Have You Completed Your U.S. Census Yet?

Completing the 2020 census will not only help the government allocate resources to your community, but it will also help the real estate industry.

The National Association of Realtors® relies on data from the census for resources for studies, real estate developers use census data to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods and census data determines where to build rental properties and how to market your business.

Late last week, households across the U.S. began to receive an invitation to respond to the 2020 census. Every household has three ways to reply, online, by mail or by phone. If a household does not respond, they will receive a reminder letter, then a reminder postcard, followed by another letter and postcard. Census takers only go to homes that have not replied to the census. The Census Bureau will never ask for your social security number, bank or credit card numbers, political party affiliation or for donations.

In federal funds, $1.5 trillion is allocated to schools, hospitals, roads and public works throughout communities based on their census data. Additionally, Congress uses census numbers to decide how many seats a state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and states use the numbers to determine seats in their government.  This year’s results will also impact the funding of $93.5 billion to federal direct student loans, $19.3 billion to Section 8 housing choice vouchers and $12 billion to the National School Lunch Program.

NAR has created a census resource page, videos and promotional materials for you to share with others to urge them to take part in the 2020 census.

April 1 is Census Day nationwide. Make it your goal to complete yours by then.