Outlook

Scenarios

Trends
MaineHousing routinely monitors external trends and has identified the following as having the greatest impact on future housing needs:

• Maine’s population will not grow and will continue to age.
• Maine’s population has changed very little recently in terms of diversity.
• Maine’s economy is improving slowly and will continue to do so. That growth will continue to boost Maine’s slowly improving housing market, but not in all parts of the State.
• Housing demand will be greatest in service centers located along the interstate and its feeder roads.
• Housing and services will be required to meet the needs of a more mobile as well as aging populations.
• Slower income growth for renter households will continue to make renting less affordable for them.
• The number of homeless people in Maine has declined.
• Maine’s rank among the states with old housing stock has dropped; we now rank 8th.
• Maine’s energy costs will be driven by the cost of fossil fuels.
• Changing technology will be increasingly essential for accessing services by Maine residents.
• Future public investment in continuing, expanding, or creating housing programs is uncertain.