National Association of Realtors National Survey NAR National Survey Public Opinion Strategies N=800 May 2005 Margin of error +3.46% Proj #:05246 A. Some people have the time to vote in all elections while other people don't have the time to vote at all, which one of the following best describes how often you vote...(rotate TOP TO BOTTOM, BOTTOM TO TOP) 76% TOTAL ALWAYS 23% TOTAL OCCASIONALLY/NEVER 49% I ALWAYS vote in all elections, including general elections and primaries. 27% I ALWAYS vote in GENERAL ELECTIONS, but sometimes miss primaries. 10% I OCCASIONALLY vote in GENERAL ELECTIONS but almost never vote in primaries 13% I ALMOST NEVER VOTE 1% DON'T KNOW/REFUSED (DO NOT READ) 1. Now, generally speaking, do you feel things in the COUNTRY are going in the right direction, or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track? 34% RIGHT DIRECTION 58% WRONG TRACK 7% DON T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
National Association of Realtors Page 2 of 14 Now, thinking a bit about your area... I am going to read you a list of problems that many areas are facing and I d like you to tell me how big a problem each one is in your area...for each issue, I d like you to tell me if that issue is a VERY BIG PROBLEM, A FAIRLY BIG PROBLEM, A MODERATE PROBLEM, A SLIGHT PROBLEM or NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL in your area... (RANDOMIZE) (PROBE, IF NECESSARY:) And, would you say that issue is a VERY BIG PROBLEM, A FAIRLY BIG PROBLEM, A MODERATE PROBLEM, A SLIGHT PROBLEM or NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL in your area? TOTAL TOTAL A VERY A FAIRLY A MODERATE A SLIGHT NOT AT DK/ PROB NOT PROB BIG PROB BIG PROB PROBLEM PROB ALL PROB REF 2. Lack of affordable heath care options 53% 22% 36% 17% 21% 10% 12% 4% 3. Lack of available housing that is affordable 40% 35% 30% 10% 22% 18% 17% 3% 4. Job layoffs and unemployment 40% 32% 25% 14% 25% 19% 13% 3% 5. Crime 29% 39% 16% 13% 32% 29% 10% 1% 6. A polluted environment 24% 46% 15% 10% 28% 24% 22% 1% 7. Keeping Americans safe from terrorism 30% 45% 19% 11% 22% 21% 24% 3%
National Association of Realtors Page 3 of 14 Now thinking more about housing for people in your area, that is to say all housing; including, single family homes, condominiums, town homes, attached homes, co-op apartments and regular apartments. 8. How concerned are you about the cost of housing in your area? Would you say that you are... (ROTATE TOP TO BOTTOM AND BOTTOM TO TOP) 61% TOTAL CONCERNED 39% TOTAL NOT CONCERNED 30% VERY CONCERNED 31% SOMEWHAT CONCERNED 19% NOT VERY CONCERNED...OR... 19% NOT AT ALL CONCERNED 1% DON T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
National Association of Realtors Page 4 of 14 Now, thinking still about issues that affect housing for both renters and homeowners... I am going read several things some people have said makes housing too expensive and unaffordable and after I read each one, please tell me what you think is that a huge obstacle for people in your area, a medium-size obstacle, a small obstacle, or not an obstacle at all that makes housing unaffordable for people in your area. TOTAL TOT HUGE MED SIZE SMALL NOT AN OBS. OBST NOT OBSTACLE OBSTACLE OBSTACLE AT ALL DK REF Thinking about people buying a home in your area... The (FIRST/NEXT) statement is...(randomize STATEMENTS) 9. Having enough money for a down payment and closing costs. 73% 22% 39% 35% 13% 8% 5% * 10. Being able to find a home they like that they can afford. 72% 26% 36% 36% 16% 10% 2% * 11. Having enough confidence in their job security. 63% 32% 29% 35% 19% 13% 4% * 12. Having enough confidence that they would be approved for a home mortgage. 56% 36% 18% 38% 22% 13% 8% 1% 13. Facing discrimination that might prevent someone from buying the home they would want to buy. 25% 71% 9% 16% 26% 45% 4% * 14. Having enough money to pay rent every month. 61% 33% 26% 36% 22% 12% 5% * 15. There are not enough rental units available. 40% 55% 19% 21% 23% 32% 5% 1% 16. Facing discrimination may prevent someone from renting in a desirable location. 28% 68% 10% 18% 28% 40% 4% *
