Majority of consumers considering housing in 2012 election

A new survey from Move Inc. revealed 69.9 percent of Americans said political candidates' positions on housing will impact their votes in the 2012 Congressional elections. In fact, 70.7 of Millennials, who will be the next generation of first-time homebuyers, consider housing a major issue for the upcoming election. The demographic is expected to play an important role in the outcome.

The survey showed 81.7 percent of Americans consider improving the housing market to be a critical component to overall economic recovery, and 73.1 percent believe conditions for buying a home next year will be the same or worse than they are now. In terms of the next president's priorities, 30.9 percent of Americans believe helping homeowners avoid foreclosure should be a top concern, 26.4 percent think the president should work on keeping interest rates low and 14 percent hope the president will be able to make more affordable mortgage credit available.

The federal government's role in the housing market is up for debate, with 31 percent of Americans saying the role of government in the market should remain the same, and 21.3 percent said it should be increased. Reducing the government's role in housing was a top priority for 42 percent of Americans, and 56.7 percent of Americans between the ages of 35 and 64, while 67.4 percent of Millennials believe the government's role should stay the same or be reduced slightly.

Another reason candidates should focus on the housing market in the upcoming election is experts' predictions that there will be a restrained recovery at best in the upcoming years if policies remain the same. Economist Andy Bauer recently said the housing market is dragging down the economy, and only efforts to stabilize home values and boost consumer spending can turn the economy around.

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