#73 The Truth About Affordable Housing and Why We Aren't Building It

Everyone says we need more affordable housing. So why aren't we building it? In this episode, I walk through a simple real-world example from more than 20 years in the home building and real estate development industry to explain why housing has become so expensive and why the biggest obstacle isn't the cost of building homes. Using straightforward math, I show how the exact same piece of land can produce either one expensive home or multiple significantly more affordable homes... and why, in many cases, builders simply aren't allowed to build them. Topics discussed include:

Why land costs matterHow density reduces housing costsDevelopment agreements explainedMunicipal zoning and planning restrictionsWhy builders aren't the problemThe difference between affordable housing and subsidized housingWhat governments could do today to dramatically increase housing supplyThis isn't a political discussion. It's an explanation of how housing actually works from someone who has spent more than two decades designing, building and developing homes. If you found this helpful, consider subscribing. I'll be posting more conversations from the truck explaining how housing, development and municipal government really work.