The Determinants of Residential Mobiliry Intentions Based on Tenure Type in Elderly Households : Based on the comparison between the metropolitan area and the non-metropolitan area

This study analyzes the determinants of residential mobility intentions by tenure among older households residing in the Seoul Capital Area(SCA) and in non-metropolitan regions, with the aim of providing baseline evidence for balanced regional development and the formulation of housing policy for older adults, and to derive policy implications. To this end, we conducted an empirical analysis using propensity score matching and binary logistic regression. The results confirm disparities in the residential environment between the SCA and non-metropolitan regions, indicating the seriousness of regional polarization. Within the SCA, tenure-specific analyses show that renter households tend to consider moves within the same activity space/neighborhood to preserve accessibility and local ties, whereas owner households exhibit generally low mobility intentions but are more likely to contemplate moving when exogenous shocks—such as urban renewal projects (redevelopment/reconstruction)—arise. In non-metropolitan regions, the pattern for renter households mirrors that in the SCA; owner households likewise report low baseline mobility intentions, but their intention to move increases when proximity to adult children is a salient consideration. Taken together, these findings suggest that older households generally prefer to remain in place, yet the way this preference is pursued differs by tenure.