For release:
January 6, 2026

C.A.R. launches “Homeownership Matters” Campaign to build the California we believe in

Sacramento (Jan. 6) — The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (C.A.R.) today announced the launch of Homeownership Matters, a statewide public education and advocacy campaign to make homeownership a critical priority of California’s 2026 housing agenda. As California lawmakers begin their work for the next year, the campaign calls for enacting legislation that helps working Californians create pathways to homeownership. Homeownership Matters will educate, engage and urge policymakers to adopt bold, scalable solutions to expand homeownership access, especially as first-time buyers struggle to break into the market.

“It’s encouraging to see California policymakers and industry leaders recognizing the need for more housing,” said C.A.R. President Tamara Suminski. “But we must go further. Expanding homeownership opportunities must be a central priority of the housing agenda. Homeownership is how families put down roots, gain true housing security, build inter-generational wealth, and invest in their future. If we want the California Dream to remain within reach, we must ensure today’s working Californians have real, attainable pathways to buy a home.”

Homeownership has long served as one of the strongest drivers of inter-generational wealth-building opportunities. Over the past 33 years, California homeowners built roughly $165,000 in net worth per capita, compared to just $6,000 for non-homeowners. However, buying a home is increasingly out of reach for the vast majority of Californians:

• Roughly four out of five California households cannot afford to purchase a median-priced home.
• The income required for a first-time buyer has nearly doubled in the past five years, rising from less than $70,000 to more than $130,000.
• The median cost of a single-family home has jumped 24% over the last five years, increasing from about $712,000 to $884,000.

As these opportunities slip further away, working middle-class individuals, including essential workers, are increasingly leaving the state or commuting long distances because they cannot afford to live in the communities they serve.

“The case for homeownership is an opportunity to support Californians over their lifetimes and to secure the future of our state,” said Suminski. “California’s long-term vitality is at risk when the people who educate our children, protect our communities, and care for our families can’t afford to live in the communities they serve.”

Homeownership strengthens communities and fuels California's economy. Strong affordable homeownership opportunities attract businesses, create a reliable customer base, and drive new investment ― powering local economies statewide. On average, each California home sale generates $233,500 in economic impact and supports three jobs.

“There is still time to build the California we believe in,” added Suminski. “But we must act now. If lawmakers want our state to remain a place of opportunity where working families can stay, grow, and prosper, then making homeownership attainable must be at the center of their agenda.”

More information and resources about the Homeownership Matters campaign can be found at https://www.homeownershipmattersca.com/.

About the California Association of REALTORS®

Leading the way…® in California real estate for 120 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with 190,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Sacramento.

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