These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
58% Oppose Federal Mortgage Forgiveness Plan for Troubled Homeowners
Monday, August 9, 2010
Rumors have circulated that the Obama administration is considering a partial mortgage forgiveness plan to help those who owe more than their homes are worth. Just 28% of U.S. voters favor such a proposal.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% oppose a proposal to have the federal government forgive a portion of the mortgage debt owned by troubled homeowners. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure about it.
Opposition is a few points higher among homeowners. And, those the plan is designed to help are also opposed. Those who they owe more on their mortgages than their houses are worth oppose the mortgage forgiveness proposal by a two-to-on margin.
Sixty-three percent (63%) of voters think a government mortgage forgiveness program is unfair to those who have been regularly paying their mortgages. Twenty-three percent (23%) disagree and believe such a program is fair.
Among homeowners, 21% say it's fair, 67% unfair.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 5-6, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology .
Forty percent (40%) of homeowning voters now owe more on their mortgage than their house is worth. Fifty-four percent (54%) say their home is worth more than what they owe.
Nearly half (48%) of homeowners think government-ordered mortgage forgiveness for some homeowners would be bad for the economy. Thirty percent (30%) say it would be good for the economy, and 15% believe it would have no impact.
Among all voters, 33% say it would be economically beneficial, while 44% say its impact would be bad. Sixteen percent (16%) think it would have no impact on the economy.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of Republicans and 65% of voters not affiliated with either major party oppose a federal mortgage forgiveness plan. A plurality (47%) of Democrats favors such a plan, but 38% of the president's party oppose it.
Nearly half (49%) of Democrats say government-ordered mortgage forgiveness for some homeowners would be good for the economy. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of GOP voters disagree and say the plan would be bad for the economy. Among unaffiliated voters, 33% say good, but 47% say bad.
Republicans and unaffiliateds strongly believe such a plan would be unfair to those who have been regularly paying their mortgages. Democratic voters are evenly divided on the question.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of the Political Class say a mortgage forgiveness plan would be good for the economy. Fifty-five percent (55%) of Mainstream voters feel otherwise and think it would hurt the economy.
One-in-seven homeowners (14%) say they are at least somewhat likely to miss or be late with a mortgage payment in the next six months.
Homeowners are more pessimistic these days about both the short- and long-term outlooks for the housing market .
President Obama's mortgage assistance program is currently winding down, but from the start Americans have been slightly more skeptical of the program than favorable toward it.
Most Americans (61%) think it is better for the economy if the government stays out of the housing market .