National Association of Realtors Page 5 of 14 17. Thinking more about housing issues, both for renters and homeowners, would you say the following is one of your biggest worries, something you are moderately worried about, just a small worry of yours, or something you are not worried about at all? I worry that housing is getting so expensive, that it is widening the gap between those who can afford to buy a home and those who can not afford to buy a home. 63% TOTAL BIG/MOD WORRY 36% TOTAL SMALL/NO AT ALL WORRY 40% BIG WORRY 23% MODERATE WORRY 16% SMALL WORRY 20% NOT AT ALL WORRIED 1% DON T KNOW * REFUSED
National Association of Realtors Page 6 of 14 Now I am going to read a couple of statements that could be relevant to renters or homeowners and after I read each one, please tell me if you agree or if you disagree with that statement. The (FIRST/NEXT) one is... (RANDOMIZE 18-21 AS SERIES, 22-28 AS SERIES AND 29-34) (DO NOT ROTATE SERIES) (IF AGREE/DISAGREE, ASK) And would you STRONGLY (AGREE/DISAGREE) or just SOMEWHAT (AGREE/DISAGREE)? TOTAL TOTAL STRONG SMWT SMWT STRONG DON T REF AGREE DISAGREE AGREE AGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE KNOW 18. There are too many restrictions on how many and what types of housing can be built in my area. 29% 63% 15% 13% 32% 30% 8% 1% 19. I would be willing to support more affordable homes being made available for people to purchase or rent in my area if they were built in such a way that they fit with the area and were pleasant to look at. 81% 16% 53% 28% 7% 9% 2% 1% 20. I would be willing to support more affordable homes being made available in my area for people to purchase or rent if they were made available and affordable to teachers, firemen, police and other people who we rely on for help. 76% 21% 48% 28% 9% 12% 3% 1% 21. I would like to see government place a higher priority on making housing - both for renters and homeowners - more affordable in my area. 68% 31% 48% 21% 13% 18% 1% *
National Association of Realtors Page 7 of 14 (NEW QUESTIONS KEEP SEGMENTED) TOTAL TOTAL STRONG SMWT SMWT STRONG DON T REF AGREE DISAGREE AGREE AGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE KNOW 22. I would support building more affordable homes in and around my community if I were sure it would not hurt property values. 80% 17% 54% 26% 8% 9% 3% 1% 23. I would support building more affordable homes in and around my community if it would help my property tax situation. 73% 21% 47% 25% 11% 11% 5% 1% 24. I would support building more affordable homes in and around my community if it made more efficient use of tax dollars for public services like water, sewer, streets, police and fire protection. 82% 15% 55% 26% 6% 9% 3% 1% 25. There should be more local requirements that preserve open space in and around my community. 71% 27% 48% 22% 15% 12% 2% * 26. There is too much residential growth in and around my community. 39% 59% 23% 15% 30% 29% 2% * 27. I would support building more affordable homes in and around my community if I were sure that it would not contribute to school overcrowding. 75% 21% 48% 27% 8% 12% 4% 1% 28. I would support building more affordable homes in and around my community if I were sure it would not make traffic worse. 74% 24% 47% 26% 10% 14% 2% *
National Association of Realtors Page 8 of 14 (NEW QUESTIONS ASK THIS SERIES LAST) TOTAL TOTAL STRONG SMWT SMWT STRONG DON T REF AGREE DISAGREE AGREE AGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE KNOW 29. I would support building more affordable detached single-family homes in and around my community. 78% 20% 43% 35% 7% 13% 2% * 30. I would support building more affordable town-homes in and around my community. 59% 38% 27% 32% 14% 24% 2% * 31. I would support building more affordable low-rise, up to four story, condominiums in and around my community. 37% 62% 15% 22% 17% 45% 1% * 32. I would support building more affordable mid and high rise, five or more story, condominiums in and around my community. 21% 77% 9% 11% 17% 61% 1% * 33. I would support building more affordable low rise, up to four story, apartments in and around my community. 39% 59% 15% 24% 17% 43% 2% * 34. I would support building more affordable mid or high rise, five or more story, apartments in and around my community. 21% 77% 9% 11% 17% 60% 2% *
