With Election Day just weeks away, housing affordability is a headline issue. But most of the conversation is about getting people into homes. After identifying in several recent studies that homeownership costs are causing enormous stress, Hometap focused its latest research on the other side of the equation: what it costs for people to stay in their homes.
After surveying 1,000 U.S. homeowners, the consensus was that homeowners want to see their home-related costs on the ballot, even if they’re not sure any politicians will deliver on cutting them.
When asked how a candidate’s platform to lower homeownership costs would affect their vote, 77% said it would factor in. That includes 21% who call it a top factor and 56% who call it one of several. Only 23% said it wouldn’t affect their vote.
Hometap
Taxes Lead, and Utilities Are the Sleeper Issue
With 26 ballot initiatives related to tax rates being proposed in 13 states this midterm election, it's no surprise that when asked to pick the one homeowner-related issue that matters most this November, homeowners ranked taxes and tax policy first (35%), followed by utility costs (25%), housing supply and affordability (17%), and insurance (10%).
Hometap
The survey found that 3 in 4 homeowners (75%) say their property tax bill rose in the past two years. Among those whose bill went up, 1 in 3 (33%) saw an increase of 7% or more.
Hometap
Hometap
Despite coming in second behind taxes as a top issue in this election, utility costs rose the most for homeowners over the past 12 months (44%) and caused the most stress (31%).
Hometap
What Motivates Homeowners to Vote
About 41% of survey participants say being a homeowner makes them more likely to vote in the midterms this year.
Hometap
Among those motivated voters, nearly half (49%) say they want accountability from whoever’s in office. Another 28% feel more connected to their community and local decisions, and about 22% say homeownership costs outweigh other issues right now.
Hometap
Among those who aren’t more likely to vote, 27% say they don’t think their vote would change their home-related costs.
Hometap
Stress Is Raising the Stakes
The pressure of owning a home is part of what's pulling homeowners into the conversation. Nearly two-thirds of homeowners (63%) say owning a home causes them at least moderate financial stress, up from 55% when survey respondents were asked the same question in June 2025.
Stressed homeowners are also more likely to say owning a home makes them want to vote. Among those at least moderately stressed, 48% say so, compared with 28% of less-stressed homeowners.
Hometap
One of the more significant findings to come out of the survey is the fact that wanting relief from home-related costs and expecting it are clearly two different things. Homeowners want costs addressed, but don’t see it as a guarantee. Just 26% are confident the right candidate could lower their homeownership costs. Another 35% are neutral, and 40% lack confidence.
Hometap
Many feel unheard and resigned: 7 in 10 homeowners (71%) expect costs to keep rising no matter who wins, and 70% say politicians don’t understand homeowners.
Hometap
When asked what they’d like to see from a candidate, homeowners answered in their own words. Taxes came up most often (42%), followed by cost of living and prices (26%), and utilities and energy (about 14%).
Their answers were direct:
- "Lowering cost of living. We all work hard for our money to live day by day and stress over everything."
- "Homeowners insurance doesn't go up."
- "Stop data centers that increase my utility bills."
It’s worth reiterating that despite 77% of homeowners saying a candidate’s plan to lower homeownership costs would factor into their vote, only 26% are confident the right candidate could actually deliver. Homeowners are heading into the midterms under real financial pressure, they want their costs on the ballot, and they’re watching to see who’s listening.
Methodology: The survey was conducted by AYTM on behalf of Hometap from Oct. 4-6, 2026, among 1,000 U.S. homeowners representing a mix of ages, demographics, and regions. Respondents were recruited through AYTM's online panel and screened to confirm current homeownership. The 20-question survey was administered online with randomized multiple-choice options and "not applicable" or "other" responses available for all questions. State of residence was captured to support regional views. The results reflect a 95% confidence level with a ±3% margin of error.
Generations were grouped by the following age ranges: Millennials age 25-44, Generation X age 45-64, and Baby Boomers age 65-79.
This story was produced by Hometap and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
