NAHB Poll Shows That Homeownership Remains Priority for Americans

Arlington, VA, July 29, 2016—An overwhelming four-out-of-five Americans believe that owning a home is a good investment, according to a recent poll commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to gauge public sentiment on the value of homeownership and government programs that encourage homeownership and housing production.

A nationwide survey of more than 2,800 registered voters was conducted July 22 to 24 by the polling firm Morning Consult.

“The survey shows that most Americans believe that owning a home remains an integral part of the American Dream and that policymakers need to take active steps to encourage and protect homeownership,” said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Illinois.

Among the key findings:

* 82% rate “a home for you to live in” a good or excellent investment (the highest of six choices), far ahead of the second option, retirement accounts, at 67%.

* 81% of 18 to 29 year-olds want to buy a home.

* 72% support the government providing tax incentives to encourage homeownership;

46% say now is a good time to buy a home, twice the 23% who say it is not.

* 36% would like to buy a home in the next three years.

Among those polled, 55% said the biggest obstacle to buying a home was finding a home at a price you can afford, followed by 50% who cited insufficient savings for a down payment and 41% who reported difficulty getting approved for a home loan.