Owning a Home Essential to the American Dream, Survey Shows
RISMedia, June 10, 2011—Despite the ups and downs of the housing market, home owners and non-owners alike consider owning a home essential to the American Dream.
That’s the key finding of a recent survey of people likely to vote in 2012 that was conducted on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Va., and Lake Research Partners of Washington, D.C.
“The survey results show that Americans see beyond the immediate housing market to the enduring value of homeownership,” says NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “An overwhelming 75 percent of the people who were polled said that owning a home is worth the risk of the fluctuations in the market, and 95 percent of the home owners said they are happy with their decision to own a home,” Nielsen says.
“Homeownership is worth the risk, pure and simple,” says Neil Newhouse, a partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies. “Even though the market is weak, people who don’t own say they want to buy a house. Almost three-quarters of those who do not currently own a home, 73 percent, said owning a home is one of their goals. And among younger voters who are most likely to be in the market for a home in the next few years, the percentages are even higher,” Newhouse says.
One of the more striking aspects of the survey results is the intensity of sentiment among potential voters, according to Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners. “People believe overwhelmingly that owning a home is an anchor to the American Dream,” she says. “It’s an anchor to your retirement, and it’s an anchor to your personal economic well-being.”
Among the other survey results:
• Homeownership and a retirement savings program are considered by voters to be their best investments.
• 80 percent of home owners would advise a close friend or family member just starting out to buy a home.
• Saving for a downpayment and closing costs is the biggest barrier to homeownership.
• Americans believe that owning their own home is as important as being successful at their job or being able to pay for a family member’s education.
“Owning a home isn’t just a policy to people,” says Lake. “It isn’t just a commodity to people. It is a core value.”
This national survey of 2,000 likely 2012 voters was conducted May 3-9, 2011 by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Va., and Lake Research Partners of Washington, D.C. It has a margin of error of +2.19 percent.
Public Opinion Strategies is a national political and public affairs research firm based in Alexandria, Va. Founded in 1991, it has conducted more than 6 million interviews with voters and consumers in all 50 states and over two dozen foreign countries.
Lake Research Partners is a leading public opinion and political strategy research firm providing expert research-based strategy for campaigns, issue advocacy groups, foundations, unions and non-profit organizations.
To view slides on the poll, please go to www.nahb.org/VoterPoll.
My personal and professional life got better when I came to First Team. Educating and keeping folks informed of our ever changing market is more important today than ever. Being a reliable information source for the community is paramount. With tools like Market Trends, the weekly financing reports and Trend Graphics I am able to remain current and show my clients what these changes mean to them. These tools along with the support and coaching I receive from my manager helps me to instill confidence in my clients and allows them to make informed decisions!
Kathey Busse
First Team allows me the freedom to be there for my whole family while enjoying an exciting and successful career!With the ability to offer a marketing strategy for listings that is well above the competition, I can assure my sellers that their home will receive exceptional exposure to ultimately reach the right buyer. Armed with the tools of the First Team marketing proposal and the exceptional coaching of my manager I know that every selling appointment will convert into a new listing.
Kathy Leimkuhler – Realtor and Luxury Specialist
Last July, I was at Tom Ferry’s seminar and he asked the question: “Are you a relevant agent?” The same needs to be asked of your manager. Is your manager relevant in today’s market? Do they possess the knowledge of what’s current in supporting you as an agent? Do they have the skills and energy to supplement that knowledge? First Team is the third company I have been associated with in 15 years as a real estate agent and Jennifer Berman is by far the most relevant manager I have ever been associated with. The experience and knowledge she posses as a tech savvy manager is light years ahead of other managers. Real estate will always be a people business, but before you can be face to face with a client, they need to find you and Jennifer Berman has more insight into how to accomplish that than anyone in the marketplace today!
Mike Kelly
Today was a very impactful day in so many ways. I had lots of different energy around me today from those that are very close to me. I had about 3 different people tell me how they had been devastated by their long time employers by not being supported or incredibly let down in one way or another. It’s a shame, but it’s life, and it’s this market. How do you give someone hope that when they hit rock bottom it’s actually a good thing, because around the corner they will rebuild their business into something bigger and better than they ever thought possible? Point is, it hurts to watch someone go through it and you can’t wait until the good stuff starts occuring. So many people are feeling this exact way right now, but I wish they could see that this too shall pass. Life will be better than ever again very soon as long as there is a plan in place to make changes.
