Homebuilding Declines for the Second Year
For various reasons including increased construction costs, local regulations and pandemic restrictions, new data indicates a continuing decline in homebuilding in California in 2020. But Dave Walsh, California Association of Realtors (CAR) president, says this issue is not unique to last year.
“California Realtors have said it over and over: we need more housing now. The latest homebuilding data released by the Construction Industry Research Board showed the second straight year of decline in housing production in California,” Walsh said. “It’s the exact opposite direction our state should be headed in if we’re to solve the housing affordability and availability crisis. Gov. Gavin Newsom is right when he says this issue is really quite simple – it’s about supply and demand. There’s not enough housing supply in California to match the overwhelming demand. Until our state prioritizes policies to build more housing at every income level, we will continue to fight so that more Californians can find a place to call home.”
Walsh went on to say that CAR “strongly supports” SB 6 (Caballero) and SB 7 (Atkins), and it is sponsoring AB 571 (Mayes), all of which will help spur new housing across the state.
“We urge the legislature to pass these bills because we can’t afford another year of inaction,” Walsh says.
- ◦Development