Exclusive: most renters surveyed by Harris Poll say the areas they live in have become so unaffordable they are ‘barely livable’

The poll, conducted by the Harris Poll Thought Leadership and Future Practice, asked survey takers to identify themselves as renters or homeowners, along with other demographic information. Those polled were asked their opinion on home ownership in the United States. For many, especially renters, the outlook is bleak.

Though the vast majority of renters polled said they want to own a home in the future, 61% said they are worried they will never be able to. A similar percentage believe no matter how hard they work, they’ll never be able to afford a home.

“When you think about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and housing is right at that foundational level of security, the implications on consumer psyche when things feel so unaffordable is something that will impact everyone,” said Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at Harris Poll. The American dream of owning a home “is looking more like a daydream for renters”.

  • Budd@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I’m at a fixed rate and my mortgage went up by $1200 a month. Mostly due to taxes increasing so drastically. They didn’t forecast the increase being so much so that caused problems in itself.

      • Clent@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Yeah, hard agree with you. Median tax per year is $2000-$6000, depending on state. There’s no room for a $1200 per month increase in there unless you live in a house way above median.

        The only way I see those numbers working out is if the house’s tax assessment increased in value by a million dollars in a single year.

      • stoly@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        This happens though. Property values increase around you and suddenly grand dad’s pension won’t cover land taxes.

          • electric_nan
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            9 months ago

            Nope. In California property taxes only go up when the property is sold. You will be taxed based on the sale price of your home as long as you own it. This is the result of a law (voter initiative?) passed a long time ago.