Top Compromises Buyers Will Make to Reach Homeownership
High mortgage rates and double-digit growth in home prices since COVID-19 have brought housing affordability to its lowest level in more than a decade. Given this reality, a recent NAHB study on housing preferences asked home buyers about which specific compromises they would be willing to make to achieve homeownership.
The study found that:
- For 39% of buyers, accepting a smaller lot is the path to affording a home. This finding highlights the paramount importance of reforming zoning laws that mandate lot sizes, as nearly four out of 10 buyers would be willing to give up land in exchange for owning a home.
- For 36% of buyers, accepting fewer exterior amenities is the way to homeownership — they will simply add that deck or patio at some point in the future.
- Another 36% were willing to move farther from the urban core.
- And 35% will accept a smaller house if that’s what it takes to buy it.
Rose Quint, assistant vice president for survey research at NAHB, highlights which spaces prospective buyers are willing to shrink to achieve a smaller footprint in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Jul 18, 2025
Single-Family Starts Weaken in June as Affordability Challenges PersistDue to a solid increase in multifamily production, overall housing starts increased 4.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.32 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Jul 17, 2025
Stay on Top of Wood Framing Safety PoliciesWood framing is an integral part of the home building process, and one job that many general contractors take on themselves. But even with familiarity of the task, specific safety precautions should be followed during framing.
Latest Economic News
Jul 18, 2025
Single-Family Starts Weaken in June as Affordability Challenges PersistSingle-family housing starts declined in June to the lowest rate since July 2024 as elevated interest rates, rising inventories and ongoing supply-side issues continue to act as headwinds for the housing sector.
Jul 17, 2025
Builder Confidence Edges Up in JulyBuilder confidence for future sales expectations received a slight boost in July with the extension of the 2017 tax cuts, but elevated interest rates and economic and policy uncertainty continue to act as headwinds for the housing sector.
Jul 16, 2025
Producer Prices for Metals and Equipment Show Large IncreasesResidential building material prices rose in June, driven primarily by higher construction machinery and equipment part prices. Metal commodities also experienced significant increases, following recently implemented tariffs on steel and aluminum. Meanwhile, price growth for services used in construction continues to outpace both domestic and imported goods.