Over the weekend, Bernie Sanders teased a $2.5 trillion
housing plan, which, among other things, promises to establish a national rent control standard and make significant investments in affordable housing. Like Sanders, several other Democratic candidates have released proposals to tackle housing inequality in America. Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, unsurprisingly, has one of the most detailed plans, with policies he says would tackle the homelessness crisis. Meanwhile, former Texas rep. Beto O’Rourke has yet to release any kind of housing plan (or respond to criticism of his controversial record on the issue).
Below you’ll find the key points in the housing plans of every Democratic who has qualified for October’s debate so far. (We’ll also note if a candidate has yet to provide a housing plan.) A couple of recurring themes you’ll see: incentives to eliminate strict zoning rules that prohibit affordable housing development, and plans to tackle racial inequality in housing opportunities.
ROCK HILL, SC – AUGUST 29: Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden addresses a crowd at a town hall event at Clinton College on August 29, 2019 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Biden has spent Wednesday and Thursday campaigning in the early primary state. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Joe Biden
No plan provided, but supports making low-income communities more energy-efficient
and ensuring all formerly incarcerated
individuals have access to housing after re-entry.
Cory Booker
Create a Renter’s Credit; this would provide a refundable tax credit for those struggling to pay rent. “Anyone paying more than 30 percent of their before-tax income would be eligible for the credit.”
Create “Baby Bonds,” federally-funded savings accounts for every child, beginning at $1,000 and growing up to $2,000 every year (depending on that family’s income). “By the age of 18, low-income account-holders would have access to nearly $50,000 in seed capital to do the kind of things that create wealth and change life trajectories, including putting a down payment on a home.”
Create more affordable housing by eliminating restrictive zoning rules and allocating $40 billion to the Housing Trust Fund to create new units for low-income renters who earn less than the federal poverty level or 30 percent of the average area income.
“Properly” fund the USDA 515 program
, which helps provide affordable housing for low-income families, the elderly, and those with disabilities (aimed at those living in rural areas). Combat “discrimination and predatory practices” in the housing market through the creation of an Eviction Right to Counsel Fund, a fund for low-income families facing eviction to be provided legal counsel in court.
Fund anti-homelessness grant programs, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Programs
, with $6 billion annually. (These programs provide individuals with resources like shelters, rent subsidies, and transitional housing.)
Pete Buttigieg
Pass the “Community Homestead Act,”
as part of his larger plan to tackle racial inequality in America. Under this act, cities would bid for financing, establish a “land bank” to develop abandoned or foreclosed properties, and grant ownership of this land to eligible participants.
“End homelessness for families with children.”
“Expand federal protections for tenants against eviction and unjust harassment.”
MANCHESTER, NH – SEPTEMBER 07: Democratic presidential candidate, former HUD Secretary Julin Castro speaks during the New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention at the SNHU Arena on September 7, 2019 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Nineteen presidential candidates will be attending the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention for the state’s first cattle call before the 2020 primaries. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Julián Castro
Reform the Housing Choice Voucher
program—which provides affordable housing for low-income families—by expanding it to cover all families under 50 percent of the average income in that area (and to consider student loan payments when determining eligibility).
Increase construction of affordable housing through at least $45 billion of additional funds each year.
End chronic homelessness by 2028 (and child, family, and youth homelessness by the end of his first term) through investments like an additional $5 billion in funding for McKinney-Vento homeless grants and expansion of Pell Grants to cover non-tuition expenses for students.
Increase homeownership through the creation of programs like National Housing Stabilization Fund for those struggling with home insecurity, “including managing small expenses that put them at risk for foreclosure.”
Support housing counseling and financial literacy programs.
“Hold Wall Street accountable” through reforms to the housing finance system; “strengthen” the Department Of Justice’s independence and ability to hold banks accountable (including civil rights violations as they relate to housing inequality).
Kamala Harris
Create a $100 billion federal program to promote black homeownership, including providing down payments and closing assistance of up to $25,000 in total.
Amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act, so that credit scores include rent, phone, and utility payments to benefit those with limited credited histories.
Amy Klobuchar
Provide access to legal counsel for individuals facing eviction.
“Increase affordable rental housing in rural communities” through “significant” investment.
