Nick Erickson
@nserickson.bsky.social
Executive Director, Housing Affordability Institute
Sr. Director of Housing Policy, Housing First Minnesota
Bring Back New Starter Homes
Sr. Director of Housing Policy, Housing First Minnesota
Bring Back New Starter Homes
Reform advocates: If you are working on bills this upcoming session in your state, let me know.
For the past several years, state legislatures have been ground zero for the housing reform discussion. Our 2026 state legislative tracking project is underway.
Follow along at www.housingaffordabilityinstitute.org/housing-refo...
Follow along at www.housingaffordabilityinstitute.org/housing-refo...
State Legislatures and Housing Reform 2026 Edition
Follow our State Legislatures and Housing Reform 2026 tracker to monitor state-level housing reforms this year.
www.housingaffordabilityinstitute.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Reform advocates: If you are working on bills this upcoming session in your state, let me know.
These States Made the Biggest Moves To Tackle the Housing Crisis in 2025 - Note: Minnesota was not one of them
As long as the status quo remains, we won't see improvement in affordability and inventory.
#mnleg
www.realtor.com/news/trends/...
As long as the status quo remains, we won't see improvement in affordability and inventory.
#mnleg
www.realtor.com/news/trends/...
www.realtor.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:45 PM
These States Made the Biggest Moves To Tackle the Housing Crisis in 2025 - Note: Minnesota was not one of them
As long as the status quo remains, we won't see improvement in affordability and inventory.
#mnleg
www.realtor.com/news/trends/...
As long as the status quo remains, we won't see improvement in affordability and inventory.
#mnleg
www.realtor.com/news/trends/...
Reposted by Nick Erickson
People mandates are expensive, wasteful, and a barrier to new homes. We need flexibility instead. Baltimore gets it.
To spur housing construction, Baltimore ends parking minimums
Opinion: Parking minimums are expensive and hamper new housing. A new law in Baltimore City is right to do away with them.
ggwash.org
December 22, 2025 at 11:17 PM
People mandates are expensive, wasteful, and a barrier to new homes. We need flexibility instead. Baltimore gets it.
Reposted by Nick Erickson
Reposted by Nick Erickson
"The magnitude of the housing shortage is huge and the problems chronic, but the housing crisis is solvable.
Great read on British Columbia's housing crisis.
jacobin.com/2025/12/cana...
Great read on British Columbia's housing crisis.
jacobin.com/2025/12/cana...
The Housing Crisis Is Solvable
British Columbia’s housing crisis is severe, but its root causes are familiar: exclusionary zoning, under-building, and chronic neglect of nonmarket housing. Economist Alex Hemingway’s proposals show ...
jacobin.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
"The magnitude of the housing shortage is huge and the problems chronic, but the housing crisis is solvable.
Great read on British Columbia's housing crisis.
jacobin.com/2025/12/cana...
Great read on British Columbia's housing crisis.
jacobin.com/2025/12/cana...
Reminder from New Hampshire: Passing land use reforms is not a one-and-done effort.
newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/12/22/n...
newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/12/22/n...
December 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Reminder from New Hampshire: Passing land use reforms is not a one-and-done effort.
newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/12/22/n...
newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/12/22/n...
Twin Cities real estate experts on how policy reforms have impacted inventory, affordability
www.housingwire.com/articles/twi...
www.housingwire.com/articles/twi...
Twin Cities housing affordability diverges under zoning, rent control
Minneapolis and St. Paul adopted contrasting housing policies, resulting in different rent, inventory and development trends.
www.housingwire.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Twin Cities real estate experts on how policy reforms have impacted inventory, affordability
www.housingwire.com/articles/twi...
www.housingwire.com/articles/twi...
Overcoming the law of supply and demand requires adding more supply.
"With fewer options and rising prices, first-time buyers are clearly struggling, and sales of the least-expensive houses in the Twin Cities have been declining all year."
www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...
"With fewer options and rising prices, first-time buyers are clearly struggling, and sales of the least-expensive houses in the Twin Cities have been declining all year."
www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...
A bulk of Minnesota’s housing market is slowing down
As first-time buyers sit on the sidelines, luxury homebuyers have been driving the market and edging up prices.
www.startribune.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Overcoming the law of supply and demand requires adding more supply.
"With fewer options and rising prices, first-time buyers are clearly struggling, and sales of the least-expensive houses in the Twin Cities have been declining all year."
www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...
"With fewer options and rising prices, first-time buyers are clearly struggling, and sales of the least-expensive houses in the Twin Cities have been declining all year."
www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...
