Most Americans think now's not the right time to buy a home

David Plazas, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Good morning, readers:

Last Friday, the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee opinion and engagement team held a live Twitter Spaces discussion on housing market trends.

Our guest was Melonee Hurt, our business reporter who covers real estate. She explained what experts are telling her about red-hot demand, scarcity of inventory, rising costs and opportunities.

We also discussed a May 4 Gallup poll that showed only 30% of Americans think now is the right time to buy a house. The rate has never fallen below 50% since Gallup started asking the questions in the 1970s.

Many buyers are anxious because they fear they cannot afford the home they want. Conversely, many sellers are anxious about where they go next once they sell their home for a premium.

Despite recent promises by politicians and developers to create more affordable housing, there's more talk than action.

In my most recent column, I wrote about this subject and how progress is not happening fast enough. I have written on this topic extensively for the past five years, framing the problem and offering solutions from experts and members of the community.

There have been meaningful steps and gestures along the way, but there needs to be more collaboration between federal, state and local leaders with private industry to ensure there is attainable housing available to people at all income levels.

Scroll to read the column and read more compelling columns on your app.

Also, share your ideas with me on how to solve the affordable housing crisis in your community.

Here are a couple of other selections in this week's newsletter:

  • Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, who chairs an influential education committee in the Tennessee General Assembly, talks about the state's reforms over the past two years and what he says still needs to be done to get "back to basics."

  • Researchers Susan Kaestner, Anna Miller and Arthur Milikh defend Tennessee's efforts to address diversity of thought in colleges and universities as a means to protect free speech.

  • Dr. Kevin U. Stephens Sr. answers the question of "Do I have allergies or COVID-19?" in light of the rise of coronavirus cases and the spring pollen season.

Watch today's candidate forum

Today is the second of six statewide gubernatorial and congressional candidate forums organized by the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee in partnership with the University of Tennessee system and Lipscomb University. This one at Lipscomb will feature candidates for governor and Congressional Districts 5, 6 and 7, which each represent a portion of Nashville-Davidson County after the 2022 decennial redistricting.

Find the schedule here, and sign up for tickets. Admission is free, but a ticket is required. You can also stream Thursday's forum live from this link.

Thank you!

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee. Email him at dplazas@tennessean.com, call him at (615) 259-8063 or tweet to him at @davidplazas. Subscribe to a USA TODAY Network - Tennessee publication.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Affordable housing: Americans think now's not the right time to buy