Most People Are Pro-Building - Just Not in Their Neighborhood
Nearly three-quarters of homeowners and 80% of renters support policies that promote building more housing. However, only roughly 25% from both groups would feel positive about new apartments being built in their neighborhood, according to a report from Redfin.
Additionally, 40% of homeowners would feel negative about a new complex, and 35% would feel neutral. Of renters, 24% would feel negative about the possibility, and 49% would feel neutral. Surveying over 5,000 U.S. residents who either moved in the last year, plan to move in the next year, or rent their home, the report narrows in on the 3,949 respondents or 78% who are pro-building.
“Personal preferences for things like a quiet neighborhood or old-fashioned charm are often at odds with building new housing. Even though so many Americans believe in building new dense housing in theory, that ideology isn’t strong enough to outweigh their own desires—especially when they don’t stand to directly benefit from the building. That’s why it’s so difficult to overcome community opposition to dense new housing, even during a time when so many Americans believe in the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) movement,” says Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather.