Housing Policy and Election

Ptrulia Outlook on Housing Policy & the 2012 Presidential Election Where Republicans & Democrats See Eye To Eye Democrats All Respondents Republicans Priority #1: Jobs Lowering Unemployment 82% 79% 178% Raising Employment Growth 81% STRANE 78% 78% Priority #2: Economy & Budget Reducing Federal Budget Deficit 63%l 70% 180% Simplifying The Tax System 56% 60% 65% Keeping Interest Rates Low 57% 53% 54% Lowering Tax Rate 48% 52% 62% Priority #3: Housing Helping Homeowners Avoid Default And Foreciosure 63% 52% 42% Keeping Home Prices Affordable 57% 51% 145% Keeping Rents Affordable 60% 51% 143% Making It Easier To Refinance 51% 43% 140% Making Mortgage Credit More Availabie For Homebuyers 46%| 38% 31% 72% Of Americans Strongly Or Somewhat Agree That Government Policies And Programs Should Encourage Homeownership Democrats All Respondents Republicans Housing Policies and Proposals Make It Easier For Homeowners Who ARE NOT Underwater To Refinance 82%! 80% 177% Make It Easier For Homeowners Who ARE Underwater To Refinance 82%I 78% 69% Encourage Institutions And Investors Who Own Vacant Homes To Rent Them Out 76% 74% 171% Re-introduce The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit 80% 72% 170% Encourage Mortgage Loan Modification That Reduce Principal Balances 74% 70% 61% Maintain The Mortgage Interest Deduction At Current levels 68% E 67% E 69% Raise the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Conforming Loan Limit 51% 46% 40% Housing Recovery? We'll Believe It When We See It! What Will Give Americans More Confidence That The Housing Market Is Getting Back On Track Foreclosure For VACANT 47% 38% 32% Fewer Defaults And Foreclosures More Home Sales Fewer Vacant Homes 20% 20% 23% 25% More New Housing Construction Rising Home Prices ownership Rates Rising Home- Lower Mortgage Rates 20% 18% 11% Easier To Refinance A Mortgage Easier To Qualify For A Mortgage Fewer Price Reductions To For-Sale Homes 54% Of Americans Are Not At All Confident That President Obama Can Stabilize The Housing Market In The Next 12 Months 100% 87% 80% 60% 57% 54% 40% 31% 32% 20% 10% 0% 2009 2011 2009 2011 2009 2011 Democrats Republicans All Respondents Americans Who Believe Housing Will Hurt President Obama's Chances Of Re-election Americans Who Strongly Or Somewhat Agree that Housing Will Hurt Obama's Chance of Re-election Democrats All Respondents Republicans 57% 65% 173% Source: Based on the findings from Trulia's consumer survey which was conducted by Harris Interactive on November 17-21, 2011.