What Homeownership Means for Building Wealth—Talking Points for Your Buyers

Louisiana REALTORS® • June 2, 2025

June is National Homeownership Month—a time to celebrate the value of homeownership and the role it plays in building stronger families, neighborhoods, and communities. It's also the perfect opportunity to reinforce the   financial benefits of owning a home, especially with buyers who are on the fence.


As a Louisiana REALTOR®, your guidance can be the tipping point. Below are key insights and ready-to-use talking points to help you show your clients how homeownership is more than just a place to live—it's a smart strategy for long-term wealth building, especially right here in our state.


Why Homeownership Builds Wealth


Equity Accumulation Over Time

One of the simplest—but most powerful—ways homeowners build wealth is by paying down their mortgage. With every monthly payment, your client owns a little more of their home. That ownership, or equity, is real, tangible wealth they can later tap into or pass down.

Homeownership

Example Talking Point:

"With every mortgage payment, you're building equity—something you don't get when you're renting."


Property Value Appreciation

Historically, home values tend to appreciate over time. While real estate markets fluctuate, the long-term trend shows that buying property can lead to significant gains. And in many parts of Louisiana—from Baton Rouge to Lafayette to Lake Charles—housing markets have shown strong, steady growth.


Example Talking Point:

"The home you buy today in Louisiana could be worth significantly more in just a few years—especially in high-demand areas like Acadiana or Greater New Orleans."


A Built-In Savings Plan

A mortgage acts as a forced savings account. Rent is gone the moment it's paid, but mortgage payments contribute to an asset your client can later sell or refinance. In a state where property taxes are comparatively low, the monthly cost of owning a home is often closer to—if not lower than—rent.


Example Talking Point:

"Owning a home helps you build wealth without even thinking about it. Every payment is an investment in your future."


Stat: In many Louisiana cities, the average rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is around $1,200–$1,500, while the monthly mortgage for a similarly priced home (with 5–10% down) could be lower, especially with favorable local mortgage programs.


Real-World Talking Points You Can Use

Here are a few quick, confidence-building lines you can use during buyer consultations or listing presentations:

  1. "You're investing in yourself, not your landlord."
  2. "Real estate is one of the few appreciating assets you can live in."
  3. "You'll lock in your housing cost instead of facing rising rents every year."
  4. "You can borrow against your home equity if you ever need it—something renters can't do."


These statements not only reassure buyers but also help them see the long-term benefits clearly.


Homeownership Creates Generational Wealth

For many Louisiana families, a home is more than shelter—it's the largest asset they own. That asset can become a stepping stone for the next generation through inheritance, equity sharing, or even funding college tuition or retirement through refinancing or downsizing.


Example Talking Point:

"This isn't just a home for today—it's a foundation your family can build on for years to come."


Encourage your clients to think long-term. Framing the conversation around generational wealth often helps buyers see the bigger picture.


Tackling Common Homebuyer Concerns

What if the market shifts?

Homeownership is a long-term investment. While the market may have ups and downs, values generally rise over time. If your buyer stays put for several years, they're likely to benefit from appreciation.


What if I move in a few years?

Help your buyer consider rental potential or the equity they'll have gained. In many Louisiana markets, even a short time in a home can yield a solid return—especially when compared to paying rent.


Tools and Resources for Educating Buyers

Equip yourself (and your clients) with simple tools to visualize the benefits:

  1. An equity calculator to show growth over time
  2. Rent vs. own cost comparison charts
  3. Success stories or testimonials from past clients
  4. Infographics you can share on social media
  5. A quick email campaign or handout summarizing these key points


National Homeownership Month gives you a timely reason to reach out, educate, and convert leads. Use the talking points above in your consultations, social media, and open houses to guide buyers toward a confident "yes."


Whether you're working with first-time buyers or seasoned investors, reminding them of the wealth-building power of homeownership can be the insight that earns their trust—and their business.

CONSUMER RESOURCES

Consumer Guide Update: Assistance Programs

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 28, 2025
As previewed last week, NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide focused on assistance programs. This guide explains how to identify the right assistance program for your needs, the types of expenses these programs can help with, and what steps to take to access support. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow a few days for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Assistance Programs Buyer’s vs. Seller’s Markets Estate Planning Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Understanding & Protecting Yourself from Title Fraud Thank you for continuing to engage with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients so that they have the information they need to find success in their homebuying or selling journey. Please remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for next week’s guide on Wednesday, which will cover real estate auctions.

Consumer Guide Update: Buyer’s vs. Seller's Market

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 23, 2025
As previewed last week, NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide focused on Buyer’s vs. Seller’s Markets. This guide explains how knowing whether conditions favor buyers or sellers can help consumers make smarter, more confident decisions when buying or selling a home. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow a few days for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Buyer’s vs. Seller’s Markets Estate Planning Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Understanding & Protecting Yourself from Title Fraud Buying Land and Building a New Home Deeds and Titles Thank you for continuing to engage with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients so that they have the information they need to find success in their homebuying or selling journey. Please remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for next week’s guide on Wednesday, which will cover assistance programs.