We had our Thanksgiving lunch today, which was such a huge success. Our office administrator, Aggi, who is the darling of our office cooked the most fabulous huge meal anyone could have ever dreamed of. Right before the party she told me her daughter-in-law had a close call in surgery last night and they are doing another surgery again today at 4pm. She just rang me from the hospital and the surgery did not go well. She will be in the hospital for another week at least. Life is funny that way, healthy one day, then the next not so much. Perhaps we lose sight of how thankful we need to be every day of our health and of the ones we love.
At our lunch today, I had several agents who had recently experienced a loss of a loved one. Most cases of someone too young to go. In addition, the mother of our office, Kathey Busse, who worked her tail off for today’s event had one hour of sleep last night because her healthy gorgeous fire fighter son had a stomach infection which had him in the ER all night. He’s fine today and was released early this morning, but I couldn’t believe Kathey was there and in the moment exhausted as she was. They all had smiles on their face at the party, and were so happy to be with everyone and even worked hard to help out even though so much was going on with them. Point is no one knew the tragedy they were hiding behind their smiles. If their strength and gentleness isn’t inspiration, then I don’t know what is. This just shows how mind set and being around people who truly care about you can get you through anything.
I wonder if any of us really stop and take notice of those around us and ask enough caring questions to how they are doing. I mean, really, how are they doing? I teach all this social media networking and I’ll kill you with technology in what has to be done, but are we losing sight of what and who really matters to us? That brings me back to this morning when I arrived at my office. I wasn’t out of my car when my best agent who is one of my closest friends stopped me and said I have to tell you something. God knows if you are a manager, that’s never good! 
Well, she told me she was upset and had been feeling lost in her business lately. The 12 or so short sale deals she closed this year had just beaten her down. She is the best short sale agent I have ever seen, but let’s face it the banks aren’t exactly a peach to work with. We went inside and put a 45 day plan together that will take her business to the next level. Not getting away from short sales as this is just such a huge strength of hers, but certainly increasing her equity sales. The Ah Ha moment she had was to stop being a secret agent and follow the direction of the “new” territory management that is achieving proven results. Very interesting on all we have to do is change our mind set, communicate with your partner and all the sudden you are the one experiencing the success YOU deserve. She left today feeling much more inspired and with direction. I know she will hit it out of the park! She just needed the break down in order to break through her own mind set!
So, with all the intense energy today I just now ended my night with one of the long time top agents in Beverly Hills calling me and thanking me for changing his business this year. He rang me last year at this time and I had coached and brainstormed with him for about 3 hours. I had opened his eyes to stop working without a clear cut goal in his business and to change some business matters that were bringing him down. When you aren’t working from a plan you cannot achieve the results you desire. This leaves you feeling overwhelmed and very uneasy. He now has closed 29 transactions and has made over a $1 million dollars for 2010. He said he could not have done this without me and the guideance and opportunities I brought to him this year. I look at some of the agents I come across who are nowhere near this agents expertise and it’s always interesting to see how they don’t follow the guideance and always say they are too busy working on deals right now to do what I suggest. I hear those words and immediately know this is a losing battle to an agent who will never achieve their desired results. They will be the under 10 transaction annually agent. I have yet to coach a top producer who ever said that or disregarded the guideance and plan we worked on together. Top agents habits are so different than the rest that’s for sure. Their mind set is totally different. They know how to eat humble pie and listen, then implement the message without question. They just do it!
I’m often asked why am I so positive and full of energy. Well, life can suck. People die, you get audited, you get divorced, fired, let down, disappointed and the list goes on and on. However, when you really take a look at those around you and see how they have strength and love in their heart and want to give back to others and come from a place of abundance then maybe it aint so bad. I stay closest to those around me in business that can contribute to my success just as I contribute to theirs. Come from a place of abundance rather than scarcity. I believe you get back what you give. I am thankful to be in business with my friends and people I respect and admire. I know they give me more every day than I could ever hope for. I hope everyone never underestimates their environment, and really gives thanks to all the special friends, family and colleagues they have around them. If you aren’t feeling supported, loved or appreciated, then it is up to you to make the change and find it because it is out there. Seek until you conquer this fullfilment because God knows it’s worth it. Be open to all possibilites, and you just might be amazed of the life you can live by design. I hope you end tomorrow with asking someone close to you how they are “really” doing. Be present. Be in the moment with them. What can you offer back to help their mind set? Better yet, how’s your mind set and what is it doing to you in your business right now? What needs to change to get the results you need and who is supporting you to do this? Get out there and take a walk on the beach, hike a mountain or hit the gym. Do something to get your energy level up so you are able to have a positive mindset and contribute back to someone today in one way or another. Funny how training ourselves to even just smile will make for a different outcome today.
