Most Americans believe the country is mired in a housing crisis, but few think November’s midterms will change that.
A September survey of 1,000 Americans by Clever Real Estate, a nationwide discount real estate broker, found that 63% don’t expect the midterms to improve the housing market, even as 78% say they want the incoming Congress to make affordability a top legislative priority.
Some 74% of respondents say the US is currently experiencing a housing crisis, with 63% reporting they feel angry about housing costs, a figure that climbs to 78% among non-homeowners.
More than half (58%) say they couldn’t afford to buy a home today, including 47% of current homeowners, and 60% say housing costs have blocked them from reaching financial milestones such as saving for emergencies or retirement.
A law passed, but voters didn’t notice
A landmark legislative step has already cleared Congress. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law in July without President Trump’s signature. The measure bars institutional investors controlling 350 or more single-family homes from acquiring additional properties starting January 7, 2027.
However, 71% of those surveyed had no idea the law had passed, a notable gap given that 61% of Americans want large corporations blocked from buying homes, and 60% want equivalent restrictions on foreign investors.
A separate survey conducted July 8–12, found housing affordability ranked as the single most pressing concern for Americans between 18 and 34, outpacing food costs, immigration, and protecting democracy.
Jonathan Hornik, founding member and owner of the National Private Lenders Association (NPLA) in New Jersey, reflected on the political moment in an earlier interview with Mortgage Professional America.
“The biggest thing happening in 2026 is that you have midterm elections.” On the opening he saw for Democrats, Hornik added: “You have the Democrats who have seemed to have found the lane arguing this affordability concept.”
Policies voters want vs. what they’ll accept
The Clever Real Estate findings expose a familiar contradiction: Americans want housing to cost less but resist building more of it.
Reducing property taxes was the top preferred policy solution at 60%, followed by lowering home insurance costs and cutting mortgage rates, both at 53%. Only 21% said they support adding high-density housing near where they live.
That resistance compounds an already stalled market. Pending home sales fell to their lowest level in more than two decades in September, with contract signings dropping 7.3% from August and 11.3% from the prior year. Near-record home prices and elevated rates also continue to shut entry-level buyers out.
Meanwhile, 67% of Americans, including 33% of Republicans, say Trump administration policies have made the housing market worse, and 48% name the current administration as the primary cause of the affordability crisis.
Even so, 41% say they would cross party lines for a candidate with a credible housing plan, a number that climbs to 54% among Republicans struggling with their current housing costs.
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