Housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing American homeowners today, and local leaders are clear it must be addressed. For those who have achieved homeownership, expenses often extend far beyond monthly mortgage payments; unexpected repairs to critical home systems can devastate budgets and force difficult choices. NLC recognizes this reality and is taking action through strategic partnerships designed to make homeownership sustainable and financially manageable for all residents.
The Hidden Costs of Homeownership
Most homeowners understand the basics: mortgage, property taxes and insurance. What many don’t anticipate are the sudden expenses that come with home ownership. A failing water line, a broken sewer connection, or a malfunctioning HVAC system can cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace, and these tend to impact the lowest-income homeowners the most.
Hover over the figures below to reveal what the numbers mean.
The percentage of city leaders that consider the high cost of housing one of the main challenges for cities, according to NLC’s 2025 State of the Cities report.
The percentage of income the lowest income homeowners spend on home improvements and maintenance, compared to the homeowner average of 7.5 percent.
The median age of housing in 2023 compared to 27 years in 1993 (PDF).
“Cities are at the forefront of addressing housing and infrastructure challenges, and partnerships like the one with Oncourse Home Solutions deliver real solutions so communities have practical tools to protect homes, reduce financial strain and advance sustainability goals – all while reinforcing trust between residents and local leaders.”
NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony
Housing Preservation as an Affordability Solution
Rather than focusing solely on new construction, the NLC has made housing preservation a priority to support local leaders’ efforts to identify and implement local housing solutions. Proactive housing preservation isn’t just about fixing problems; it’s about protecting homeowners and enabling them to stay in their homes by making necessary repairs accessible to all community members. This is especially critical as the median age of housing units continues to rise.
Building Stronger Communities Through Home Protection
Home protection plans represent a strategic tool for building stronger, more resilient communities. The NLC partnership identifies four interconnected pillars that drive community impact: proactive housing preservation that prevents future challenges, empowering residents through education and affordable coverage, smart resource allocation that generates alternative funding for municipalities and water conservation and energy efficiency initiatives.
An Enhanced Partnership: NLC and Oncourse Home Solutions
Effective January 2026, the NLC has expanded its warranty program through a strategic partnership with Oncourse Home Solutions. This enhanced member benefit directly supports housing preservation and affordability while delivering superior value: comprehensive coverage with higher per-incident limits, no hidden service fees, local economic impact through vetted service providers and effortless implementation with no cost to municipalities. For more details, visit NLC.org/partner/oncourse or oncourse.com/nlc.
Oncourse Community Impact in Action
1.9 Million
customers & growing
96%
customer satisfaction
$100 Million Saved
in repair costs annually
30+ Years
protecting homes
Meaningful Impact for Communities and Their Residents
Providing Community Funding
Generate sustainable program funding through revenue sharing that can be reinvested in local priorities
Protecting What Matters Most
Affordable transparent protection plans help prevent costly deterioration from deferred maintenance
Boosting Local Economies
Repairs are performed by vetted local service providers – keeping dollars circulating within your community.
Supporting Infrastructure Goals
Affordable coverage encourages faster response to water line leaks and failures, supporting conservation and reducing non-revenue water loss.
Building Resident Trust
Resident first experience, transparent terms, and no hidden service fees reinforce confidence in city leadership.
The Bottom Line
Housing affordability goes beyond the purchase price; it’s about making homeownership sustainable over time. The NLC’s partnership with Oncourse Home Solutions represents a significant commitment to helping homeowners protect their most valuable asset while strengthening communities. By making home maintenance affordable and accessible, we create meaningful value: homeowners gain security and peace of mind, cities reduce infrastructure pressure and communities develop the resilience needed to support real opportunity and shared prosperity.
Join Our Upcoming Webinar
Join NLC and Oncourse Home Solutions on Tuesday, February 3 at 2 PM ET for an insightful webinar on Protecting Homes, Protecting Communities. Explore how strategic partnerships can help municipal leaders address one of America’s most pressing challenges, housing affordability and preservation, and explore solutions municipalities can use to support sustainable and financially manageable homeownership.
NLC University Workshop & Local Economic Futures Forum
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