Rima Grace

Chris Salviati, chief economist at ApartmentList, says housing has been an issue for a long time, but it's gotten increasingly unattainable for many people in the last five years.

Chris Salviati, chief economist at ApartmentList, says housing has been an issue for a long time, but it's gotten increasingly unattainable for many people in the last five years.

Now, more than probably at any time in recent memory, housing affordability is kind of a top of mind issue.

Now, more than probably at any time in recent memory, housing affordability is kind of a top of mind issue.

But he says some of the proposals the president has thrown out so far could actually exacerbate the problem by giving people more purchasing power.

But he says some of the proposals the president has thrown out so far could actually exacerbate the problem by giving people more purchasing power.

And that would, if anything, potentially even drive prices up further by bringing more demand into the market.

And that would, if anything, potentially even drive prices up further by bringing more demand into the market.

And there's already more demand for housing than supply.

And there's already more demand for housing than supply.

Jenny Schutz at Arnold Ventures says that's why it's gotten so expensive to buy.

Jenny Schutz at Arnold Ventures says that's why it's gotten so expensive to buy.

Local governments and cities and towns are the ones with the most control over how much housing gets built.

Local governments and cities and towns are the ones with the most control over how much housing gets built.

And Vanessa Perry at the George Washington University School of Business says local officials could help improve housing affordability by making it easier to build more homes more quickly.

And Vanessa Perry at the George Washington University School of Business says local officials could help improve housing affordability by making it easier to build more homes more quickly.

But Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, says getting people to support those kinds of changes is often a hard sell.

But Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, says getting people to support those kinds of changes is often a hard sell.

A lot of people say no.

A lot of people say no.