(News Nation) – Housing costs are seriously on the rise, making some potential buyers reconsider their priorities, even risking personal safety to secure a home.
A recent survey by Redfin shows that nearly one in five buyers (22%) would trade safety for lower costs, while about 27% are willing to move away from low-crime areas.
These findings bring to light the struggle many individuals face as housing prices reach record levels and mortgage rates continue to climb, adding more pressure to those trying to afford a home.
Home sale prices have surged over 40% since before the pandemic, and, at the same time, mortgage rates have more than doubled from what they were four years ago. Although some markets are starting to tip in favor of buyers, many still find homeownership to be out of reach.
“While prices are starting to decline, especially for first-time buyers, the challenge of affordability is still a significant roadblock,” said Katie Shock, a Redfin Premier Agent in Phoenix.
Interestingly, most survey participants indicated that they are not inclined to compromise on safety and low-crime environments.
This survey was conducted prior to recent crime-related news, which has again thrust public safety into the spotlight, particularly as the President deployed the National Guard in Washington, D.C., to tackle safety concerns. This initiative could potentially expand to other major cities across the U.S.
Interestingly, the latest FBI crime report shows a nationwide 8% drop in property crime and a 4.5% drop in violent crime for 2024, which could provide some reassurance.
Among non-negotiables for homebuyers, avoiding natural disaster risks ranked third, which may explain the decreasing prices in certain Florida markets. Proximity to grocery stores was another key consideration.
In contrast, the political alignment of a neighborhood doesn’t seem to weigh heavily on buyers, with around 55% indicating they’d be willing to overlook that in order to secure a home.
The results stem from a Redfin Committee survey, carried out by IPSOS in May 2025, which included feedback from 1,224 individuals planning to purchase a home within the next year.
Participants were asked about 18 specific features of potential homes, and they could choose whether they were “willing to compromise to buy a house.”