Give renters access to emergency funds when they are unable to pay.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 12: Democratic presidential candidate former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke is interviewed by the media in the spin room after the Democratic Presidential Debate at Texas Southern University on September 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas. Ten Democratic presidential hopefuls were chosen from the larger field of candidates to participate in the debate hosted by ABC News in partnership with Univision. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Beto O’Rourke
No plan provided and when asked about affordable housing during a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire
, O’Rourke was mostly vague; he supports the creation of “millions” of housing units. (In 2006, he also faced criticism
over redevelopment in El Paso that would have impacted low-income neighborhoods and homeowners.)
Bernie Sanders
Invest more than $32 billion over the next five years to address homelessness; $70 billion in public housing; and $50 billion in state and local grants for land trusts, as CNN writes. (According to Sanders, the entire program would cost $2.5 trillion over a decade.)
Create a national rent control standard which would cap annual rent at “no more than one and a half times the rate of inflation or three percent, whichever is higher.”
Create two million units of mixed-income housing.
Tom Steyer
No plan provided.
Elizabeth Warren
Lower rental costs by 10% nationally through the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, which includes the investment of $500 billion over ten years to create affordable housing. “By building millions of new units, my plan will reduce the cost of rent for everyone.”
Invest $500 million in rural housing programs and $2.5 billion in theIndian Housing Block Grant and the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant “to build or rehab 200,000 homes on tribal land.”
Provide $10 billion in a grant program for state and local governments to eliminating strict zoning rules that drive up construction costs (and therefore rental costs, according to Warren).
Create a down payment assistance program aimed at first-time homebuyers who have lived in redlined neighborhoods, or communities that have been historically disenfranchised
(shaped by housing discrimination and racially-based refusal of mortgages during the 1930s). “If they qualify, they are entitled to a substantial grant they can put towards a down payment on a home anywhere in the country.”
Take “whatever legal steps” to prevent real estate and private equity from trying to block rent control ballots. “More than 30 states
have passed laws that explicitly prohibit cities from adopting rent control … These state laws effectively permit Wall Street to decide what’s best for cities and towns instead of the residents of those places choosing for themselves.”
Andrew Yang
Will “work with localities to relax zoning ordinances for the purpose of increasing the development of affordable housing.”
“Encourage the building of new innovative housing options like micro-apartments and communal living for people in high-density urban areas.”
The National Building Black Wealth Day Follows The Resounding Success of Our Mid-Winter Conference In February, Where We Equipped Our Community With the Tools, Strategies, and Insights Needed to Thrive In an Evolving Industry. ST. LOUIS, MO— The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) will present its second annual National Building Black Wealth Day on April 12, 2025, with live events in more than 100 cities across the country. Seminars and one-on-one sessions will empower communities with steps towards homeownership, property investment, starting a business, and other wealth-building opportunities. An internet feed will make virtual sessions accessible to a national audience. To register for the in-person events in 100 cities, please go to XXXXX. To register for the virtual sessions on Zoom, click HERE. Act quickly as the virtual sessions have limited spots available. We also encourage you to share this opportunity with your networks to help us reach more Black consumers. Key partners in the tour, include the African American Mayors Association, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Church of God in Christ, Inc., the National Baptist Convention, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., National Bar Association, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. “Participation by our partners underscores their commitment to empowerment and economic development in our communities,” said Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose. “The Building Black Wealth Tour is expanding for 2025. We are bringing together families, lenders, attorneys, and real estate professionals to discuss and implement strategies for increasing Black homeownership and building wealth within Black communities.” Rose noted that NAREB’s 2024 State of Housing in Black America report found that more than two million mortgage-ready Black Americans have the income and credit to buy a home but have not yet become homeowners. In addition, 1.75 million Black millennials make over $100k annually and are poised to be homeowners. Further, Freddie Mac tracks the number of “mortgage-ready” renters nationwide , meaning they can meet certain income and credit requirements to qualify for a mortgage. Their researchers determined that as of January 2021, two million Blacks ages 45 or younger are near mortgage-ready, while another 3.4 million are potentially mortgage-ready. “Our tour aims to reach these Black consumers,” said Dr. Rose. “We are providing them with data and information on why they should be homeowners. We explain the many benefits of homeownership, such as building wealth, stable communities and building equity for retirements, college educations for their children, starting a business or more.” On National Building Black Wealth Day, hundreds of