How many Americans own their primary residence free and clear?

Answer 1

The US census bureau does not answer this question directly... According to the 2005 census (http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/ahs/ahs05/tab3-15.pdf), about 33% of owner-occupied homes are owned free and clear. However, this doesn't include the statistics for non-owner-occupied homes. In other words, the owner of the apartment building down the street may or may not have a mortgage on the building. I think it is a good bet that a lower percentage of these income properties are owned outright, which would lower the overall percentage of units that are owned free and clear. This type of census would also not take into account something like the foreclosure explosion because the US census figures only take into account OCCUPIED homes. An overwhelming majority of unoccupied homes are not owned free and clear.

Answer 2

According to the article in the related link one-third of Americans own their property and are mortgage free. That figure varies by location. The figures from the latest census are not available but that statistic probably remains stable since those are the people who seem to manage their finances well and do not borrow on the equity they have in their homes.

Answer 3

65.5 % of Americans are homeowners in 2012. This is the lowest rate in fifty years. The Great Recession severally damaged the homeowners market, wiping away trillions of dollars in equity.

Answer 4

I estimate about one percent!

Answer 5

64%