Making homeownership attainable for the next generation — without sacrificing the neighborhoods we love.
Why This Is Personal
Kara’s own kids are asking: “Can we afford to stay?”
Kara Toone didn’t come to the housing issue through policy papers or campaign strategy sessions. She came to it at the dinner table — when her own young adult children wondered out loud whether they could afford to buy a home in the community where they grew up.
It’s a conversation happening in kitchens across Davis County. Young professionals with good jobs, doing everything right, finding themselves priced out of the neighborhoods they call home. Families who have lived here for decades watching their children move away — not because they want to, but because they have to.
“When your kids grew up playing at the same parks, going to the same schools, building friendships that last a lifetime — and then they tell you they can’t afford to stay? That’s not just a policy problem. That’s a family problem. And it’s one I’m determined to help solve.”
— Kara Toone
The Housing Crisis
The numbers tell a stark story
Utah’s housing market has outpaced wages for over a decade. In Davis County, median home prices have soared while starter home inventory has nearly disappeared. The gap between what families earn and what homes cost grows wider every year.
$515K
Median home price in Davis County (Feb 2026) — down 1.9% YOY
$548K
Typical Davis County home value — vs. area median income of $123,100
9th
Utah's ranking as most expensive housing market in the nation (2024)
The Data
The housing crisis by the numbers.
Davis County Market Reality
Median home price: $515,000 (February 2026) — homes are selling after an average of 71 days on market, up from 55 days last year. The market is cooling slightly, but prices remain far beyond starter-home range for most young families.
Source: Redfin, February 2026
Davis County rated "seriously unaffordable" — the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute classifies Davis County's median-multiple ratio between 4.1 and 5.0, alongside Utah and Weber counties.
Source: Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, 2024
Area median income: $123,100 — yet a typical home costs $548,352 in Davis County. That means even dual-income professional households face a serious stretch to afford homeownership.
Source: CommunityScale / U.S. Census Bureau, 2026
Mortgage rates hovering at 6.1%–6.4% — despite modest declines, rates remain roughly double the pandemic-era lows. A $515K home at 6.2% with 10% down costs over $2,800/month in principal and interest alone.
Source: Gardner Policy Institute / Mortgage Rate Utah, 2025–2026
The Statewide Picture
Utah is the 9th most expensive housing market in the entire country, according to the Gardner Policy Institute. Statewide median: $559,500 (Feb 2026).
Source: Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute / Redfin, 2024–2026
72% of homes under $400K are in Davis, Weber, and Utah counties — these three counties represent the last pockets of relative affordability along the Wasatch Front. Without smart policy, that window will close.
Source: Gardner Policy Institute State of Housing Report, July 2025
Only ~23,000 new residential units projected for 2025 — supply growth remains sluggish against surging demand. Experts project modest 2% median price increases through 2026.
Source: Gardner Policy Institute, 2025
Why this matters for HD14: Clearfield's median household income is $75,495. Syracuse's is $133,443. That's a massive gap within a single legislative district. Kara understands both sides of this equation — because she's lived in this community for 20+ years, watching housing costs push working families and young adults further from the places they call home.
Kara's Solutions
A practical approach to attainable housing
Kara rejects the false choice between runaway development and doing nothing. Her approach centers on expanding opportunity while protecting the character of existing neighborhoods. Smart policy can do both.
01
Expand Starter Home Inventory
Through targeted zoning flexibility, Kara will work to encourage the construction of smaller, more affordable starter homes — townhomes, cottage-style developments, and accessory dwelling units — in appropriate areas. Young families deserve options that don’t require a six-figure down payment.
02
Cut Permitting Red Tape
Regulatory delays add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of every home built in Utah. Kara will push to streamline permitting processes, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and speed up the timeline from groundbreaking to move-in — without compromising safety or quality.
03
Maintain Strong Local Control
Kara believes cities and counties — not the state legislature — should have the primary say over land-use decisions in their communities. She will oppose state mandates that override local zoning and will fight to keep planning authority close to the people it affects most.
04
Support First-Time Homebuyers
Kara supports expanding state-backed first-time homebuyer programs, including down-payment assistance, low-interest lending programs, and financial literacy resources that help young families navigate the path to homeownership with confidence.
Neighborhood Stability
Protecting the communities we’ve built
Housing policy is not just about building more — it’s about building right. Kara understands that existing neighborhoods have a character worth protecting. Families chose their homes because of the community around them: the quiet streets, the nearby parks, the neighbors they know by name.
Growth and preservation can coexist when planning is thoughtful and transparent.
Kara will fight against incompatible high-density developments that are shoehorned into established single-family neighborhoods. She believes growth and preservation can coexist when planning is thoughtful, transparent, and driven by community input rather than developer pressure.
At the same time, she recognizes that smart, context-sensitive infill — done right and in the right locations — can strengthen neighborhoods by adding housing options near transit, commercial corridors, and community centers.
Protect existing neighborhoods from incompatible high-density rezoning
Require meaningful community input before major land-use changes
Support context-sensitive infill development along appropriate corridors
Preserve green space and parks as communities grow
Ensure infrastructure capacity before approving large developments
“I want my kids — and yours — to be able to raise their families in the same community where they grew up. That means building homes they can actually afford, in neighborhoods that still feel like home. We can grow smartly without losing what makes this place special.”
— Kara Toone
The Path Forward
Housing is an economic issue
When young professionals can’t afford to live near their workplaces, employers struggle to recruit and retain talent. When teachers, firefighters, and nurses are priced out of the communities they serve, everyone suffers. Housing affordability is not just a personal issue — it’s an economic competitiveness issue.
Kara will bring a business-minded, community-focused approach to housing policy. She understands that the market alone won’t solve this problem, but heavy-handed mandates won’t either. The answer lies in removing barriers, creating incentives, and trusting local communities to guide their own growth.
Davis County can be a place where every generation has a fair shot at owning a home. It will take leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to tackle tough questions. Kara is ready.
Help Make Homeownership Attainable
Kara Toone believes every family deserves a fair shot at owning a home in the community they love. Support her campaign today.
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