Redfin Tries to Sell Housing-Driven Poverty as Trendy and Hip

When I received an email with Redfin’s housing predictions for 2018 in my inbox last week, I could not have been more grossed out. In sum, housing-driven poverty is #trending.

Be Prepared in 2018: Homes will sell faster. ‘Urban suburbs’ are emerging nationwide. Tax reform could create housing uncertainty, and roommates are coming back into style.

So, people are being priced out of unaffordable cities, instead moving to the suburbs and/or choosing to take on roommates to make the math work. It’s a lot less buzz-worthy and a lot more bleak when you phrase it in the real terms of the housing crisis.

This is, word for word, the #7 prediction on their list for 2018:

Prediction #7: The ‘Golden Girls’ and ‘Friends’ Return

Roommates accounted for 6.6 percent of all households (8,330,000 households total) in 2017, according to Census data. A decade ago roomate [sic] households were just 5.6 percent of the population (6,479,000 households). We believe the trend of more people living with roommates will accelerate in 2018 due to the lack of affordability combined with new startups aimed at solving the problem. Real estate startups like the app Nesterly, which pairs millennials with Baby Boomers; and CoBuy, which supports group home-buying, are just two examples of technology fostering non-traditional home-buying and cohabitation. We love the innovation, not to mention the new sitcom possibilities.

Oh yay! Look on the bright side: today’s poverty could be tomorrow’s next Odd Couple. Seniors are being priced out of their homes, young people have no shot at getting into the housing market, and people are living six people deep in two or three bedroom homes just to have a chance at building equity. It’s a real American Dream story to be sure. But at least there’s an app for that. (Ugh.)

Since Redfin decided to be purveyors of light-hearted humor at other people’s expense, our team decided to put together our own list of what else, along with elderly roommates, Redfin might consider to be trending in the housing crisis:

1) Ramen — we predict ramen consumption will really heat up in 2018!

2) Wearing all of your coats at once — 2018 fashion will be all about layering!

3) Cat food — not just for our feline friends anymore!

4) Meditation — if you’re already sitting on the floor, why not nourish the soul while you’re down there?!

5) Reading & charades — Can’t get online? You can still have fun!

6) No more belly-fat — you may be hungry but you’ll at least be thin!

7) Moving back in with your parents — Mom and Dad are your new best friends!

8) Car camping drives into high-gear — Millennials will absolutely love car-living! (Oh, wait. This was last year’s trend.)

9) Eviction! — your one-way ticket to a home-free lifestyle!

10) Homelessness — Why even bother with having a home!