I’ve been reading, writing, and talking about housing for years, and one
thing hasn’t changed: the lack of affordable single-family homes in this
country isn’t a sudden COVID-era problem. Long before the pandemic,
whitepapers, studies, and experts were sounding the alarm. What has changed is
that today, the housing crisis is hitting more people, in more communities, and
with more urgency.
When you stack up all those reports—whether they come from think tanks,
universities, or housing advocates—you start to notice the same three themes
echoing through every page. And after decades in and around construction, I
agree: these are the three biggest obstacles holding us back.
The Three Big Problems
1. Zoning and Regulatory Handcuffs
Local zoning has become a straitjacket. Entire swaths of land are locked
into single-family only, with strict limits on what can be built, how tall it
can be, how many units can go on a lot, and how much parking must surround it.
These rules were written in another era and don’t match today’s realities. They
choke supply before a single foundation is poured.
2. A Supply and Demand Gap the Size of the Grand Canyon
For decades, the U.S. simply hasn’t built enough homes to keep up with
population growth, household formation, and economic migration. Families and
young buyers chase the few homes available, driving prices through the roof.
That shortage is no longer limited to “hot markets”—it’s everywhere, from big
coastal cities to small towns.
3. The Cost of Building Is Outpacing the American Paycheck
Even if zoning allowed more homes, the cost of land, labor, and materials
keeps climbing. Add long permitting delays, fees, and financing hurdles, and
it’s no wonder builders shy away from creating entry-level homes. Too many
developments pencil out only for luxury units or rental apartments.
The Three Best Solutions
1. Reform Zoning to Match Today’s Needs
We need to loosen the grip of single-family zoning and make room for
what’s often called the “missing middle”: duplexes, triplexes, small
multifamily, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). We should also encourage
denser housing near jobs and transit, and stop treating parking spaces as
sacred ground. Without this reform, every other solution is just patchwork.
2. Streamline the Red Tape and Lower the Barriers
Time is money in construction. Cities that cut permitting delays,
simplify approvals, and reduce fees see more housing built faster. Developers
need predictability. By-right approvals where zoning already allows housing—and
fewer discretionary hoops—would cut months or even years off project timelines.
3. Build Smarter and Faster with Offsite Construction
This is where my own experience comes in. Even if zoning is reformed and
approvals are streamlined, we still face the brutal math of construction costs.
Offsite construction—modular homes, panelized systems, and factory-built
components—offers a way to bring costs down while improving quality and speed.
Factories can build homes in controlled environments with less waste, fewer
weather delays, and faster turnaround. It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s a
tool we’d be foolish not to use. Combined with targeted subsidies for
lower-income households and programs that preserve existing affordable homes,
offsite can finally help close the gap between what families need and what’s
actually being built.
Where We Go From Here
The housing crisis isn’t going to be solved by wishful thinking. It will
take communities willing to update zoning, governments willing to cut red tape,
and builders willing to innovate. Offsite construction isn’t just part of the
solution—it may be one of the only realistic ways to add supply quickly enough
to matter.
For me, the conclusion is clear: we don’t have a housing affordability
problem because people want too much. We have a housing affordability problem
because our systems won’t let us build enough. Until we fix that, every family
priced out of a home will be living proof of a nation that knows the answers
but can’t summon the will to act.
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