14 million homes will change hands in the next decade as boomers age

Limited supply has been one factor stymying the US housing market. But some relief may be on the way as the population ages.

Baby boomers and the Silent Generation are expected to unload some 13.9 million homes in the next decade, 34% more than older households did in the past 10 years, according to Realtor.com calculations. Homeownership rates typically remain steady until owners reach their mid-70s, then begin to decline as older owners move in with family, enter care homes, or transition to rentals. This year, the oldest boomers turn 80.

The expected transfer of homes is sometimes called the "silver tsunami."

It's expected to help the US's housing shortage, although it won't fix it entirely. Most older homeowners have midsize or larger homes, meaning the new inventory that's expected to come to market won't be much help to first-time buyers targeting smaller starter homes, which are in particularly short supply. But current homeowners looking to move into larger digs may be at an advantage. Some 9.9 million of the expected homes that will be released have three to four bedrooms, a popular size for families. If half of those homes hit the market, inventory would rise more than 12%, according to Realtor.com.

Claire Boston is a Senior Reporter for Yahoo Finance covering housing, mortgages, and home insurance.