Priority 02
Housing Affordability &
Neighborhood Stability
Making homeownership attainable for the next generation — without sacrificing the neighborhoods we love.
Making homeownership attainable for the next generation — without sacrificing the neighborhoods we love.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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
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.
Kara Toone believes every family deserves a fair shot at owning a home in the community they love. Support her campaign today.