There are many factors that are influencing the housing market’s current challenges. After years of record-low interest rates, real-estate market activity has declined following interest rates’ recent upward trends. Further, many properties are scooped up by speculators – most being assumed by non-local ownership, often international – which further strains the inventory open to the average prospective homeowner. 

The underlying causes and contributing factors to poverty and the subsequent lack of housing are complex and lack singular solutions. Providing both affordable and market-rate housing solutions will require myriad small, locally oriented developers to actively engage in their communities to align city leaders, stakeholders, and residents to invest in renovated properties in transitioning or economically challenged neighborhoods to provide improved commercial and residential inventory options.