Survey: State and federal programs are helping to overcome Americans’ concerns about down-payment costs and job security while other issues persist.

Most Americans still consider accumulating enough money for down-payment and closing costs to be the biggest obstacles to buying a home. That’s according to the 2009 National Housing Pulse Survey, published annually by the National Association of Realtors.

The survey, which measures the way affordable-housing issues affect consumers, also found job security concerns to be the highest in seven years of sampling. Two-thirds of respondents think job layoffs and unemployment are big problems; eight in 10 cite these issues as barriers to homeownership.

“Homeownership is an investment in your future,” says Orlando Regional Realtor Association President Les Simmonds of LG. Simmonds Real Estate Corp. “However, saving for a down payment and closing costs is still too great of an obstacle for 82 percent of the nation’s house hunters looking to take advantage of the current market.”

In Florida, the state’s steps to monetize the $8,000 first-time homebuyer federal tax credit for down-payment or closing costs is an added incentive to spur home sales. And Orlando’s housing market is feeling the effect of those who believe now is a good time to buy: Home sales overall were up 45 percent in July, compared to July 2008. In addition, sales statistics from April 2009 show that Orlando Realtors sold nearly seven times more homes in the lower-price-range categories then in the upper categories, which Simmonds attributes in large part to first-time homebuyers taking advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit.

Despite the challenges with the economy and housing market, according to the survey, 83 percent of Americans still believe buying a home is a good financial decision. Three-fourths of those surveyed also believe now is a good time to buy a home, a number that has increased steadily the past two years. In fact, one-third of renters are thinking more about buying a home than they were a year ago.

While Americans are seeing more stability in the real estate market, uncertainty persists. The number of those who feel buying and selling activity has stabilized or stayed nearly the same has increased significantly, from 18 percent last year to 26 percent this year. Yet, the majority (58 percent) report that activity in their market has slowed.

Regarding home sales, nearly eight in 10 respondents say it’s harder to sell a home in their area today than it was a year ago, though nearly three-fourths of them say home prices are lower. Large home inventories could be to blame; 44 percent cite concerns about the large number of homes and condos for sale in their area.

While nearly three-fourths of respondents in the study are concerned about the local drop in home values, they expect to see more stability in the near future. Nearly seven in 10 anticipate local home prices to remain about the same in the “next three months”; only 18 percent expect prices to further decrease. The drop in prices has improved affordability, and consequently, concerns about the lack of affordable housing are the lowest they’ve been in seven years of polling — 34 percent say it’s one of their biggest worries, down from 41 percent two years ago.

Foreclosures remain a real concern among survey respondents. Slightly more than half (51 percent) say the high number of foreclosures is a big to moderate problem in their area. However, the rate of foreclosures is generally seen as stabilizing; 41 percent say the rate of foreclosures in their area is about the same as last year.

Ninety-two percent of respondents said neither they nor members of their immediate family have experienced a foreclosure in the past year, although it is still a personal concern for many. One in five respondents said they are very or fairly worried that they will have difficulty making their mortgage payments over the next year. Thirty-two percent say it’s a big or moderate worry that they, or a member of their family, may have their home repossessed or foreclosed because of inability to make rising monthly mortgage payments.

In 2008, more than half of respondents (54 percent) were open to the federal government’s taking a more active role in overseeing mortgage and lending practices. The number dropped this year to 47 percent. This could be because 42 percent of Americans believe the country is back on the right track, more than double the number last year (16 percent).

Regarding financing, seven in 10 Americans cite a lack of confidence in their ability to be approved for a home loan as an obstacle to homeownership. The same number also say that banks are making it too difficult to qualify for a loan (71 percent) and that the reduction in mortgage options offered by banks has made it more difficult for them to buy a home (71 percent). The perception of qualifying for a loan as a huge obstacle is especially high among minorities.

Editor’s note: This article was produced in partnership with the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.