National Association of Realtors Page 9 of 14 35. And, changing topics slightly and thinking about how you decide which candidates to vote for in elections...how important is the issue of housing that is affordable for people in your area, in making a decision about a candidate you might vote for...that is to say, if a candidate for elected office worked to make housing more affordable would that be (ROTATE CHOICES TOP TO BOTTOM AND BOTTOM TO TOP) 63% TOTAL IMPORTANT 35% TOTAL NOT IMPORTANT 27% VERY IMPORTANT 36% SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT 18% NOT VERY IMPORTANT 17% NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL...in your decision making process... 1% DO NOT PLAN ON VOTING (DO NOT READ) * DON T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
National Association of Realtors Page 10 of 14 And, now, just a few questions for statistical purposes only... D1. And, in what year were you born? 5% 18-24 13% 25-34 17% 35-44 23% 45-54 21% 55-64 18% 65 AND ABOVE 3% REFUSED D2. And for statistical purposes only...is your total annual household income greater or less than $60,000 dollars? (IF LESS THAN $60,000, ASK:) Is it... (ROTATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM/BOTTOM TO TOP) 14% UNDER $20,000 23% BETWEEN $20,000 - $40,000 15% OVER $40,000 (IF GREATER THAN $60,000, ASK:) Is it... (ROTATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM/BOTTOM TO TOP) 13% UNDER $80,000 11% BETWEEN $80,000 - $100,000 14% OVER $100,000 10% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
National Association of Realtors Page 11 of 14 D3. And what was the last grade you COMPLETED in school, thus far? (DO NOT READ CATEGORIES) 33% HIGH SCHOOL OR LESS 28% SOME COLLEGE 39% COLLEGE+ 2% SOME GRADE SCHOOL 6% SOME HIGH SCHOOL 25% GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL 2% TECHNICAL OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL 25% SOME COLLEGE 27% GRADUATED COLLEGE 12% GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) D4. And what is your marital status? 63% Currently Married 35% Currently Single * DON T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) D5. And, are you registered to vote as...(rotate) a Republican, a Democrat, or something else? 31% REPUBLICAN 36% DEMOCRAT 22% SOMETHING ELSE/INDEPENDENT 11% (DO NOT READ) REFUSED
National Association of Realtors Page 12 of 14 D6. Do you OWN or RENT your home? (IF OWN:) And, do you want to move sometime in the next few years? (IF RENT: ) And, do you want to move sometime in the next few years? 73% TOTAL OWN 21% TOTAL RENT 51% OWN - WILL NOT MOVE IN NEXT FEW YEARS 22% OWN - WILL MOVE NEXT FEW YEARS 7% RENT - WILL NOT MOVE IN NEXT FEW YEARS 13% RENT - WILL MOVE IN NEXT FEW YEARS 6% DK/REFUSED (DO NOT READ) (IF PUNCH 1-2 on D6, THEN ASK:) D7. Do you currently have a home mortgage? (IF UNSURE, THEN ASK:) For the purposes here, a home mortgage includes a deed of trust, a contract to purchase, or similar debt on your property? 62% Yes, Have a mortgage 36% No, Do not have a mortgage * Not Sure (DO NOT READ) 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) D8. The following best describes where I live...(rotate TOP TO BOTTOM AND BOTTOM TO TOP) 81% Detached single-family homes 7% Town-homes 8% Low-rise, up to four stories condominiums or apartments 2% Mid and high rise, five or more condominiums or apartments 1% DON T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
National Association of Realtors Page 13 of 14 D9. Which of the following is in your neighborhood? (ACCEPT MULTI RESPONSES) (ROTATE TOP TO BOTTOM AND BOTTOM TO TOP) 88% Detached single family homes 28% Town-homes or apartments 22% Commercial businesses or offices 1% DON T KNOW (DO NOT READ) * REFUSED (DO NOT READ) (IF QD9 HAS MULTI RESPONSES, ASK) D10. And which is it mostly? 75% Mostly Detached single family homes 17% Mostly Town-homes or apartments 4% Mostly Commercial businesses or offices 3% DON T KNOW (DO NOT READ) 1% REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
National Association of Realtors Page 14 of 14 D11. And, thinking of the last five years...have you moved in the last five years? 33% YES 66% NO -- Not Sure (DO NOT READ) * REFUSED (DO NOT READ) D12. Other than being an American, what is your main ethnic or racial heritage? (READ CHOICES) 12% AFRICAN AMERICAN OR BLACK 76% WHITE 7% HISPANIC AMERICAN OR LATINO 1% ASIAN AMERICAN 1% OTHER (DO NOT READ 2% REFUSED (DO NOT READ) D13. Sex (BY OBSERVATION) (IF FEMALE, ASK) And do you work outside the home or are you a homemaker or work inside the home? 48% MALE 52% TOTAL FEMALE 28% FEMALE/WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME 22% FEMALE/WORK INSIDE THE HOME/HOMEMAKER 2% (DO NOT READ) FEMALE REFUSED