Redfin Survey Shows Strong Bipartisan Support for Policies to Improve Housing Affordability
A large majority of Americans believe government action is needed to make housing more affordable, with support extending across political groups, according to a new survey commissioned by Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket.
The survey, conducted by Ipsos in May 2026 among 4,000 U.S. residents, found that most Americans favor a range of policies aimed at helping buyers, renters, and communities address ongoing housing affordability challenges. The findings highlight growing public concern over rising home prices, rental costs, and limited housing availability across the country.
Nearly four in five Americans, or 79%, said they support tax breaks for first-time homebuyers, making it one of the most popular housing policy proposals included in the survey. Another 77% said they believe there should be policies designed to make homes more affordable overall.
Other housing affordability measures also received strong public backing. About 76% of respondents supported limits on rent increases, while 75% supported initiatives focused on building homes for low-income families. Additionally, 74% said there should be programs that provide assistance with down payments to help more people achieve homeownership.
More than half of Americans also support efforts to increase housing construction in their communities. About 54% of respondents said they favor policies that make it easier to build homes locally, making it the least supported option in the survey but still receiving majority approval.
Housing Affordability Gains Support Across Political Groups
The survey results show that housing affordability has become an issue where Americans across party lines share common ground. While Democrats were generally more likely than Republicans to support government housing programs, the differences were relatively modest.
For policies aimed at making homes more affordable, 83% of Democrats expressed support compared with 74% of Republicans. Support for first-time homebuyer tax breaks was also strong among both groups, with 85% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans backing the idea.
Programs designed to increase housing availability also received support from both political parties. Eighty-five percent of Democrats and 68% of Republicans said they support initiatives to build more homes for low-income families. Meanwhile, nearly three in five respondents from both parties — about 57% — said they believe there should be policies that make it easier to build homes in their local areas.
The findings suggest that although Americans may differ on many political issues, housing affordability remains a shared concern affecting households nationwide.
National Focus on Housing Supply and Affordability
The survey results come as lawmakers continue to debate solutions to the country’s housing affordability challenges. The findings align with bipartisan support surrounding the federal ROAD to Housing Act, which received approval from the Senate Banking Committee with broad backing.
The proposed legislation focuses on increasing housing supply, improving building processes, and expanding access to affordable homeownership opportunities. Supporters argue that addressing the housing shortage requires policies that encourage construction while reducing barriers that slow development.
“For over a decade, the prevailing view was that housing was a local issue best left to city councils and mayors—but housing affordability has become a national crisis,” said Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist.
Fairweather noted that bipartisan support for housing legislation demonstrates that affordability has become a priority across the political spectrum. He also highlighted that strategies such as zoning reform and faster permitting processes could help increase housing availability without requiring large government spending programs.
Increasing Housing Supply as a Key Solution
One major focus of current housing policy discussions is increasing the supply of affordable homes. Supporters of supply-focused approaches argue that building more homes can help ease pressure on prices and provide more options for buyers and renters.
The ROAD to Housing Act includes measures intended to expand access to manufactured housing, which is often considered a lower-cost alternative to traditional homes. By simplifying certain federal regulations, lawmakers hope to encourage greater availability of more affordable housing options.
The Redfin survey reflects public interest in expanding housing choices. A majority of Americans support policies aimed at increasing construction, particularly when focused on helping lower-income households.
The results show that housing affordability remains a major issue for Americans across income levels and political affiliations. With homeownership becoming increasingly challenging for many buyers and rental costs continuing to rise in many markets, public support for solutions is growing.
As policymakers, industry leaders, and communities continue searching for ways to address the housing shortage, the survey indicates that many Americans agree on the need for action — including expanding housing supply, supporting first-time buyers, and creating pathways toward more affordable living options.
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