studied three Detroit programs that sold publicly owned homes to very-low-income residents found that 86% of participants remained owner-occupants after 5–6 years. These properties showed signs of better condition and lower vacancy risk compared to some alternatives.

But there’s a catch: many homeowners struggled to afford major repairs and lacked insurance, limiting long-term impact. The findings suggest homeownership programs can help stabilize neighborhoods—but need stronger financial support to truly succeed.

Read the article here: Selling low-value housing to owner occupants or investors: The effect on property disinvestment in Detroit