Decades in the making, the U.S. is facing a worsening housing shortage that is pushing housing prices and rents higher, and signs are pointing to it getting worse before it gets better. Experts estimate the country needs to add 2 million housing units per year to accommodate a population that grew by 7.4% over the past decade, according to the recently released 2020 U.S. census data. But last year, the country produced just 1.3 million units of housing, and construction prices, labor shortages and restrictive zoning and building codes are making it unlikely the gap is going to shrink anytime soon. “This just isn't sustainable. The unavoidable reality is we need more rental housing in this country, both single-family and multifamily,” National Rental Home Council Executive Director David Howard said in an email. “There are powerful demographic, social and economic trends pushing the demand for rental… Read the full story here. |