If it feels like housing has become a harder math problem, you're not imagining it. Prices moved up, rates followed and the homes that used to serve first-time buyers and move-up families are not being built in the same volume.

In the newest episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce talk with Jim Parrott, a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute and co-owner of Parrott Ryan Advisors, about what is really driving the affordability crunch and what might realistically help. 

This conversation stays practical. It covers why the problem is mostly a supply problem, why local rules matter so much, why the post-2008 building pipeline never fully recovered and why quick fixes can create new problems. They also explore the longer-term impact of delayed homeownership on wealth building, plus one policy idea that could help free up inventory by reducing friction for long-time owners who want to downsize.

The conversation touches on:

• Why housing affordability is mostly a supply problem
• Where the middle of the market is falling short, and who gets squeezed
• The early cost drivers, including land, permitting and approvals
• How post-2008 changes reshaped building and lending
• Why some rent limits can reduce new construction and upkeep
• A case for updating capital gains rules on home sales
• What rate outlooks could mean for buyers holding off

Listen to the episode to hear Jim's clear take on what is keeping housing tight, and what could help loosen it.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.