Great list of cost-free reforms to address the housing shortage from Pew
☑️Admin Approvals
☑️Smaller lot starter homes
☑️Parking reform
☑️Admin Approvals
☑️Smaller lot starter homes
☑️Parking reform
December 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Great list of cost-free reforms to address the housing shortage from Pew
☑️Admin Approvals
☑️Smaller lot starter homes
☑️Parking reform
☑️Admin Approvals
☑️Smaller lot starter homes
☑️Parking reform
A bulk of Minnesota’s housing market is slowing down
"With fewer options and rising prices, first-time buyers are clearly struggling, and sales of the least-expensive houses in the Twin Cities have been declining all year."
www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...
"With fewer options and rising prices, first-time buyers are clearly struggling, and sales of the least-expensive houses in the Twin Cities have been declining all year."
www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...
A bulk of Minnesota’s housing market is slowing down
As first-time buyers sit on the sidelines, luxury homebuyers have been driving the market and edging up prices.
www.startribune.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A bulk of Minnesota’s housing market is slowing down
"With fewer options and rising prices, first-time buyers are clearly struggling, and sales of the least-expensive houses in the Twin Cities have been declining all year."
www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...
"With fewer options and rising prices, first-time buyers are clearly struggling, and sales of the least-expensive houses in the Twin Cities have been declining all year."
www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...
Homebuying, like many industries, is shaped like a pyramid.
The greatest number of buyers is at the base of the market.
A slowdown at the lower price points negatively impacts the greatest number of buyers, leaving those homes. unbuilt.
The greatest number of buyers is at the base of the market.
A slowdown at the lower price points negatively impacts the greatest number of buyers, leaving those homes. unbuilt.
“For us, the higher price point has done reasonably well this year, it's our lower price point that has been much slower. It seems like that consumer is more stretched, more strained,” Mitchell said.
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/1...
Home builders are feeling slightly better headed into 2026
The latest survey from the National Association of Home Builders showed confidence ticked up in December, but two-thirds said they’ve had to offer incentives lately to get buyers to commit.
www.marketplace.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Homebuying, like many industries, is shaped like a pyramid.
The greatest number of buyers is at the base of the market.
A slowdown at the lower price points negatively impacts the greatest number of buyers, leaving those homes. unbuilt.
The greatest number of buyers is at the base of the market.
A slowdown at the lower price points negatively impacts the greatest number of buyers, leaving those homes. unbuilt.
"Addressing this shortage is essential for supporting long-term economic growth."
“The only way I’ve found to really make a dent in housing prices is to increase the supply,” Shekarchi said.
“The only way I’ve found to really make a dent in housing prices is to increase the supply,” Shekarchi said.
State and Local Reforms Help Ease Housing Shortage
Must read from @uschamber.bsky.social
www.uschamber.com/housing/stat...
Must read from @uschamber.bsky.social
www.uschamber.com/housing/stat...
State and Local Reforms Help Ease Housing Shortage
State and local leaders share how they helped boost housing supply and lower prices through reforms.
www.uschamber.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:08 PM
"Addressing this shortage is essential for supporting long-term economic growth."
“The only way I’ve found to really make a dent in housing prices is to increase the supply,” Shekarchi said.
“The only way I’ve found to really make a dent in housing prices is to increase the supply,” Shekarchi said.
"This problem won’t solve itself, lawmakers"
LTE in the Star Tribune references the recent @housing-inst.bsky.social report on Minnesota's homeownership decline
www.startribune.com/readers-writ...
LTE in the Star Tribune references the recent @housing-inst.bsky.social report on Minnesota's homeownership decline
www.startribune.com/readers-writ...
Readers Write: Minneapolis police, Lutsen Lodge, housing costs
Yes, the Police Department is over budget — because of recruiting success, plus seven mass shootings in the city this year.
www.startribune.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
"This problem won’t solve itself, lawmakers"
LTE in the Star Tribune references the recent @housing-inst.bsky.social report on Minnesota's homeownership decline
www.startribune.com/readers-writ...
LTE in the Star Tribune references the recent @housing-inst.bsky.social report on Minnesota's homeownership decline
www.startribune.com/readers-writ...
What the Twin Cities Tell Us About Fixing the Housing Crisis
(Hint: Just say no to rent control and say yes to lifting local roadblocks to housing)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
(Hint: Just say no to rent control and say yes to lifting local roadblocks to housing)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
What the Twin Cities Tell Us About Fixing the Housing Crisis
St. Paul enacted rent controls. Housing construction plummeted. Next-door Minneapolis generated a downtown boom without regulating rent.
www.wsj.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
What the Twin Cities Tell Us About Fixing the Housing Crisis
(Hint: Just say no to rent control and say yes to lifting local roadblocks to housing)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
(Hint: Just say no to rent control and say yes to lifting local roadblocks to housing)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Fast-growing Texas metros offer blueprint to handle U.S. housing shortage
www.dallasfed.org/research/swe...
www.dallasfed.org/research/swe...
Fast-growing Texas metros offer blueprint to handle U.S. housing shortage
Cullum Clark, director of the Bush Institute–SMU Economic Growth Initiative and an adjunct professor of economics at Southern Methodist University, discusses his recent report, “Build Homes, Expand Op...
www.dallasfed.org
December 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Fast-growing Texas metros offer blueprint to handle U.S. housing shortage
www.dallasfed.org/research/swe...
www.dallasfed.org/research/swe...
Powell: "We can raise and lower interest rates, but we don't really have the tools to address...a structural housing shortage."
seekingalpha.com/news/4530629...
seekingalpha.com/news/4530629...
Top homebuilder stocks as Powell says no tools to address a 'structural housing shortage'
Top homebuilder stocks as Fed chair Powell says no tools to address a 'structural housing shortage.' Read more here.
seekingalpha.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Powell: "We can raise and lower interest rates, but we don't really have the tools to address...a structural housing shortage."
seekingalpha.com/news/4530629...
seekingalpha.com/news/4530629...
Expert: smaller lots could help solve St. Cloud’s housing shortage
www.stcloudlive.com/news/local/e...
www.stcloudlive.com/news/local/e...
Expert: smaller lots could help solve St. Cloud’s housing shortage
American Enterprise Institute Housing Center Co-Director Tobias Peter spoke about addressing needs at a Chamber of Commerce event on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
www.stcloudlive.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Expert: smaller lots could help solve St. Cloud’s housing shortage
www.stcloudlive.com/news/local/e...
www.stcloudlive.com/news/local/e...
Coverage of Tobias Peter of AEI's stop in St. Cloud, MN, yesterday, talking about the power and potential of land use reforms in MN:
Housing Expert: St. Cloud Could Boost Affordable Home Supply by Allowing Smaller Lots
knsiradio.com/2025/12/10/7...
Housing Expert: St. Cloud Could Boost Affordable Home Supply by Allowing Smaller Lots
knsiradio.com/2025/12/10/7...
December 11, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Coverage of Tobias Peter of AEI's stop in St. Cloud, MN, yesterday, talking about the power and potential of land use reforms in MN:
Housing Expert: St. Cloud Could Boost Affordable Home Supply by Allowing Smaller Lots
knsiradio.com/2025/12/10/7...
Housing Expert: St. Cloud Could Boost Affordable Home Supply by Allowing Smaller Lots
knsiradio.com/2025/12/10/7...
The subsidy angle is throwing in the towel on policy fixes, but the rest of this is a must-read.
Must Read:
"Housing has become increasingly out of reach for younger generations, and many households are now abandoning the goal of homeownership altogether."
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Housing has become increasingly out of reach for younger generations, and many households are now abandoning the goal of homeownership altogether."
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Giving Up": The Impact of Decreasing Housing Affordability on Consumption, Work Effort, and Investment
Housing affordability has declined sharply in recent decades, leading many younger generations to give up on homeownership. Using a calibrated life-cycle model
papers.ssrn.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The subsidy angle is throwing in the towel on policy fixes, but the rest of this is a must-read.
Reposted by Nick Erickson
Must Read:
"Housing has become increasingly out of reach for younger generations, and many households are now abandoning the goal of homeownership altogether."
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Housing has become increasingly out of reach for younger generations, and many households are now abandoning the goal of homeownership altogether."
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Giving Up": The Impact of Decreasing Housing Affordability on Consumption, Work Effort, and Investment
Housing affordability has declined sharply in recent decades, leading many younger generations to give up on homeownership. Using a calibrated life-cycle model
papers.ssrn.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Must Read:
"Housing has become increasingly out of reach for younger generations, and many households are now abandoning the goal of homeownership altogether."
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Housing has become increasingly out of reach for younger generations, and many households are now abandoning the goal of homeownership altogether."
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Nick Erickson
Has homeownership become a luxury good?
www.housingwire.com/articles/fir...
www.housingwire.com/articles/fir...
Has homeownership become a luxury good?
First-time buyers now make up only 21% of home purchases, with the median age rising to 40 and the under-35 homeownership rate at 37.1%.
www.housingwire.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Has homeownership become a luxury good?
www.housingwire.com/articles/fir...
www.housingwire.com/articles/fir...
Regulations now a major factor in housing affordability crisis, developers say
www.foxbusiness.com/video/638619...
www.foxbusiness.com/video/638619...
Regulations now a major factor in housing affordability crisis, developers say | Fox Business Video
FOX Business reporter Jeff Flock joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to explain how required EV wiring, solar-ready roofs and stricter insulation rules are contributing to soaring homebuilding costs.
www.foxbusiness.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Regulations now a major factor in housing affordability crisis, developers say
www.foxbusiness.com/video/638619...
www.foxbusiness.com/video/638619...