Property taxes are another front in the generational housing divide

Published August 13, 2026 5:00am ET | Updated August 13, 2026 7:48am ET



Amid the generational tug-of-war over housing, a new study finds evidence that policies protecting older homeowners from higher property taxes could be making it harder for young families to buy homes.

A new study by economists at New York University and Baruch College, released earlier this month, found that lower property taxes tend to discourage older homeowners from selling and limit access to housing for younger families. But higher property taxes can cause older homeowners to sell, thereby decreasing home prices for young prospective buyers.

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