The National Apartment Association (NAA) released its study “U.S. Barriers to Apartment Construction Index” which examines factors which make construction more difficult in 29 United States metros. Albuquerque was the city with the fewest barriers to construction while, based on the number of survey responses, Philadelphia was the most difficult.
“NAA undertook this survey to show that barriers create higher construction costs which in turn leads to higher rents while making it extremely difficult to build affordable housing,” said NAA President and CEO Robert Pinnegar, CAE. “The Barriers Index shows that housing, ultimately, is a local issue requiring local government solutions. Reducing burdensome regulations and standing up to NIMBYism will allow for more construction. Together, the rental housing industry and local governments can begin to meet the demand for apartments.”
The Index ranked each market according to several factors including community involvement (NIMBYism), construction costs, affordable housing requirements, infrastructure, density and growth restrictions, land supply, environmental restrictions, process complexity, political complexity and time to develop.
“Housing affordability is on the top of everyone’s mind,” Pinnegar said. “As cities and states look for solutions, we encourage policymakers to engage all stakeholders, including property owners, to create workable solutions that best serve their community.”
The United States needs 4.6 million apartments at all price points by 2030 to keep up with current demand; we have only begun in the last two years to meet these goals. But even so, decades of under-construction have left a massive shortage in overall apartment housing supply. Barriers to construction stand in the way of the industry’s ability to meet those challenges, and by so doing, relieve the pressure of demand that is driving rents up.
For more information, or to download the “U.S. Barriers to Apartment Construction Index” click here.
About NAA
The National Apartment Association (NAA) serves as the leading voice and preeminent resource through advocacy, education and collaboration on behalf of the rental housing industry. As a federation of more than 150 affiliates, NAA encompasses over 81,000 members representing more than 9.6 million apartment homes globally. NAA believes that rental housing is a valuable partner in every community that emphasizes integrity, accountability, collaboration, community responsibility, inclusivity and innovation. NAA thanks its strategic partners Maintenance Supply Headquarters and Yardi.
