NAR Responds to State of the Union on Housing

NAR Responds to State of the Union on Housing
Authored By: Michael Rauber, manager of advocacy communications at the National Association of REALTORS®.

Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn reiterates Americans’ overwhelming desire to become homeowners and stresses policy solutions to address barriers for would-be owners.

© ANDREY DENISYUK / Moment / Getty Images


At last night’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump took a moment to address home values, affordability, and the future of housing policy—and leaders in real estate advocacy are taking notice.

Shannon McGahn, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer of the National Association of REALTORS®, issued a statement after the address, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in the national housing agenda:

“In a recent poll commissioned by NAR, 85% of American voters said they believe homeownership is central to the American dream because it represents stability, upward mobility, and the opportunity to build generational wealth. The National Association of REALTORS® is grateful that the president and members of Congress are focused on addressing the nation's housing affordability and supply challenges. We share the goal of increasing housing inventory at all price points and advancing policies that strengthen communities, grow local economies, and create opportunities rather than limit it.”

NAR has already supported several bipartisan housing bills, including the Housing for the 21st Century Act, a bipartisan measure designed to reduce barriers to housing production and improve affordability nationwide, which passed in the House earlier this month.

“As this legislation progresses through Congress, we encourage continued bipartisan collaboration to maintain momentum and bring this bill to the president’s desk, strengthening the path to homeownership for Americans,” McGahn says. “This legislation takes a comprehensive approach to increasing housing production, modernizing critical federal programs, and strengthening pathways to credit and homeownership.”

For NAR and real estate professionals nationwide, the message is clear: Meaningful progress on housing affordability will require both thoughtful public policy and continued engagement from the industry to bring more homes to market and make the dream of ownership a reality for more American families.