Jay Knight, managing member of Templar Development and co-founder and chair of the Georgia Residential Land Development Council (GRLDC), joins Host Carol Morgan on the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss Georgia’s housing challenges, including affordability, land-use policy and strategies to support first-time homebuyers.

Knight said, “70% of Georgians who would like to buy a house cannot afford one.”

Affordability remains a central concern across Georgia. Rising construction costs, high interest rates and restrictive zoning have constrained the supply of homes for first-time buyers. Knight highlights one municipality where public employees earning an average of $54,000 could afford only a home priced around $206,000. Yet the market offered just 13 homes under $250,000, most of them older modular units.

Where are the “missing middle” options? These smaller, attainable homes often bridge the gap between entry-level and higher-end properties but are difficult for homebuyers to find. Zoning restrictions often prevent these homes from being built, delaying household formation and limiting wealth-building opportunities for younger buyers. While demand is strong, builders face restrictions on where they can place this product. The margins may be solid, but accessing the land needed to make these homes profitable often discourages newer builders from pursuing them.

“‘Can you just build a smaller house?’ That’s not always an option,” Knight said. “A neighborhood may have zoning conditions that don’t allow smaller homes.”

GRLDC was founded to address shared industry challenges and promote access to quality, affordable housing across Georgia. A key initiative is House Bill 812, which aims to streamline permitting processes and reduce unnecessary delays. In many jurisdictions, development approvals can take up to a year, limiting supply and increasing costs. HB 812 calls for shorter review timelines and clearer procedures, which could significantly increase the number of lots available without compromising safety standards.

Knight highlights the value of collaboration between private developers and local governments to advance housing affordability concerns. When municipalities actively engage developers in shaping policy, practical and effective solutions often emerge.

High rents present a barrier for prospective homeowners. While renting can provide flexibility, it often limits the ability to save toward a down payment. Knight explains that increasing housing supply and allowing more flexibility in lot and home sizes could ease rent pressures and expand homeownership opportunities for working Georgians.

“The answer to everything in housing is supply,” Knight said. “If we had enough supply and flexibility in house size, it would create pressure on apartment owners to lower rents and give more Georgians—especially younger ones—the option to buy a home.”

Knight also hosts the Build Baby Build podcast, an educational platform for the residential development community. Episodes address issues facing today’s homebuyers and work to bridge the gap between industry expertise and public perception. The goal is to help listeners better understand the operational and financial factors that shape housing affordability.

A recent episode examined the “land-light strategy” used by many builders. Despite national claims that large builders hoard land and worsen the affordability crisis, Knight said the opposite is true.

Knight said, “They want to be light on land and on time for the delivery of houses.”

Despite ongoing challenges, Knight expressed cautious optimism about Georgia’s housing future. Growing attention to affordability issues—among policymakers and community leaders—signals a willingness to address long-standing obstacles. Knight said efforts such as HB 812 could streamline permitting and reduce regulatory delays, potentially doubling the number of lots brought to market in the near term.

Tune into the full episode for deeper insights into Georgia’s housing affordability challenges and the policy solutions shaping the future of development. For more information about Templar Development, visit www.Templar-Dev.com.

Templar Development is a residential land development and general contracting firm specializing in planning, entitlement, acquisition and construction of new home communities across Georgia and Alabama. The team brings more than 46 years of combined experience and has overseen the development of over 10,000 homes and more than 50 communities.

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