HomeExchange State of Trust Report 2026: Americans Lead on Optimism but Trust People Less Than They Did 10 Years Ago

New research from HomeExchange and Ipsos BVA finds nearly two-thirds of Americans trust others less than they did a decade ago and identifies what it could take to reverse the trend.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States stands out in the inaugural HomeExchange State of Trust Report, a study conducted by Ipsos BVA across France, Germany, Italy, and the U.S., as the country most open to trust. Americans report the highest levels of optimism (82% vs. 72% average across all four countries), yet nearly two-thirds (64%) say they trust people less than they did a decade ago.

While Americans were the most likely of the four countries to say they trust others easily, it was still a clear minority of just one in five (20%). Meanwhile, 74% say they'd like to trust people more. These disconnects suggest Americans aren't giving up on trust. They're looking for ways to restore it.

This pattern holds across all markets surveyed, with 88% saying it is urgent to rebuild connection between people. While two-thirds of Americans believe that trust is declining, people are still open to opportunities for connection. In fact, 84% of respondents say they are ready to trust someone they meet through a platform, when certain conditions are met. This rings true on HomeExchange, as members opened their homes to peers on the platform for over 11.8 million overnights in the past year, an increase of 25% year-over-year.

Emmanuel Arnaud, HomeExchange Co-CEO, said: "What's often called a 'trust crisis' is really a trust transformation. The mechanisms of trust have changed. Today, it must be actively built rather than simply assumed, yet millions of people still share their cars, their clothes, even the keys to their homes with complete strangers. That tells us something important: people want to trust and connect with one another. They simply need the right tools to do so. Platforms can't manufacture trust, but they can help it extend beyond our inner circles. At HomeExchange, we've seen that when people are trusted, they want to prove themselves worthy of it. Hosting someone becomes a relationship, not a transaction. Peer-to-peer platforms let us do at scale what humanity has always done on a small scale, while meeting people where they are in their trust transformation."

A trust that is earned
In the United States, trust is particularly high in family and friends, at 88% for both, and much lower in public institutions (49%) and large companies (37%).

But, that trust isn't always automatic – to build it, Americans want proof. 95% of Americans agree trust is built through actions and proof rather than intentions, and when asked what would make them trust a stranger met through a peer-to-peer platform, they pointed to specific, concrete conditions:

• Reviews and ratings from other users (43%)
• Identity verification by the platform (41%)
• The quality of the exchange itself (40%)

Reciprocity carries particular weight: 81% of Americans say they'd trust someone taking on the same risk they are (74% of respondents across the four markets say the same).

Where Americans are finding proof
Americans give platforms real credit for closing part of the gap. 86% say they'd be willing to trust someone they met on a platform when certain conditions are met (two points above the study's average) and 64% believe platforms actively encourage responsible behavior between users.

More strikingly, 54% of Americans believe platforms create authentic human connection, a full 16 points above the study's average. In a time when rebuilding these connections is urgent and trust is hard-earned, these numbers shine a promising light. Could platforms that connect individuals offer a step in the right direction on the journey toward renewed trust?

How HomeExchange is meeting the conditions
This pattern shows up directly in how Americans think about home exchanging specifically: 54% believe the practice can help build trust between strangers, and Americans gave the most positive response of any market surveyed when asked how they'd feel about exchanging their home with someone they don't know.

Among HomeExchange users polled, 75% say the experience has strengthened their connection to others, suggesting that once the conditions people ask for are actually met, trust follows.

Home exchange is anchored in reciprocity, and reciprocity runs on trust. Last year, 2.3 million travelers swapped homes with HomeExchange, proof that people are ready to trust each other again when they have the right tools. Verified identities and robust member reviews, the same conditions Americans say they need, make that trust practical, turning optimism into action.

About the HomeExchange State of Trust Report
The State of Trust Report is an international study conducted by Ipsos BVA in partnership with HomeExchange that tracks how trust and reciprocity between people are changing in France, Germany, Italy, and the United States.

Methodology
A study conducted by Ipsos BVA in four countries (France, Germany, Italy, and the United States) surveyed 4,000 people aged 18 and over, with 1,000 respondents in each country. Respondents were interviewed online from July 22 to 29, 2026, via the Ipsos BVA Access Panel and its partners. In each country, the sample was representative of the population using the quota method (gender, age, socio-professional category, region, and size of urban area).

Contacts 
Jessica Poillucci | [email protected]
Sarah Winston | [email protected] | 774-218-3270

About HomeExchange
HomeExchange is the world's leading home swapping platform. Traveling with HomeExchange means staying in real homes without any financial transaction, based on the principle of reciprocity: each member lends out their home and, in return, is welcomed into another member's home. Built on a community driven by trust and sharing, the platform enables millions of people to exchange homes each year and lists more than 600,000 homes in 155 countries.

Founded in 1992, HomeExchange was acquired in 2017 by Emmanuel Arnaud and Charles-Édouard Girard, co-founders of GuestToGuest (2011), the platform behind the GuestPoints system, which allows users to exchange homes with greater flexibility, without having to coordinate the availability of two households at the same time.

After acquiring several home exchange platforms between 2013 and 2023—all consolidated under the HomeExchange brand in 2019—the company launched HomeExchange Collection in 2021, a service dedicated to exceptional homes. A certified B Corp™ since 2022, the company employs over 150 people across France, Croatia, Spain and the United States.

www.homeexchange.com 

SOURCE HomeExchange