Why housing affordability keeps getting worse
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Not only have home prices soared over the past decade, but it's the "affordable" homes that have seen the biggest price increases.
Why it matters: Rising prices, exacerbated by a shortage of affordable homes, put homeownership out of reach for many, driving them to a rental market that's also seen remarkable cost increases.
Zoom out: It's a doom loop. A shortage of affordable homes means that buyers compete fiercely for the cheapest ones, pushing up prices.
- Prices for the bottom third of homes are up 124% since 2015, while the top third increased 77%, per a new analysis by Moody's Analytics.
The big picture: The most desirable cities are becoming affordable only to the wealthy, while many of those of more modest means are forced into longer commutes, creating more traffic, more environmental strain, and greater social division, Mark Zandi, Moody's Analytics chief economist, wrote in the paper.
The latest: The paper endorses legislation set to be reintroduced Tuesday morning by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, along with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) in the House.
- The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025 is an ambitious piece of legislation that Warren's been backing since 2018.
- It would provide more than $500 billion over the next decade to build more homes, funded by an increase in the estate tax.
- The money would be used to incentivize localities to cut regulations that impede building, and would go to first-time homebuyers, among other things.
What they're saying: "My comprehensive bill would build 3 million new homes across America, bring down rents by 10%, and create incentives for local governments to cut unnecessary red tape that drives up costs," Warren said in a statement to Axios.
Between the lines: Cutting red tape sounds great — and may appeal to conservatives — but the zoning restrictions that impede building are typically fiercely defended by Republicans, including the president.
- But there is a surprising amount of bipartisan agreement that something needs to be done about housing affordability.
- That includes a bill introduced in 2023 that would reform rural housing programs cosponsored by four Democratic senators and four Republicans; and another that would increase home buyer protection in credit reports that passed the Senate last year.
- Democratic banking committee staffers told Axios they're looking for some areas for compromise. They pointed to a part of Warren's bill that would restrict the ability of private equity firms to buy homes.
Reality check: Congress has little appetite for spending on folks in need these days, as lawmakers ponder slashing Medicaid in order to extend the 2017 tax cuts. Affordable housing funding also appears to be stalled by the administration.
What to watch: There will be a Senate hearing on the topic Wednesday.
