Poll: Renters Want to Buy | Bedford Hills Realtor Robert Paul

Americans still believe in home ownership, but they’re spooked about the mortgage process, a survey finds. 

Two-thirds of renters — across educational and demographic levels — say they want to purchase a home in the future, according to a quarterly national housing survey of 3,000 Americans conducted by Fannie Mae. 

“In spite of the impact of the housing crisis on home values and home ownership rates across the country, Americans by and large still hope to become home owners,” says Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s chief economist. “Some may not be financially positioned to own a home in the near future, but Americans may begin to revisit that aspiration as employment and household balance sheets improve over the coming years.”

However, Duncan says many renters are expressing caution about the homebuying process when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage and navigating the mortgage process. 

“If potential home owners avoid the process because they believe it to be too complex, we will likely see a continued impact on home ownership rates,” Duncan says.

Source: “Fannie Mae Finds Americans Remain Committed to Homeownership,” HousingWire (March 27, 2012)