families and individuals will be armed with the information needed to make wealth-building decisions. Among the opportunities/Workshops are: What to do with Big Momma's House? ABCs of Homebuying Real Estate Investing Down Payment Assistance Explore Careers in Real Estate Free Career Fair Free Health Screenings One On Ones with Real Estate Attorneys One On Ones with Housing Counselors The Black Wealth Day comes after NAREB’s successful Mid-Winter Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, last month. This year’s conference, themed "Navigating New Horizons," empowered real estate professionals with the tools, strategies, and insights needed to thrive in an evolving industry. Speakers included Dr. Egypt Sherrod , Host and Executive Producer of HGTV’s Married to Real Estate; Catrese Fields Alston, Philanthropist and CEO of Le-Bleu Diamond Corporation; Hill Harper , Award-Winning Actor and Activist and Laura Escobar , President of Lennar Mortgage and 2025 Chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). “Our Mid-Winter Conference helped NAREB Realtists® prepare for the shifting landscape of the real estate industry,” said Dr. Rose . “Realtists are on the front lines, working with families to secure homeownership and build generational wealth. In today’s challenging market, our members are more valuable than ever, and this conference ensured they have the knowledge and support to make a lasting impact in Black communities.” ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS NAREB was formed in 1947 to secure equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or color. NAREB has advocated for legislation and supported or instigated legal challenges that ensure fair housing, sustainable homeownership, and access to credit for Black Americans. Simultaneously, NAREB advocates for and promotes access to business opportunities for Black real estate professionals in each real estate discipline. From the past to the present, NAREB remains an association that is proud of its history, dedicated to its chosen struggle, and unrelenting in its pursuit of the REALTIST®’s mission/vision embedded goal, “Democracy in Housing.”
About 6 percent of real estate agents and brokers in the United States are Black. Their white peers make almost three times as much, according to data and surveys. Tye Williams feels the heat. It’s 95 degrees out, and the North Carolina sun is beating like a drum. He’s in a full suit and tie Continue Reading
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WHO: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Lydia Pope, President NAREB Alanna McCargo, President, Ginnie Mae Lisa Rice, President & CEO National Fair Housing Alliance Sandra Thompson, Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency Teresa Bryce Bazemore, CEO, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco Katrina Jones, VP, Racial Equity Strategy & Impact, Fannie Mae Pamela Perry, VP, Continue Reading
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The California Association of Realtors is the most recent association to express regrets for past practices that marginalized groups based on race or ethnicity. Key points: Real estate associations in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago and St. Louis have also offered formal apologies for past discriminatory practices. Practices and policies included endorsing restrictive covenants and redlining, making Continue Reading
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Lydia Pope, who leads the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, discusses narrowing the racial gap in homeownership and opening doors for Black agents Key points: NAREB, founded in 1947, is the nation’s oldest trade association for Black real estate professionals. ‘Our goal is equal housing,’ said Pope, whose own real estate career spans nearly Continue Reading
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Americans disagree on many social issues, but one we’re strongly united on is appreciation for our fellow countrymen and women who have served in our nation’s military – especially today, Veteran’s Day. It’s likely that the greatest expression of gratitude our nation has ever given to those who have worn the uniform is the Servicemen’s Readjustment Continue Reading
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Our mission at Bankrate is to assist our clients in making smarter monetary decisions. Apart from ensuring every editorial policy is met, we have referenced some of our products from our partners in this post. We have explained how we generate revenue here. The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) is a trade network Continue Reading
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Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a home, you’ll see a wide range of terms attached to professionals who can help with the transaction. As you work to understand the difference between a broker and an agent, you may also wonder what a Realtist does. What is a Realtist? A Realtist is a real estate Continue Reading
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The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) is a trade organization and network of Black real estate professionals known for promoting “democracy in housing” and advocating for public policies that “protect and expand sustainable homeownership.” The organization’s members, who go by the title of Realtist, are spread throughout chapters across the United States. NAREB’s Continue Reading
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Organization Will Hold Elected Officials Accountable The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) called on the White House and Congress to enact legislation aimed at increasing Black homeownership after provisions approved by the House were excluded from the Inflation Reduction Act, which Congress passed and was signed into law by President Biden. Rep. Maxine Continue Reading
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