Realtor.com® Releases New State-by-State Housing Report Card: South and Midwest Dominate in Homebuilding and Affordability

Core Insights - The report highlights a nationwide housing shortage of over 4 million homes, emphasizing the growing concern of affordability for millions of Americans [1][5] - States are graded based on their housing affordability and homebuilding capabilities, with South Carolina, Iowa, and Texas receiving the highest marks [1][4] Affordability and Homebuilding Metrics - The grading system evaluates affordability through the REALTORS® Affordability Score and the percentage of median income spent on a median-priced home, while homebuilding is assessed via the permit-to-population ratio and the new construction premium [2] - Only 18 states meet the 30% income rule for housing affordability, with Texas, Florida, California, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and South Carolina accounting for over half of all construction permits issued in 2024 [4] Regional Performance - The South and Midwest are leading in both affordability and homebuilding, with South Carolina achieving the highest grade of A due to proactive homebuilding efforts [5] - The Northeast and West Coast are lagging, facing high home prices and limited new construction, with Rhode Island ranking at the bottom of the list [6][7] Zoning and Regulatory Challenges - States on the coasts, such as Massachusetts, face stricter zoning regulations that hinder affordable housing development, with 76% of Massachusetts' land subject to zoning [8] State-by-State Rankings - The report provides a detailed ranking of all 50 states, with South Carolina scoring 75.2 (A), Iowa 71.6 (A-), and Texas 71.5 (A-) [9][10] - The lowest-ranked states include California (19.5, F), Hawaii (15.8, F), and New York (13.2, F), highlighting significant disparities in housing affordability and construction efforts across the U.S. [10]