The majority of Alabamians are still strong supporters of private property rights, and they also oppose making it more difficult to sell or market their homes.

According to a statewide poll of 600 likely voters that was released by the Alabama Association of Realtors on Thursday, 92% of voters say it is important for Alabama to protect private property rights, including 54% who say extremely important. Republicans (96%), Independents (90%), and Democrats (85%) agree. 60% say property rights are not protected strongly enough, and 8% say they are protected too strongly.

“Our state motto is ‘We Dare Defend Our Rights,’ so it comes as no surprise that Alabamians across the board support the continuing protection and preservation of their private property rights,” AAR Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Walker said. “Voters strongly believe that sellers should have the final say in how homes being sold are marketed and advertised, and they are sending a clear message to elected officials that they oppose more government intervention in the home buying process.”

The survey was conducted by the nationally recognized Cygnal polling firm from September 29 to October 1 and has a plus-or-minus 4% margin of error.

Also according to the poll, 72% are concerned about government becoming too involved in decisions about privately owned homes and land. When an owner and the neighbors or government disagree, 62% say the owner has the final say, 7% say the neighbors, and 11% say the government.

Walker said state officials should consider the overwhelming margins in the survey when approaching issues related to property rights, real estate transactions, and government regulations throughout the upcoming 2027-2030 quadrennium.

An example of this in the survey is the fact that 85% say it is important that the owner, not someone else, decides how a home is advertised and marketed. 89% say owners should have as many options as possible, and 88% say an owner should have the right to decline advertising to the general public.

“None of these are coin-toss, wedge issues because the numbers prove that voters have solid expectations when it comes to protecting their property rights and keeping government intrusion into the buying and selling of their homes to an absolute minimum,” Walker said. “Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike embrace the long-held axiom that their home is their castle, and it should remain free from further meddling from Montgomery.”

Other top findings in the survey include:

• 50% of voters say they would be less likely to use an agent if it meant more paperwork and rules than selling the home themselves, and 11% would be more likely. 29% say much less likely, compared with 6% much more likely.
• 30% name the amount of paperwork and forms as a frustration in working with an agent, and 29% name rules about how and where a property must be advertised. Voters value agents for making the process easier (71%), according to the survey.
• By more than a 3-to-1 margin, voters believe state government is too large versus being too small, and 63% support making independent licensing boards accountable to the governor, including 75% of Republicans and a 47% plurality of Democrats. The same share, 63%, supports gubernatorial oversight of the Alabama Real Estate Commission.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee.