Realtors advocate for ways to keep homes affordable

By Carrie Dahle

June is National Homeownership Month, and it couldn’t come at a more critical time to talk about what homeownership really means and what it takes to protect it.

Owning a home is one of the most meaningful milestones many of us will ever achieve. For most people, it represents so much more than an address or a mortgage. It’s about stability, security, building wealth for your family, and feeling a sense of belonging in your community.

It’s also about opportunity — having a space that’s truly yours, where you can dream, grow and invest in your future. In fact, studies show that homeownership is one of the most effective ways to build generational wealth and foster community pride.

But here’s the hard truth: That dream of homeownership is becoming harder and harder to achieve.

Affordability is a challenge

Across the country, and right here in Ashland and Southern Oregon, affordability is an increasing challenge. Housing prices remain high. Inventory is low. Interest rates and insurance costs are putting additional strain on buyers. In short, the path to homeownership is no longer as clear or accessible as it once was.

And that’s why advocacy matters.

Last week, I had the privilege of joining thousands of Realtors from around the country in Washington for our National Association of Realtors legislative meetings. Together, we met with U.S. senators and representatives, including members of Oregon’s delegation, to advocate for policies that protect property rights and promote housing opportunities for all.

You might think of Realtors as simply the people who help you buy or sell a home. And yes, we love doing that work. However, many of us are also passionate advocates who spend time outside of day-to-day transactions working to protect your rights as a property owner. We work to ensure that the dream of homeownership remains accessible to everyone.

Realtors as advocates

Here’s what that work looks like on a national level:

Realtors are advocating for legislation that expands home financing options, especially for first-time buyers. We are pushing for solutions that encourage the construction of affordable homes. We are working to preserve tax benefits that make homeownership more financially viable for middle-class families.

And we are also actively opposing proposals that could make it harder or more expensive to buy, sell, or own a home. Protecting property rights is a huge focus of our advocacy efforts because when those rights erode, so does the accessibility of homeownership.

Locally, Realtors are engaged with city and county leaders to address our housing shortage head-on. We are advocating for more housing at all price points, not just luxury homes. We are supporting policies that make it easier to develop workforce housing so that teachers, firefighters, service workers and others who make our community thrive can afford to live here.

Realtors are also raising awareness about related challenges, such as the increasing difficulty of securing fire insurance in Southern Oregon and pushing for common-sense solutions to help keep homeownership sustainable for current and future residents.

For me, this work is deeply personal. As someone who helps clients navigate the path to homeownership every day, I see firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone receives the keys to their very first home. I also see how discouraging it can feel when the barriers seem too high.

Working on multiple fronts

That’s why, during National Homeownership Month, I want to remind you that Realtors are not only working in the marketplace; we are working in the policy space, too. We are fighting to keep homeownership accessible, affordable, and protected for all.

So, if you’re one of the many people in our community dreaming of owning a home, don’t give up. Know that there are advocates on your side, fighting for policies that can help turn that dream into a reality.

And if you already own a home, take a moment this month to appreciate the opportunity and responsibility that comes with it. Homeownership is a privilege, but it’s also a right worth protecting for ourselves and for future generations.

Ashland resident Carrie Dahle is president of the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors and principal broker at John L. Scott, Ashland. Email her at [email protected].