Preface
This report continues the Lubar Center’s focus on the state of Milwaukee’s housing. Previous installments have documented the end of the residency requirement for city workers, the collapse in owner occupancy following the Great Recession, increased investment by out-of-state landlords, and high-frequency eviction by large corporate landlords.
Our latest study reveals something new. Since 2018, homeownership has begun rebounding across Milwaukee. No other four-year period since our data begins in 1990 has seen an increase in homeownership this large. At the same time, several private equity backed out-of-state investors have also rapidly expanded their holdings. They focus on lower-priced houses in specific neighborhoods, putting them in direct competition with the would-be home buyers already living there.
About this report
This digital report includes records through the end of 2023.
Related articles
John D. Johnson, “The Rise and Impact of Corporate Landlords.” Marquette Lawyer Magazine, Summer 2023.
John D. Johnson, “Two of Milwaukee’s Largest Corporate Landlords Selling Their Houses, With Wildly Different Results.” UrbanMilwaukee.com, 22 June 2023.
Mike Gousha, “Milwaukee city workers moved out in droves after the residency rule ended. It was a boon for the suburbs.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 November 2019.
Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson, “Thousands of Milwaukee homes are no longer owned by city residents in a massive transfer of wealth since the Great Recession.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 30 January 2020.
Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson, “It’s an Unsettling Day in the Neighborhoods.” Marquette Lawyer Magazine, Summer 2020.
Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson, “Growing ‘land grab’ by out-of-state investment landlords raises questions for Milwaukee homeowners and neighborhoods.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 15 April 2021.
Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson, “Who Owns the House Next Door?” Marquette Lawyer Magazine, Summer 2021.
John D. Johnson, “Out-of-state Investment in Milwaukee’s Home Rental Market.” Marquette Law School Lubar Center, 18 April 2021.
Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson, “‘A grasp on stable shelter:’ As the pandemic recedes, housing instability remains a big problem in Milwaukee.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 July 2021.
Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson, “In the competition for Milwaukee’s neighborhoods, out-of-state landlords remain a concern.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10 November 2022.