Maryland Needs More Housing. Right Now.
Tell us about some of the challenges you’ve faced finding affordable housing in Maryland.
LISTEN: Open Doors Maryland
More Expensive. Less Affordable.
“Affordable housing is disappearing because so many people want to live in Maryland but there’s too little housing. That drives housing prices up –and that drives average people out. “
Older Marylanders and families of color are being squeezed out of the housing market because there aren’t enough attainable housing options. We need immediate action to preserve housing opportunities for all Maryland residents.
Maryland Needs
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Additional Homes
How Can We Open Doors to Housing That Works for Everyone?
We urge our elected leaders in Maryland to SUPPORT:
Returning Buyer Deposit Money
When buyers make an offer on a home, they often include deposit money to show they are serious about the purchase. But if the home sale does not occur, the buyer funds may not be returned for long periods of time or may not be returned at all. This can keep buyers from making an offer on another home, even if they did everything they were supposed to do. We support legislation to quickly return deposits to buyers.
Analyzing Impacts to Housing
The total cost of a home is more than just land and lumber. Legislation and regulations passed by government bodies also contribute to today’s high housing costs by restricting the number or types of homes that are built. When considering new laws, our policy makers should understand the impacts that those proposals will have on housing affordability and availability for Maryland residents. We support conducting a Housing Impact Assessment for legislative proposals introduced in the General Assembly.
Reforming Regulations on Missing Middle Housing
As new and innovative housing options are developed in Maryland, we discover that our rules and regulations need to be updated to reflect those housing types. One example of this is condominium insurance policy requirements, which can charge unnecessarily high rates on detached cottages and similar developments. We support regulatory reforms to make missing middle housing options a reality.
Promoting Accessory Dwelling Units
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a small, independent housing unit located on the same lot as a primary residence. ADUs are a source of sustainable housing and provide affordable options in areas with high housing costs. They assist homeowners with aging in place, accommodating grown children, or generating additional income. However, land use regulations can make adding these units difficult or even impossible. We support policies to allow the use of ADUs in our communities.