As housing affordability challenges and supply shortages continue to impact local residents, state policymakers should focus on practical, evidence-based solutions that expand access to affordable housing and reduce overall costs. Too often, the conversation has shifted toward a convenient but unsupported narrative—that professional housing providers are driving the crisis by removing single-family homes from the market and outbidding first-time buyers.
The data tells a different story. Research from Cotality, a housing data analytics firm, shows that small investors—those owning between three and ten properties—are actually the primary players influencing today’s housing market. Despite this, state lawmakers have advanced legislation that would impose new taxes on large institutions owning more than 50 single- or multi-family homes in a single county. This approach fails to address the real factors behind the housing shortage affecting communities like Greenville.
A 2024 report from the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio points to the true challenge: housing construction has not kept pace with demand. Complex zoning requirements and lengthy permitting processes make it harder and more expensive to build new homes, resulting in fewer options and higher prices for families.
Rather than relying on overregulation, policymakers should prioritize permitting reform and policies that encourage responsible private investment in communities like Greenville. Supporting new housing development will help expand supply, stabilize prices, and create attainable homeownership opportunities—ensuring that local families can continue to pursue the American Dream right here at home.
