NAA Finds Renters Don't Plan to Buy

A survey conducted for the National Apartment Association found that 67% of current renters do not plan to become homeowners in the next year. Moreover, 80% of those surveyed said the state of the U.S. housing market would not improve over the next six months. "The country is deep into the discussion of the economic fallout of subprime mortgage lending. However, little attention has been paid to how the crisis is impacting people's choices to stay in rental homes and wait out the storm," said NAA president Douglas Culkin. "The results of this survey reflect what our membership is experiencing across the country. Renters are not eager to take a chance on homeownership this year. If the economy improves, that trend may abate, but, for now, people are generally staying put." The survey also found that those who believe in the financial benefits of renting vs. owning has increased by five percentage points over one year ago, from 43% up to 48%. "Just last week, the Commerce Department cited that the main reason for an upswing in U.S. homebuilding is the construction of rental properties - not single-family homes - further supporting our findings of what the average U.S. adult is experiencing," added Mr. Culkin.