Economist: Want to Make America Affordable Again? Get Rid of These Zoning Laws
Economist Steve Moore argued on CNBC that eliminating state and local zoning restrictions would increase housing supply, lower prices, and let more Americans buy homes. He said rising home values benefit owners and the economy, but emphasized that easing zoning would allow more construction to address affordability. the Trump administration has signaled it will push regulatory changes and reward states that reduce building barriers, calling for aggressive housing reform in 2026. Critics and supporters of zoning clash: many economists say restrictive land-use rules raise prices and worsen inequality, while proponents argue such rules protect neighborhood quality and homeowners’ values. The median age of first-time homebuyers rose to 40 in 2025, reflecting affordability challenges for younger adults.
Economist Steve Moore on Monday said that eliminating local and state zoning restrictions will help solve the housing price crisis across the U.S.
Moore argued on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that getting rid of these restrictions would allow more homes to be built, which in turn would allow more Americans to purchase homes. Officials in President Donald Trump’s administration said that regulatory changes will speed up home construction and reward states that reduce barriers to building houses, KMIR-TV reported.
“Yes, housing is expensive today. But for every time that the value of a house goes up, that can be a positive for the economy. Look, I’m typical. I’m 65 years old. A lot of the equity that I have, a lot of the money I have is in the equity in my home,” Moore said. “So if the value of my home goes up, that’s a bad thing. That’s not a bad thing. That’s a good thing. If you want to if you want to see price prices crash for the homes, that’s not going to be a very good thing.”
“This is a financial show. And you want rising home prices not. But we also need a greater supply. And that’s where at the state and local level, we have to get rid of a lot of the zoning restrictions on building housing,” Moore continued.
The surge in housing prices has prevented many Americans from buying a home, particularly young adults. Trump has signaled that housing affordability will be a major priority in 2026, hinting that he will propose the most aggressive housing reform plans in U.S. history.
Many economists have argued that restrictive zoning laws, often called “red tape,” increase housing prices, limit the supply of housing, and hinder economic growth. Economists in favor of these restrictions say that they improve the quality of neighborhoods and protect homeowners’ property values.
The median age to buy a home in 2025 rose to an all-time high of 40 years old, according to the National Association of Realtors.
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