Oregon is 45th for housing production and availability

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

According to the Realtor.com article, Oregon ranks 45th out of 51 states (including the District of Columbia) in the housing affordability ranking, placing it near the bottom of the list. Connecticut, California, Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island ranked lower than Oregon, with the median home price in Oregon being $563,896. Realtor.com ranks states like Texas, which is 3rd in affordability, and South Carolina, ranking 1st, due to removing barriers to granting construction permits and more permissive zoning laws.

Even Governor Kotek struggles to address the housing shortage in Oregon. In a Fox 12 report, the Governor aims to construct 36,000 housing units by 2025. However, current projections suggest Oregon is on track to build only 11,184 units, about 31% of the governor’s goal. Although the governor’s target may not be achieved, legislative efforts are underway to pass necessary reforms to Oregon’s zoning laws, including Senate Bill 974, which seeks to fast-track housing development within Oregon’s growth boundary, and Senate Bill 1068, which aims to create a new apprenticeship program to tackle the critical worker shortage for housing inspectors.

The message is clear: Oregon must build as many homes as possible or risk losing more of its population. Cutting red tape and reforming zoning laws will be crucial to making Oregon more affordable.

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