Trulia Survey: "Renter Nation" Just a Myth as 93 Percent of Millennial Renters Plan to Buy a Home

Trulia Survey: "Renter Nation" Just a Myth as 93 Percent of Millennial Renters Plan to Buy a Home

Consumers Optimistic About Homeownership As Housing Market Recovers; 22 Percent of Homeowners at least Somewhat Likely To Sell In 2013 Amid Rising Home Prices

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Trulia today released the results of its American Dream survey, which has tracked American attitudes towards homeownership since 2008. Harris Interactive conducted this online survey on behalf of Trulia among 2,083 U.S. adults, age 18 and over, between November 15 to 19, 2012.

Americans More Bullish on Buying Homes

Amid rising home prices, increasing home sales, and falling delinquencies and foreclosures, more than 1 in 4 consumers (27 percent) feel more positive about homeownership than they were six months ago, compared with 19 percent who report feeling more negative. In fact, 31 percent of today's renters plan to buy a home in the next two years—a 9-point increase from 22 percent in January 2011. However, some Americans remain skeptical about owning a home. Only 72 percent of consumers said homeownership is part of their personal American Dream, which remains below February 2009 and January 2010, when 76 percent and 77 percent, respectively, agreed with this sentiment.

Millennials: Battered By Housing Bust, But Not Permanently Scarred

Despite coming of age through the years of boom and bust, Millennials (18-34 year olds) haven't completely written off homeownership. In fact, 72 percent of these young adults say homeownership is part of their personal American Dream, which is the same as the adult population overall. Among renters in this age group, 93 percent plan to purchase a home some day. Meanwhile 43 percent of young adults are homeowners already. Yet despite these long-term aspirations, Millennials have vastly different expectations for the housing market in 2013 than older generations.

Note: respondents could also answer "no change" or "not sure."

Rising Home Prices Encouraging Homeowners to Sell in 2013

In 2012, housing inventory was down 23 percent nationally year-over-year, and down 43 percent since 2010. ¹ This decrease in homes for sale has limited the options for would-be buyers. However, rising prices could trigger more sales, thereby increasing inventory, in 2013. Among current homeowners, 22 percent said they are at least somewhat likely to sell their home in the next year. This was especially true among homeowners who bought their home between 2010 and 2012, as they're more likely to have seen their home values increase since purchase—which means they're more likely to be able to sell at a profit.

PRE-APPROVED QUOTES

• "Millennials have been shaken, not scarred by the housing bust," said Jed Kolko, Trulia's Chief Economist. "Nearly all of them want to own a home someday, if they're not homeowners already. But many of them think today's low prices and low mortgage rates will last. They may be in for sticker shock if the cost of homeownership has returned to normal levels by the time they're ready to buy."

• "2013 could be the year that inventory turns around, just as 2012 was the year that prices started recovering," said Jed Kolko, Trulia's Chief Economist. "Homebuyers need inventory to choose from, and with fewer foreclosures on the market, new inventory will come from new construction or homeowners wanting to sell. Rising prices will bring out more sellers, especially if price increases lift them back above water. "

MULTIMEDIA

• To view the full survey results and analysis, click here.

• To download a SlideShare on the findings and Trulia's 2013 outlook for housing, click here.

• To download an infographic of the survey results, click here.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

The November 2012 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive via its QuickQuery omnibus product on behalf of Trulia between Nov 15-19, 2012 among 2,083 U.S. adults, of whom 1,271 are homeowners and 741 are renters.

The previous surveys were conducted online within the US by Harris Interactive via its QuickQuery omnibus product on behalf of Trulia on the following dates:

• May 22-24, 2012 among 2,205 U.S. adults, of whom 1,402 are homeowners and 731 are renters

• Jan 20-24, 2011 among 2,079 U.S. adults, of whom 1,339 are homeowners and 683 are renters

• Jan 19-21, 2010 among 2,232 U.S. adults, of whom 1,523 are homeowners and 641 are renters

• Feb 20-24, 2009 among 2,076 U.S. adults, of whom 1,418 are homeowners and 595 are renters

For complete survey methodologies, including weighting variables, please contact pr@trulia.com.

ABOUT TRULIA, INC.

Trulia (NYS: TRLA) gives home buyers, sellers, owners, and renters the inside scoop on properties, places, and real estate professionals. Trulia has unique info on the areas people want to live that can't be found anywhere else: users can learn about agents, neighborhoods, schools, crime, commute times, and even ask the local community questions. Real estate professionals use Trulia to connect with millions of transaction-ready buyers and sellers each month via our hyper local advertising services, social recommendations, and top-rated mobile real estate apps. Trulia is headquartered in downtown San Francisco. Trulia is a registered trademark of Trulia, Inc.

¹ Department of Numbers's HousingTracker

Trulia
Daisy Kong, 415-400-7391
pr@trulia.com

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