Tax Reform Bill Clears House With Key Real Estate Provisions

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 23, 2025
The House of Representatives early this morning passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that delivers significant wins for the real estate sector, reinforcing tax provisions long championed by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR’s advocacy team successfully secured its top five tax priorities in the bill, including an enhanced small business tax deduction, a strengthened state and local tax deduction, and protections for the mortgage interest deduction. The bill also makes the current lower individual tax rates permanent and increases the child tax credit, moves that could help increase homeownership access for more American families. In addition to NAR’s top tax priorities, the bill includes a broad range of other NAR-supported provisions—such as enhancements to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, estate tax certainty, renewed Opportunity Zone incentives, and the creation of tax-advantaged child investment accounts that can be used for qualified expenses of the beneficiary such as first-time home purchases—all of which strengthen housing affordability, investment, and generational wealth. “We appreciate House leaders for taking this important step with a bill that supports hardworking families and strengthens the real estate economy. With lower tax rates, SALT relief, and new incentives for small businesses and community development, this proposal brings real benefits to everyday Americans,” says Shannon McGahn, NAR executive vice president and chief advocacy officer. “While significant changes are possible as this bill moves to the Senate, NAR will stay closely engaged with lawmakers to ensure real estate remains a central focus,” McGahn says. “We are committed to advocating for provisions that expand opportunity, support homeownership, strengthen communities nationwide, and put the American Dream within reach for more families.” In a recent national survey commissioned by NAR, Americans expressed strong support for retaining provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act critical to the real estate economy and homeownership. Fully 76% of voters are aware of efforts to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Among those familiar with the law, support grows significantly when specific provisions are highlighted—86% back lower income tax rates for individuals and married couples, 83% support a new 20% deduction for independent contractors and small businesses earning under $400,000, and 80% favor tax incentives aimed at spurring investment in underserved communities. The national survey of 1,000 registered voters was commissioned by NAR and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research April 3–6, 2025. It has a margin of error of 3.10%. Below is a summary of the provisions included in the current bill: Top Five NAR Tax Priorities 1. Qualified Business Income Deduction (Section 199A) The bill permanently increases the QBI deduction from 20% to 23%. This deduction benefits more than 90% of NAR members, who are classified as independent contractors or small business owners. 83% of voters said they supported the 20% tax deduction for independent contractors and small businesses making less than $400,000 a year, according to NAR’s national poll. 2. State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT) The SALT deduction cap is quadrupled from $10,000 to $40,000 for households earning under $500,000. However, the bill does not eliminate the marriage penalty. Thus, whether taxpayers are single filers or married couples filing a joint return, they can deduct a maximum of $40,000 in state and local taxes. The income cap and deduction both grow 1% every year over a 10-year window. 3. Individual Tax Rates Current individual tax rates, lowered as part of the TCJA, are made permanent and indexed for inflation, aiding taxpayers and improving affordability for prospective homebuyers. 86% of voters support the lowered income tax rates for individuals and married couples, according to NAR’s national poll. 4. Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) The draft preserves and makes permanent the MID at its current level, maintaining a key tax benefit for homeowners and supporting housing market stability. There had been concern MID might be reduced or eliminated as a budget offset 91% of voters support maintaining tax incentives such as the mortgage interest deduction for homeowners, according to the NAR poll. 5. Business SALT and 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges The draft bill protects Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, which are often erroneously regarded as a tax loophole. It also includes no changes for most businesses deducting state and local taxes (sometimes referred to as “Business SALT"). While the bill does provide limits in state-level business SALT workarounds for certain high-income professionals (e.g., law firms, hedge funds, consulting businesses, and other services), the provisions do not appear to impact real estate professionals. Additional Positive Tax Provisions for Real Estate Economy Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Key provisions from the LIHTC Improvement Act will be included to support affordable housing development. Child Tax Credit Increased to $2,500 (2025–2028) Temporarily raises the child tax credit through 2028 and then indexes it for inflation starting in 2029. The child tax credit supports families and could help with housing affordability. Creation of Tax-Advantaged Child Investment Accounts Can be used for qualified expenses of the beneficiary such as first-time home purchases. Permanent Estate and Gift Tax Threshold Set at $15 Million (Inflation-Adjusted) Prevents a significant drop in exemption levels and supports generational wealth transfer, aligning with NAR priorities. No Top Tax-Rate Increase The proposed 39.6% top rate was removed from the bill. Restoration of "Big 3" Business Tax Provisions Full expensing of research and development (R&D) Bonus depreciation Fixes to interest expense deduction limits Immediate Expensing for Certain Industrial Structures Applies to structures used in manufacturing, refining, agriculture and related industries. No Change to Carried Interest Treatment Opportunity Zones Renewed with revised incentives to encourage targeted investment, including in rural areas. 80% of voters expressed support for tax incentives for investors to encourage economic growth and development in underserved and poorer communities, according to NAR’s recent national poll.
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