72% of HR & Mobility teams now rank housing uncertainty as their #1 relocation challenge

For HR and Global Mobility teams, the most complex part of US relocations is no longer immigration or logistics, it is housing uncertainty.

Across current mobility programs, 72% of HR and Mobility managers identify housing approval conditions, unpredictable timelines, and unexpected costs as the primary source of complexity when relocating employees to the United States.

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🔍 What this reflects on the ground

• Approval criteria vary widely from one landlord or building to another
• Housing timelines are harder to predict, even for strong profiles
• Budget control is increasingly challenged by non-rent costs
• Employees expect fast, smooth solutions in a tightening market

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🎯 Why this matters for HR & Mobility teams

• More time spent managing escalations and exceptions
• Increased pressure to secure housing quickly while controlling costs
• Higher exposure to employee dissatisfaction
• Greater reliance on local expertise and early anticipation

In 2026, relocation success depends less on policy design and more on execution in an unpredictable housing market.

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🧠 Key takeaway

Housing has become the most unstable variable in US relocations
and the one HR teams spend the most time managing.

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📊 Based on market observations and ongoing mobility program insights (Mercer, Deloitte)

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