Benny Johnson Launches Housing Initiative
Conservative personality Benny Johnson is spearheading a new campaign called “Make Homes Great Again.” This initiative aims to address the growing worry that millennials and Gen Z are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve homeownership due to rising costs and stagnant wages.
Scheduled to be officially announced on Friday, the project will be driven by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). Johnson will act as co-chair and national spokesperson, overseeing a business advisory committee focused on making housing more affordable.
Ashley Hayek, AFPI’s executive vice president and co-chair of the initiative, emphasized Johnson’s influence, citing his 4 million followers and his active discussions about housing on various social media platforms. She mentioned that both of them share a personal stake in the issue, having young children themselves.
Hayek also pointed out that effective communication around policy is essential, noting Johnson’s capability to engage younger audiences who might not realize the resources available for first-time homebuyers.
Greg Sindelar, interim president of AFPI, echoed Hayek’s sentiments, mentioning that the current culture often undermines traditional goals like homeownership and starting families, thereby burdening young people.
Surprisingly, this concern seems to resonate even with some Democrats. Rahm Emanuel, a former Democratic congressman and ambassador to Japan, penned an op-ed in the Washington Post expressing worry over the challenges young people face in homeownership, viewing it as a key component of the American Dream.
Sindelar remarked, “Millions of people are feeling disoriented and forgotten due to rising costs and regulatory burdens.” The AFPI aims to change that by pushing for policies that align with the principles of the America First movement.
Policy Proposals
The newly initiated campaign includes several policy suggestions intended to be advocated across various government levels. These include removing capital gains tax for first-time home sales if the proceeds are reinvested in another home within five years. This approach reflects the essence of the “opportunity zones” proposed by former President Trump to boost economic growth in low-income areas.
Johnson expressed strong concern, stating, “Housing is too expensive and completely out of reach for young people.” He highlighted that the average age for first-time homebuyers has climbed to 40, which he considers detrimental to family formation. “The fight for homeownership is a fight for our cultural and civilizational survival,” he added.
Another proposal suggests establishing “home savings accounts” similar to health savings accounts, allowing people to set aside pre-tax dollars for housing expenses. The initiative also advocates for reducing regulatory barriers to new housing development, criticizing existing “green building standards” for inflating costs.
Other measures aim to deter predatory lending to younger homeowners and promote new housing concepts like tiny homes. There are also tax-related proposals, such as a “family-building mortgage credit,” designed to link family growth with homeownership benefits, including a substantial mortgage reduction for new parents.
