Conor Dougherty, a housing reporter for The New York Times, delves into America's crippling housing crisis and its complicated roots. He discusses how the aftermath of the 2008 financial collapse hampered construction and exacerbated the housing shortage. The conversation highlights the struggles of cities like Kalamazoo, where rising prices are pushing middle-income families out. Dougherty emphasizes the urgent need for government intervention and innovative solutions to combat affordability issues in a rapidly evolving market.
The 2008 financial crisis drastically reduced U.S. home construction from 2.2 million units annually to around 600,000, causing a persistent housing shortage.
Millennials are significantly driving housing demand with lifestyle changes and delayed milestones, exacerbating affordability issues and competitive bidding for homes.
Deep dives
Historical Context of the Housing Crisis
The 2008 financial crisis significantly impacted the U.S. housing market, leading to a sharp decline in home building and a subsequent housing shortage. Prior to the crisis, approximately 2.2 million housing units were built annually, but post-crisis numbers plummeted to around 600,000. As smaller home builders went out of business and larger ones reduced their operations, the industry has struggled to recover. This set the stage for an ongoing shortage that has persisted for nearly two decades, exacerbating current housing affordability issues.
Demographic Shifts and Housing Demand
Millennials, now the largest generational group, have begun entering the housing market in significant numbers, further driving up demand for homes. Their changing lifestyle choices, such as higher rates of living alone and delayed marriage, have contributed to increased demand for housing, particularly in urban areas. As more millennials seek affordable housing, bidding wars have re-emerged, intensifying competition for starter homes. The pandemic further complicated matters, with remote work creating new housing preferences and inflation making it difficult for buyers to afford homes.
Spreading Crisis and Its Effects
The housing crisis is not limited to coastal cities; it is spreading to smaller cities and rural areas, leading to skyrocketing home prices and rents. In places like Kalamazoo, Michigan, affordable housing has become increasingly scarce as people flock to these areas, driving prices up by more than 40% since the pandemic. The increased competition has reached even middle-income families, who are struggling to find affordable options. The situation illustrates how the housing shortage is becoming a national issue affecting all demographics and regions.
The Need for Government Intervention
To address the ongoing housing crisis, a substantial government-led building effort is necessary to increase affordable home construction. This requires reducing regulatory barriers and providing financial incentives for builders to construct entry-level homes. While some local initiatives are underway, a cohesive national strategy remains elusive. A focused effort from all levels of government could help create a more equitable housing market, but without a significant commitment, the crisis is likely to worsen, leaving many Americans struggling to secure affordable housing.
Over the past year, frustration over the cost of housing in the United States has become a centerpiece of the presidential race, a focus of government policy and an agonizing nationwide problem.
Conor Dougherty, who covers housing for The Times, explains why the origin of the housing crisis is what makes it so hard to solve.
Guest: Conor Dougherty, who covers housing for The New York Times.
A decade ago, Kalamazoo — and all of Michigan — had too many houses. Now it has a shortage.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode