Arbitrary Lines: A Move Beyond Zoning
Imagine that we could bring the United States closer to addressing debilitating housing shortages, stunted growth and innovation, persistent racial and economic segregation, and car-dependent development by replacing a single archaic and unsound policy. Momentum is building for doing just that. Until recently, zoning felt like a subject fit for discussion by only a narrow […]
Bringing it Home in Salisbury
Can something as simple as tax policy spur exponential growth in housing starts? If the City of Salisbury’s experience is any guide, the answer is an overwhelming “yes!” Like every other city and town in Maryland, Salisbury was facing an unprecedented housing shortage. Those who accepted employment in the city quickly realized that their commutes […]
Can Building Bridges Lead to Building Housing?
Newly elected officials face a steep learning curve on procedure and policy. Statewide officials in Maryland enlist transition teams of policy specialists to aid them on both fronts so that they can get up to speed quickly. This is the case with the Moore-Miller administration and housing policy. Both REALTORS® and Maryland REALTORS® staff served […]
Maryland Needs ADUs
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are additional living quarters on single-family lots that are independent of the primary dwelling unit. These separate living spaces are equipped with kitchen and bathroom facilities and can be either attached or detached from the main residence. As far back as 2008, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) […]
Planning and Zoning— Problem or Solution?
Throughout history, it has been common knowledge that careful land use planning benefits local communities. Residents support these policies to preserve home values, reduce congestion, and maintain high-quality public services. More recently, housing policy experts have brought forward a far less rosy picture on zoning ordinances and their applications. They have found that these powerful […]
Real Estate Competition and Antitrust Litigation
The U.S. model of local broker cooperation has long been viewed as the best value for consumers around the world. Of the 1.5 million REALTORS® across the country, more than 1.3 million are small businesses focused on our local communities. The local economic impact of housing affects more than just real estate agents. Preparing a […]
Where Have All the Houses Gone? … and how do we get them back?
In the 1950s, game show contestants competed to answer the $64,000 question. In today’s Maryland, the real estate industry has an 82,000-unit question to solve. Namely, can we address a shortage of 82,478 houses statewide that has driven up housing costs and locked buyers out of the market? REALTORS®, builders, think tanks, and non-profits have […]