Most metro Atlanta housing units are 20-plus years old
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Don't let the cranes fool you: The bulk of metro Atlanta homes were built in the booming 1990s and 2000s leading up to the housing market crash, per the latest census data.
Why it matters: Keeping metro Atlanta affordable for people living on low and middle incomes requires smart policy, funding and an ever-increasing supply of new housing units.
- Even though Atlanta has outpaced the national average since the 1980s, the share of homes built in the past five years is roughly equivalent to those still standing from the post-war 1950s.
Zoom in: 24% of the metro's housing units were built during the 2000s, nearly double the national average for that decade.
The big picture: Existing homes aren't getting any younger and sellers are still feeling the rate-lock effect.
- This opens the window for a remodeling wave, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Yes, but: Buyers are keen on new builds, given existing supply constraints and (sometimes) better deals to be found.
What we're watching: Energy efficiency, kitchen and bath upgrades, and maximizing utility are among the top renovation trends.