Housing Supply Skepticism
We are witnessing a rejection of this fundamental concept when it comes to housing production. A significant number of consumers and even state and local elected officials believe that building additional housing units (i.e., adding supply) causes housing prices to increase, not decrease. The thinking is so prevalent that scholars now have a term for it: supply skepticism.
Montgomery County’s Push for More Multifamily Housing
Montgomery County is facing a housing production crisis. Despite thousands of approved units waiting in the wings, only 54 multifamily housing permits have been issued in 2025 — a dramatic drop compared to previous years. This slowdown threatens the county’s ability to meet growing housing demand, especially for affordable and high-density options. In response, county […]
Proven steps lawmakers can take to lower housing costs
In September 2025, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University released a policy brief titled, “Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2026”. Mercatus researchers Salim Furth, Emily Hamilton and Charles Gardner outline 18 actions state legislators can take to increase housing supply and lower housing costs. They include: Read the full list of policy prescriptions at: Housing Reform in […]
Maryland Has a Rent Crisis, Too
Despite growing attention to housing affordability, Maryland remains one of the most challenging states for low-income renters. According to the 2025 Out of Reach report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a minimum-wage worker in Maryland would need to work 89 hours a week to afford a one-bedroom apartment without sacrificing other basic needs. […]
What Makes a Strong ADU Law?
A recently released policy brief by the Mercatus Center examines the increasing role of state governments in legalizing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as a solution to the national housing affordability crisis. ADUs—secondary units like backyard cottages or basement apartments—are a common way policymakers are preempting local zoning restrictions to facilitate the construction of lower-cost housing. […]
Surplus Land: Maryland’s Long-Term Housing Challenge
Governor Wes Moore’s initiative to repurpose surplus state-owned land for affordable housing is a bold and necessary move—but it’s proving to be a complex and slow process. Despite legislation passed in 2022 requiring the identification of unused properties suitable for residential development, progress has been minimal. Strict criteria—such as access to infrastructure, location within economic […]
There Can Be Only One: Rent Control or New Housing
There is ample evidence from cities around the country that enacting rent control reduces both overall construction and the number of available rental units by as much as 15%. Unfortunately for Maryland, we no longer have to look to other states for those negative impacts – we have them right here in Montgomery County. A […]
“Housing for Jobs” Meets Local Resistance
Governor Wes Moore’s ambitious housing legislation—originally titled the “Housing for Jobs Act”—was meant to be a transformative step toward solving Maryland’s housing shortage. But after intense pushback from local governments, the bill was stripped of its core provisions in the House and rebranded as the “Housing Development Act.” What remains is a watered-down version that […]
A Legacy of Housing
Though they may not admit it, most elected officials have thought about their legacy. What impact will they make? How will they be remembered? What were their key accomplishments? While we are only at the midway point of Governor Moore’s administration, addressing Maryland’s housing crisis is shaping up to be a key theme of his […]
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 […]