A vast and growing majority of adults support adding more homes to their neighborhoods. This in response to the housing affordability crisis according to new research from Zillow. Three main reasons have made it harder for people across the country to buy or rent a home. Record-low inventory — triggered by a lost decade of home construction that caused a shortfall of 1.35 million new homes, fierce competition spurred by historically low interest rates, and now inflation. But building more homes to boost affordability seems to be earning popularity.
The latest analysis has found increased public support for more density as a way to improve affordability. Support is strongest for new accessory dwelling units (ADUs), duplexes or triplexes in residential neighborhoods. Small, medium and large apartment buildings received majority support if built near transit and recreation amenities.
Why the need for more homes?
Monthly mortgage costs have nearly doubled during the pandemic, according to Zillow research. This makes homeownership much more expensive for potential buyers. This housing crunch also extends to renters. The typical rent price nationwide reaching more than $2,000 a month. This is 25% more than what they would have expected to pay in the months before the pandemic.
“More and more people understand that the key to stopping runaway housing costs is to build more homes,” said Manny Garcia. He’s senior population scientist at Zillow. “There is majority support among renters and homeowners, higher and lower wage earners, suburban and urban households, who all say we need more housing and support it in their neighborhoods.”
Bring on the ADUs and affordability
Allowing ADUs, duplexes and triplexes in zones previously limited to single-family houses is often referred to as “modest densification.” This creates a “missing middle” housing types that falls between single-family homes and large multifamily apartment buildings. Relaxing zoning rules to allow more housing supply is the best way to address the nation’s ongoing housing affordability crisis. This according to an independent panel of economists and housing experts.
Close to two-thirds of respondents to Zillow’s most recent survey are concerned about the cost of housing in their neighborhood. A large majority, 70%, of all respondents believe adding duplexes and triplexes would help address this concern by improving housing affordability.
Related: Tampa Area Embraces ADUs
About 75% of respondents support building even larger housing types, such as small to medium-sized apartment buildings, to help create more affordable housing options if built close to frequent transit, parks and recreation.
Agreement on these measures is broad: Respondents with diverse points of view, backgrounds and experiences all support some level of modest densification.
Younger residents, renters, people of color and LGBTQ+ respondents were found to most likely support all types of modest densification efforts in their communities.
