Tampa's suburban trends point to new American Dream

Two suburban neighborhoods in the area — East Lake-Orient Park and Egypt Lake-Leto in Tampa — are now, for the first time, mostly occupied by renters rather than homeowners, according to a new study from RENTCafé.

• And trend lines show that New Port Richey and Temple Terrace will be next and could change from owner majority to renter majority in the next five years.
• Westchase and Riverview also saw explosive growth in renters.

The big picture: Renters are now the majority in 103 U.S. suburbs, which previously were homeowner territory, while only four suburbs transitioned to owner majority.

• Twenty Florida suburbs, including 13 in the Miami area, became renter-majority.

Why it matters: The Boomer-driven idea of the "American Dream" — a mortgage on a home with a two-car garage, big lawn and picket fence — is changing as housing prices rise and more workers value flexibility for career opportunities.

• Since COVID-19 has compelled businesses to adopt more friendly work-from-home policies, workers have a "newfound appreciation for cheaper, more spacious surroundings," Doug Ressler, a senior analyst and manager of business intelligence at Yardi Matrix, told Ben.

What they're saying: "Many coveted knowledge workers have already made their move or are considering it," Ressler said.