BURST(NewsNation) — Housing costs are so high that some buyers are willing to risk their personal safety to afford a home.
A recent Redfin survey found that roughly 1 in 5 (22%) homebuyers would be willing to trade safety for affordability, while more than a quarter (27%) said they'd compromise by giving up a low-crime area.
The findings underscore the affordability strain many are feeling, with home prices at record highs and elevated mortgage rates adding to the burden.
The typical U.S. home-sale price has increased over 40% since before the pandemic, and mortgage rates are more than double what they were just four years ago. While some markets have started to tip in favor of buyers, the dream of homeownership remains out of reach for millions.
"Prices are starting to come down, but buyers, especially first-timers, are still battling with affordability,” Katie Shook, a Redfin Premier agent in Phoenix, said in a statement.
Most of those surveyed were not willing to compromise on personal safety and low crime, the top two non-negotiables for homebuyers, with more than 70% of respondents calling them "must-haves."
While the survey was conducted well before recent headlines, the topic of crime has been front and center again this week as President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops to address public safety concerns in the nation's capital — a plan that could extend to other major U.S. cities.
The latest FBI data may offer some reassurance: Nationwide, property crime fell 8% in 2024 and violent crime dropped 4.5%.
Low natural disaster risk ranked third among homebuyer must-haves, partly explaining why prices are falling in some Florida markets. Fourth on the list of non-negotiables was access to grocery stores.
Meanwhile, buyers were less concerned about living in an area that reflects their political beliefs. Some 55% of respondents were willing to make that trade-off if it meant affording a home.
The results are from a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos in May 2025 and reflect responses from 1,224 respondents who are planning to buy a home within the next 12 months.
Respondents were asked separately about 18 features, and for each one, they could choose "must have" or "willing to compromise to afford a home."