The Cost of Staying Put: Homeowners Head to the Midterms Stressed and Skeptical, Hometap Survey Finds

Three in four homeowners say cost-cutting promises will sway their vote, but only one in four believe any candidate can deliver

BOSTON, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- With Election Day two weeks away, homeowners are heading to the polls looking for relief from rising costs, but few believe it's coming. A new survey from financial technology company Hometap finds the cost of owning a home is straining household budgets and shaping how homeowners vote, even as most expect their costs to keep climbing no matter who wins.

Nearly two-thirds of homeowners (63%) say owning a home causes them at least moderate financial stress, up from 55% in June 2025. That pressure is following them to the ballot box: 77% say a candidate's platform to cut costs would sway their vote. Yet only 26% believe the right candidate could actually lower their costs, and 71% expect their costs to rise no matter who wins.

Affordability has become a defining issue of this election cycle, but most of the political conversation centers on the cost of buying a home. Hometap's findings point to a different pressure that gets far less attention: the rising cost of staying in one.

"Affordability is on the ballot this year, but almost all of the conversation is about getting people into homes," said Jeff Glass, CEO of Hometap. "Homeowners are telling us there's a different affordability challenge: staying in one. Property taxes, insurance, and upkeep keep climbing, and most of them don't believe the election will change that. Policy has a role to play, but while policymakers continue to tackle affordability, homeowners deserve more options to put the wealth they've built in their homes to work against rising costs."

Taxes are homeowners' top voting issue (35%), and three in four (75%) have seen their property tax bill rise in the past two years. Yet 51% don't know of a property tax measure on their ballot, even as voters in multiple states will decide on statewide property tax measures on Nov. 3, according to Ballotpedia. As of October 20, those states are Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wyoming.

The pressure is pushing some homeowners to think about leaving, but very few follow through. While 46% have considered a move because of state policy, fewer than 2% have actually moved.

"Property tax policy can feel abstract until the bill lands on the kitchen table, " Glass said. "For homeowners, property taxes shape where they live, how long they stay, and the tradeoffs they have to make to sustain homeownership. These aren't just budget decisions; they're decisions about the life a family gets to live."

Other Key Findings

• Younger owners feel it most: 77% of Millennial homeowners are at least moderately stressed by the cost of owning, compared with 48% of Baby Boomers. Younger owners are also more likely to say their costs feel increasingly out of their control (62% vs. 44%).
   
• The stress reaches beyond the budget: Among the most stressed homeowners, 92% say that stress shows up in their daily lives, including 57% who report symptoms of anxiety or depression, 52% who have trouble sleeping, and 33% who have delayed medical or dental care.
   
• Repairs weigh heavily: After utilities (31%), maintenance and repairs are the most stressful homeownership cost (17%), ahead of mortgage payments (10%) and insurance (9%).
   
• Equity sits on the sidelines: Among homeowners who do not feel financially stressed, only 24% point to their home equity for their financial security, well behind stable income (42%), a paid-off mortgage (37%), and savings (35%).

The full survey results are available at https://www.hometap.com/blog/what-homeowners-want-midterm-ballot, and homeowners can learn more about the company at hometap.com.

Methodology
The survey was conducted by AYTM on behalf of Hometap from October 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 64-79.

About Hometap
Founded in 2017, Hometap is a Boston-based fintech company on a mission to make homeownership less stressful and more accessible. Starting with its industry-leading home equity investment product, the company has helped nearly 30,000 homeowners across the U.S. access their home equity without having to take on additional monthly payments or sell their home. Hometap expanded its suite of innovative financial products and services in 2022 and introduced a centralized dashboard that allows homeowners to easily track their home equity, receive guidance and support from experts, and protect and grow the value of their home. Learn more at hometap.com.

Rebecca Reese
[email protected]

SOURCE Hometap