Property dynamics and displacement: How multifamily sales, renovations, and demolitions influence moves for children

Dynamic changes to multifamily properties like sales, renovations, and demolitions are theoretically linked with housing displacement, and emergent research finds these changes are associated with increased prevalence of eviction filings. However, how dynamic changes to multifamily properties influence residential mobility and children’s enrollment in school is unknown. In this article, we ask, how do changes to multifamily properties influence where children live and attend school? We conduct analysis with a novel dataset linking administrative records on real estate transactions, municipal building permits, and public school students in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. We find that children living in multifamily housing sold or demolished during the 2019 or 2020 school year were 15% and 44% more likely to experience a residential move before the start of the 2021 school year, respectively, compared to children living in stably owned and maintained multifamily housing in the same neighborhood. Children in renovated properties were no more likely to move or switch schools, and increases in residential mobility were similar for children living in properties sold to local and non-local owners. Together, these findings suggest that property sales and demolitions increase the likelihood of housing displacement for families with children.

Duke Scholars

Author Elizabeth Joanne Gifford Sanford School of Public Policy

Author Anna Gassman-Pines Sanford School of Public Policy

Author Marcos A. Rangel Sanford School of Public Policy