The American Dream is Under Attack in Greensboro – And I Have a Plan to Save It

Greensboro families are being priced out by skyrocketing property taxes. City Council candidate Nicky Smith shares her plan to work with state legislators for constitutional reform that caps tax increases, protects homeowners, and preserves the American Dream for future generations.

When I bought my first home here in Greensboro thirty-five years ago, I never imagined I’d be writing about how property taxes are crushing families’ dreams of homeownership. Last month, I sat across from a young couple who’d been saving for three years to buy their first home. When their lender ran the numbers including projected property taxes, they realized they couldn’t afford it. ‘We might have to move to High Point or Winston,’ she told me, tears in her eyes. That conversation haunts me because I know they’re not alone. Runaway property taxes don’t just hurt current homeowners – they’re destroying the pathway to homeownership for an entire generation.

Breaking the Housing Crisis: Smart Solutions for Working Families

Nicky Smith for Greensboro City Council candidate discussing affordable housing solutions for working families in Guilford County

The Reality on the Ground. Grace Clifford, a local real estate broker, captures the urgency perfectly: homes under $300,000 are disappearing within hours of hitting the market. Families are making offers sight unseen, with inspectors walking through homes because buyers have less than 24 hours to decide. This isn’t a healthy market—it’s a crisis that demands immediate action. As someone who has spent 45 years building businesses and solving complex problems, I understand that effective solutions require leadership that can work with all stakeholders—developers, builders, city planners, and residents—to create real pathways to homeownership.