44% of American consumers say their home has become more important to them in recent years, while only 10% say it has become less important. That’s according to Fannie Mae’s latest National Housing Survey analysis of homeowners, mortgage borrowers, and renters. Here are their key findings.

• Top reasons why consumers value their homes more:
• 63% of consumers say their home’s location has made it more valuable to them
• 59% cite the sense of security their home provides as a key reason for its growing importance.
• 49% say their ability to spend leisure time at home along with their ability to customize their home
• Home features that are growing in demand:
• Outdoor living space (69%)
• An extra room for hobbies (61%)
• A yard for gardening (60%)
• Renters, in particular, are willing to pay more for these upgrades
• 46% of renters and 42% of homeowners say they would pay more for a home with enough space to accommodate extended family, as multigenerational living becomes a reality for more Americans.

Addressing concerns about housing affordability- A new report found that American homeowners are spending LESS of their disposable income on mortgage payments now than in 2007. Homeowners now only spent 5.8% of their disposable income on mortgage payments in Q4 2024, down from 9.0% in Q4 2007. That startling fact comes from an eye-opening new report from Resiclub on the financial health of homeowners. The report shows that, despite higher home prices and interest rates, the market is on solid ground. Here are a few key highlights:

• 96% of mortgage debt is fixed-rate, with most being 30-year fixed loans (France is the only other country that offers a similar structure)
• Nearly 40% of owner-occupied homes are mortgage-free, giving those homeowners significant financial stability
• Lending standards have tightened significantly since the 2007–2008 crisis, contrary to lingering public perception