Michigan’s aging homes add pressure to the state’s housing shortage

About 60% of Michigan’s occupied homes — roughly 2.5 million units — were built in or before the 1970s. The state’s median housing age is 53 years, eight years older than the national median.

Experts say aging roofs, water heaters, foundations and outdated materials can raise costs for homeowners and first-time buyers. Michigan’s housing shortage has narrowed from an estimated 190,000 units in 2022 to about 97,000 today, but efforts to expand construction and reform zoning laws remain unfinished.

State programs offer assistance for some home repairs and energy-efficiency upgrades, while lawmakers and housing officials continue debating ways to preserve older homes and encourage new construction.

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