WHAT THE DATA SAY: Third of Americans worried it’s a bad time to buy a home, despite high desire

IS HOME OWNERSHIP JUST A DREAM?

Financial anxieties and misconceptions make home ownership feel like an unattainable aspiration to Americans, according to our Harris Poll survey with KB Home.

• 83% of Americans believe owning a home is a significant milestone.
• Excitement (47%), pride (43%) and motivation (28%) are the top emotions associated with homebuying.
• However, 89% feel anxious about affordability and the homebuying process (93% for current renters).
• 74% are willing to make lifestyle sacrifices to afford the home they want.
• 54% believe they are in a worse position to buy a home than previous generations.
• 28% are anxious about whether now is a good time to buy.
• Americans' top financial anxieties are affording a down payment (45%), knowing how much they can afford (43%), making monthly payments (42%) and finding the best mortgage rate (42%).
• 69% falsely believe mortgage rates are at an all-time high.
• Nearly half don't know key homebuying terms such as APR (44%) and PMI (49%).
• Gen Z (25%) and Millenials (23%) feel anxious about not knowing where to start in the homebuying process.

DECENTRALIZED AI

As AI becomes an essential part of daily life, consumers favor decentralized models, according to our Harris Poll survey with Digital Currency Group.

• 59% of consumers agree AI is becoming as essential as the internet.
• 86% see the benefit of AI in their daily lives.
• 75% believe decentralized AI is more likely to support innovation and progress than centralized AI.
• 77% of consumers say decentralized AI is more beneficial to society than centralized AI.
• 67% say centralized AI is more biased than decentralized AI.
• 56% prefer decentralized AI over centralized AI.
• 88% agree that if AI is using their personal information and data, they should have more control over what is being used.

FREE WIFI, PLEASE

New York City residents rely on tech companies for accessible Wi-Fi according to our HarrisX research with LinkNYC.

• 55% of New York City residents use free public Wi-Fi monthly.
• 30% rely on it weekly.
• 35% don't have unlimited cellular data plans.
• 51% run out of data at least one month per year.
• 76% approve of New York City's use of technology to deliver public services.
• 78% say tech companies have positively impacted the city.
• 71% express interest in expanded, city-wide technology and AI programs.

WOMEN WANT DOULAS

Summer travel sentiments are high, yet financial concerns and foreign policy shifts have affected Americans' plans, according to our Harris Poll survey with The Points Guy.

• 73% of women believe that insurance companies should provide coverage to employ a doula (81% for women aged 18-34).
• 21% of women who have given birth have used a doula, and 90% found it helpful.
• 19% of women who have given birth wanted to employ a doula but couldn't.
• 23% say a doula would have improved their pregnancy and birth experience.
• 30% felt they did not have control over their labor and delivery.
• Women ages 18-34 are more likely (51%) to engage a doula than older women ages 35+ (15%).
• Reasons for not employing a doula include lack of education and resources (65%) and financial constraints/lack of insurance coverage (35%).

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