Press Releases

New Survey Reveals Keys to Community Support for Affordable Housing - National Association of Realtors

May 31, 2007

Washington - Residents are more likely to support affordable housing in their communities if they are sure it would not hurt property values, would not contribute to school overcrowding or would not make traffic worse, according to the third annual National Housing Opportunity Pulse survey released today by the National Association of Realtors®

The survey also found that residents prefer affordable housing that is single-family detached housing over townhomes, low-rise or high-rise apartments; that seven out of ten residents support more open space in their community; and that three out of five feel there is a need for more residential growth in their communities.

"For the first time, we see that people support affordable housing if it is done right. This survey sheds needed light on the conditions that encourage people to support affordable housing. We hope the survey serves as a guide to local officials, developers, planners, and others involved in their communities to clearly spell out what people want, and give our leaders the political will to do what the people want," said NAR First Vice President Pat Vredevoogd, a Realtor® from Grand Rapids, Mich.

The latest National Housing Opportunity Pulse survey of 1,600 urban and suburban residents in the top 25 media markets was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies in May 2005. As in past surveys, it found that Americans rank affordable housing as one of the two most difficult issues they face and that they worry that the cost of housing is widening the gap between those who can afford to buy a home and those who cannot.

The survey is conducted by NAR's Housing Opportunity Program. As many as 200 housing opportunity programs are now sponsored by state and local Realtor® organizations to address local housing needs. More such programs are in the works all across the country.

NAR has also established an Ambassador to Cities Program with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to raise homeownership rates and has lobbied for the American Dream Down Payment Act signed into law last year by President Bush.

"Realtors® are the first point of contact for people trying to buy a home. We see first hand what the lack of affordable housing does to communities. Let's hear what the people are telling us. We hope that local leaders learn from our survey and work with us to work smarter so that the lack of affordable housing will be a problem of the past," said Vredevoogd.