As featured in HousingWire.

To remix an old adage, when the U.S. housing market sneezes, the U.S. economy catches a cold.

And it feels like the housing market is winding up and teetering on a sneeze. But this election season seems to be that moment just before a sneeze erupts when a proactive move (like a quick finger under the nose in the case of an actual sneeze) can stifle a full-blown, damaging spasm.

What might the housing economy’s “sneeze” unload if nothing is done to interrupt?

Here are some of the existing issues facing affordable and fair housing that do not have federal legislation or executive orders (although, thankfully, state and local initiatives are being tackled in some places) and may be exacerbated in locales that have no legal framework.

The Sneeze-Guard Priorities

The sneeze-guard priorities are the following documented U.S. housing issues that HousingWire has covered in the last couple of years that impact fair and affordable homes.

Affordable housing inventory shortage
AI-generated discrimination (e.g. price-fixing and steering)
Corporate landlord hoarding vs. owner-occupant homebuyer first-look periods
Digital and modern-day redlining
Downpayment and/or closing cost assistance needs
Gutted safeguarding of protected classes (such as nationality, religion, etc.)
HOA board dysfunctions
Legal “source of income” discrimination (e.g. veterans and their subsidies are at times turned away from buying or renting, etc.)
Unfair home devaluation and appraisal bias
Unjust eminent domain home seizures

To name just a few!

Despite these qualms, real estate is still one of the best ways to build wealth (“with existing homeowners now averaging about $315,000 in equity”) IF it is fair. Ultimately, fair and affordable housing should be for every U.S. citizen, not just those who live in certain zip codes (with local and state legislators who are proactive), which requires a federal scope.

Federal Housing Priorities

With under two months before election day, what national housing priorities has each major party presidential candidate committed to in writing thus far?

Kamala Harris’s Housing Priorities

Here is Vice President Harris’s housing agenda from her official site:

“Vice President Harris has put forward a comprehensive plan to build three million more rental units and homes that are affordable to end the national housing supply crisis in her first term. And she will cut red tape to make sure we build more housing faster and penalize firms that hoard available homes to drive up prices for local homebuyers. Vice President Harris knows rent is too high and will sign legislation to outlaw new forms of price fixing by corporate landlords. As more new homes are built and affordable housing supply increases, Vice President Harris will provide first-time homebuyers with up to $25,000 to help with their down payments, with more generous support for first-generation homeowners. This will help more Americans experience the pride of homeownership and the financial security that it represents and brings — offering more Americans a path to the middle class and economic opportunity.

Donald Trump’s Housing Priorities

Former President Trump’s official site, as of today’s writing, has not listed any specific housing priorities.

Whose housing agenda will add sneeze-guard protection to the economy? Image by Zeb Lowe.

In short, of the sneeze-guard housing priorities listed above, here is how each candidate fares:

The Sneeze-Guard Priorities Documented housing issues that HW has covered in the last couple of years impacting fair and affordable homes.	Presidential Housing Priorities
	Harris	Trump
Affordable housing inventory shortage	“build three million more rental units and homes that are affordable to end the national housing supply crisis in her first term. And she will cut red tape to make sure we build more housing faster”	n/a
AI-generated discrimination (e.g. price-fixing and steering)	“will sign legislation to outlaw new forms of price fixing by corporate landlords.”	n/a
Corporate landlord hoarding vs. owner-occupant homebuyer first-look periods	“penalize firms that hoard available homes to drive up prices for local homebuyers”	n/a
Digital and modern-day redlining	n/a	n/a
Downpayment and/or closing cost assistance needs	“provide first-time homebuyers with up to $25,000 to help with their down payments, with more generous support for first-generation homeowners”	n/a
Gutted safeguarding of protected classes (such as nationality, religion, etc.)	n/a	n/a
HOA board dysfunctions	n/a	n/a
Legal “source of income” discrimination (e.g. veterans and their subsidies are at times turned away from buying or renting)	n/a	n/a
Unfair home devaluation and appraisal bias	n/a	n/a
Unjust eminent domain home seizures	n/a	n/a

Either way, we have some lobbying to do! As a note, I did *not* expound on which of these policies can alleviate (or exacerbate) housing issues, just what the two major party candidates have put in writing. I did not want to add my recommendations (my past and future articles do that) but shine a light on what has been stated in writing, good, bad, or indifferent, for you to have a quick-glance reference as of the date this article.

But planning is just the first step. As we have seen repeatedly, a president’s plans have to pass muster in the House and Senate (click here for more on the feasibility of bipartisan support).

Watch on YouTube: click here.

Dr. Lee Davenport is a real estate coach/educator and author (including Be a Fair Housing D.E.C.O.D.E.R. and How to Profit with Your Personality). Dr. Lee trains real estate agents around the globe on how to work smarter with their unique personalities and how to “advocate, not alienate,” so everyone has access and opportunity in real estate.

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