Affordability remains a persistent challenge in the U.S. housing market. With increasing concerns over housing costs, particularly post-pandemic, the affordability crisis has grown to affect millions of households across the country.

With nearly one-third of American households now considered cost burdened, the crisis has reached national prominence, even making its way into recent presidential addresses.

In this episode of Core Conversations, CoreLogic Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations, Pete Carroll discusses key factors behind this, including income inequality, the undersupply of housing, and outdated zoning laws.

Carroll also touches on potential solutions like light-touch density, alternative housing types like townhomes and tiny homes, and the role of government land and subsidies in addressing the crisis.

Whether you’re a homebuyer, policymaker, or industry professional, this episode unpacks the realities behind America's housing affordability crisis and discusses what it will take to find lasting solutions.

In This Episode:

2:18 – What exactly is the definition of “affordability” and how big of an issue is it across the U.S.?

5:06 – Do certain areas of the country or particular populations have a more pronounced affordability problem?

6:26 – How did we get into this affordability crisis?

10:13 – Are homebuyers even looking for single-family homes? Are starter homes at the crux of the affordability issue?

11:28 – What are the opportunities to lessen the burden of homeownership?

14:41 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.

16:27 – How does zoning affect affordability?

20:27 – How do building codes affect affordability?

23:31 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.

24:08 – What are the first steps to “curing” the affordability crisis in the U.S.?

Up Next: What Is the Affordable Housing Crisis?

Links:

• Why Valuing Barndominiums, Tiny Homes Needs the Cost Approach
• Hazard HQ Command Central
• Read CoreLogic Intelligence

Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 Cotality