More Americans that ever agree that owning a home is part of the American dream. Unfortunately, a new consumer pollpdf commissioned by NAR and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research, shows most think now is not a good time to buy. That’s the challenging environment National Association of REALTORS® members are facing.
Attendees of NAR’s second annual Advocacy Week heard highlights of the new research during a live taping of the Advocacy Scoop podcast with hosts Shannon McGahn and Patrick Newton. The poll surveyed 800 voters nationwide about their feelings on the housing market and a variety of issues that NAR has been advocating for. The results show broad voter support for NAR policy priorities.
McGahn, NAR’s executive vice president and chief advocacy officer, opened with the bad news: 78% of respondents said right now is not a good time to buy a home, most frequently citing high prices and lack of affordable housing options. Additionally, 76% of non-homeowners feel that they will never be able to own a home.
But the number who agree that owning a home is part of the American dream, 85%, is up six percentage points from 2013, when 79% agreed showing increased interest in homeownership and the promise of building equity through homeownership.
How You Can Help
NAR’s Consumer Guide: Buying Your First Home offers some resources you can share with prospects who’d like to buy but don’t know if they’re ready.
Policy Proposals That Consumers Like
Looking at recent policy discussions around ways to support first-time home buyers:
- 84% of respondents support the idea of allowing prospective home buyers to save money for a down payment tax free.
- 71% of respondents support requiring building developers to provide affordable rentals to low-income households, a policy that NAR expressed support for at the 2025 NXT conference in Houston.
- 76% support a one-time tax holiday for taxpayers facing a capital gains tax burden when they sell, and 67% support doubling the capital gains exemption, a proposal that was discussed during Advocacy Week. (See “Which Policies Will Drive Sales?”)
One striking development in the poll was how consumers’ views shifted after they received information about NAR’s policies. At the beginning of the poll, just 9% of respondents said current federal policies made it easier to buy a home. After hearing about the various policies that NAR supports, that number jumped to 64%. McGahn and Newton, NAR vice president of advocacy communications, opined that when voters and the public know about policies to support affordable housing, they become more engaged in the idea of buying a home.
McGahn said NAR’s advocacy team will use the polling data to educate members of Congress and expand support for policies that support first-time home buyers and affordable housing.
