While housing experts and economists maintain the housing crisis is over, a survey conducted by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in April reveals 51 percent of respondents believe the nation continues in the throes of the housing bust, and 19 percent believe the worst has yet to arrive. Only 25 percent of those who responded believe the downturn is over, according to nationalmortgagenews.com. “The housing crisis that began more than five years ago has left an indelible mark on the attitudes and experiences of Americans,” said Geoffrey Garin, president of Hart Research Associates, which administered the survey for the foundation. “Concern and insecurity about the ability of middle-class Americans to maintain their footing and for people to rise up into the middle class is a central theme in America today and this research shows that housing is front and center in these concerns.” However, Americans surveyed across all income levels are more optimistic than one year ago when 77 percent of respondents said the nation was still in crisis mode. MHProNews has learned while 70 percent of renters continue to desire homeownership, another 54 percent say buying a home is less appealing than it once was. ##
