It’s pretty easy to figure out why NAR put out the ad above. Follow the money. Realtors don’t get paid when people rent. They only earn a commission when buyers buy homes.

It’s not optimal, but I’m a renter. Always have been.

Am I annoyed I’m not building “equity” on a monthly basis? For sure.

Do I want to be shamed for it? Certainly not.

That said — let’s stop complaining. What about causes and solutions?

Barriers to home ownership (aka causes):

  • Housing prices
  • Access to capital for down payment
  • Credit scores
  • Income
  • Lack of affordable housing inventory
  • High rents (which make it harder to save for a down payment)

Solutions:

What is missing from these lists? How can we make home ownership more accessible to a broader percentage of the population?