The NAR, Homebuilders and three other major housing trade associations are calling on the presidential candidates and congressmen seeking re-election to make home ownership a top priority of the next administration - even though home owership already is at historically record levels nationwide.

While acknowledging 67.2 percent of U.S. households already own their homes, a joint statement issued by the groups said "young families are still facing serious affordability problems … And large numbers of low-income renters are having to pay exceedingly large portions of their income for decent housing."

The policy statement, "Housing Policy for the 21st Century," was adopted by NAR, NAHB, the American Bankers Association, America's Community Bankers, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America.

Absent from the list of trade groups backing the policy were the National Multi Housing Council and National Apartment Association, which argue that home ownership already is an national preoccupation that excludes other housing options - such as renting.

The five-trade group policy paper maintains that despite the surging economy, young households have lost ground in their quest for home ownership.

"The homeownership rate for people under 35 has dropped 5 percentage points (from 45 percent to 40 percent) since 1979," the policy statement says.

The statement says that because of both natural population growth and immigration, the actual number of households in America is growing substantially.

"The U.S. population will increase by 2.3 million people a year, fed by over 4 million births per year and over 800,000 new immigrants," the policy statement says. "An additional 1.5 to 1.7 million new housing units will be needed each year to cover the expected 1.2 million in annual household formations, replacement of decayed housing stock and normal vacancies.

"We must plan for the inevitable growth in housing demand to meet consumer demand without sacrificing other quality-of-life factors such as reasonable commutes, decent education and a safe environment for all residents."

The statement has been presented to the national platform committees of the Democratic and Republican parties as well as to presidential candidates George Bush and Al Gore. The policy statement also has been distributed to current members of Congress and candidates running for House and Senate seats.

The policy statement notes that while the private sector should continue to be the primary mechanism for meeting the nation's housing needs, governments should seek to play a role because housing provides positive economic, social and political benefits that stabilize neighborhoods and communities and benefit all members of society.

"The federal government in particular, should take a supportive role in providing incentive programs aimed at low- and moderate-income households, and should lead efforts to reduce burdensome and unnecessary," the statement says.

Published: August 1, 2000

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