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
Environmental Issues
Sep 09, 2026
New Agency WOTUS Proposal Would Eliminate 'Wet Season' Concept
The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced a supplemental proposed rule offering a new approach to defining “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act.
Awards | Membership | Associate Members Committee
Sep 08, 2026
How Winning an Associate Award Can Benefit You and Your Business
Every year, NAHB honors its top two Associate members for their achievements and essential work in the field with two awards: Associate of the Year and Associate Advocate of BUILD-PAC.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Sep 08, 2026
Single-Family Home Construction Time Declines in 2025
Building a new single-family home took less time in 2025 compared to the previous three years. On average, it now takes 8.8 months from start to finish. That time includes 1.4 months for authorization to start construction and another 7.4 months to finish construction.
Economics
Sep 07, 2026
Shorter Apartment Construction Time in 2025
The average time needed to complete construction of a multifamily building after obtaining authorization edged down in 2025, according to the 2025 Survey of Construction (SOC) from the Census Bureau.
Economics
Sep 04, 2026
Beating Expectations: U.S. Economy Adds 162,000 Jobs in August
The U.S. labor market rebounded in August, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 162,000 and upward revisions adding 55,000 jobs to June and July. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, as both employment and the labor force participation rate rose over the month.