U.S. Homeownership Rate and Legislative History
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 30 2026
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
- Legislative Impact on Homeownership: The U.S. homeownership rate has risen from 44% in 1940 to 65% in 2025, closely linked to various acts passed by Congress, highlighting the crucial role of legislation in promoting homeownership.
- Historical Bill Effects: Landmark legislation such as the Homestead Act of 1862 and the National Housing Act directly influenced mortgage accessibility, enabling millions of families to achieve homeownership, showcasing the power of federal intervention.
- Widening Housing Supply Gap: The estimated housing supply gap in the U.S. is projected to reach 4.03 million homes in 2025, up from 3.8 million in 2024, indicating that new construction is failing to meet the demand from younger households, which could hinder economic growth.
- Need for Policy Intervention: In response to the escalating housing supply crisis, Congress's proposed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to streamline local building regulations to boost housing construction, demonstrating the potential of legislation to address housing challenges.
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About NWS
News Corporation is a diversified media and information services company. Its Digital Real Estate Services segment consists of the Company's interest in REA Group and Move. REA Group is a digital media business specializing in property and property-related services on its Websites and mobile apps. Move is a provider of digital real estate services in the United States and primarily operates Realtor.com, a real estate information, advertising and services platform, its referral-based services, online tools and services to do-it-yourself landlords and tenants. Its Dow Jones segment includes Dow Jones, a global provider of news and business information, which distributes its content and data through a variety of media channels. Its Book Publishing segment consists of HarperCollins, a consumer book publisher with operations in 15 countries. Its News Media segment consists of News Corp Australia, News UK and the New York Post and includes The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, among others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Historical Legislative Impact: The National Housing Act of 1934 created the FHA, reducing mortgage down payment requirements and reviving the housing market, although it also institutionalized redlining, affecting housing opportunities for minority communities.
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- Increased Market Attention: Foreclosures received 26.5% more page views than typical listings in the first half of 2026, despite sitting on the market an average of 11 days longer, reflecting heightened buyer interest in discounted properties.
- Economist Insights: Joel Berner, Senior Economist at Realtor.com, noted that the rise in foreclosures is due to the winding down of pandemic-era forbearance and moratorium programs, suggesting that the market is returning to 2019 norms rather than entering a crisis state.
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- Technology Integration: MoveAI leverages artificial intelligence to streamline the moving process, allowing users to share move details for personalized recommendations and quotes, which will enhance efficiency and overall consumer satisfaction in selecting moving services.
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- Long-term Commitment: National Holding Company plans to make strategic investments in the Moving.com platform, reflecting its long-term commitment to enhancing consumer experience and delivering greater value for moving partners, further solidifying its position in the industry.
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- Technology Integration: With MoveAI's artificial intelligence, users can share moving details to receive tailored recommendations and quotes, which not only improves service efficiency but also provides consumers with more convenient options, reflecting the company's commitment to digital transformation.
- Market Positioning: This acquisition positions National Holding Company at the forefront of the rapidly evolving moving industry, where increasing consumer reliance on digital platforms and AI tools will drive the company's long-term growth through strategic investments.
- Customer Relationship Maintenance: Existing customer agreements, lead routing processes, and service relationships of Moving.com will remain unchanged, ensuring continuity for clients and laying a foundation for future business expansion, further enhancing the company's market credibility.
See More
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- Pending Sales Growth: Pending home sales rose 3.7% year-over-year in June, extending a seven-month growth streak, suggesting a recovery in market demand as buyers respond positively to price adjustments, potentially leading to further market stabilization.
- Inventory Levels: Active listings reached 1,102,615 in June, up 1.9% from last year, although still 11.3% below pre-pandemic levels, indicating ongoing supply-demand tension that could affect future price trends.
- Market Time Normalization: The median home spent 53 days on the market in June, unchanged from the previous year, ending a 26-month streak of longer selling times, suggesting a gradual return to pre-pandemic norms that may attract more buyers into the market.
See More
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- Pending Sales Growth: Pending sales rose 3.7% year-over-year, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth, suggesting a recovering buyer demand that could enhance future market activity and price stability.
- Market Time Normalization: Homes spent a median of 53 days on the market in June, unchanged from the previous year, ending a 26-month streak of longer selling times, indicating a return to pre-pandemic norms that may attract more buyers.
- Inventory Improvement: Active listings reached 1,102,615 in June, up 4.1% from May, although still below typical levels from 2017-2019, the increase in inventory may alleviate market tightness and provide buyers with more options.
See More
The Relationship Between U.S. Homeownership Rates and Legislation
- Legislation Drives Homeownership: U.S. homeownership rates have risen from 44% in 1940 to over 65% in 2026, with key legislation such as the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 playing crucial roles, demonstrating the direct impact of legislative action on homeownership.
- Historical Legislative Impact: The National Housing Act of 1934 created the FHA, reducing mortgage down payment requirements and reviving the housing market, although it also institutionalized redlining, affecting housing opportunities for minority communities.
- Current Housing Supply Gap: The U.S. housing supply gap reached 4.03 million homes in 2025, up from 3.8 million in 2024, with pent-up demand from younger households indicating a pressing need for policy intervention to meet housing needs.
- Future Legislative Outlook: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to encourage local zoning reforms through federal funding conditions, gaining broad support in Congress, and could become a new legislative example that enables more Americans to achieve their homeownership dreams.
See More
