his dissertation examines the costs and benefits of homeownership for low-income households and contributes to the literature through two empirical studies using the biennial Panel Study of Income Dynamics data for the period 1999 - 2007. The first study examines the influence of years of owner occupation and housing capital gains on household wealth and savings. The second study examines the influence of non-housing wealth on exits from homeownership.;The first study finds that low-income households derive limited wealth benefits from homeownership. The results indicate that, during the period 1999-2007, a median low-income household with a net wealth of ;The second study finds that non-housing wealth has a significant inverse influence on exits due to involuntary reasons but no influence on voluntary exits. It also finds that low-income households are more likely to exit homeownership for both involuntary as well as voluntary reasons. The results indicate that a low-income homeowner with
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