A nationwide initiative aimed at increasing housing availability and enhancing affordability is receiving cross-party endorsement from city leaders throughout the United States.
AUSTIN, Texas, June 30, 2025 — Yesterday, the U.S. Conference of Mayors approved a bipartisan policy statement endorsing the Realtor.com® campaign, thereby emphasizing the vital necessity for both local and national efforts to tackle the nation’s housing supply shortage.
“City leaders are directly confronting the housing crisis, and we commend the U.S. Conference of Mayors for supporting the Let America Build initiative,” stated Damian Eales, CEO of Realtor.com®. “This campaign focuses on collaborating with local officials, developers, and industry stakeholders to champion actionable, pro-development strategies. We must dismantle bureaucratic obstacles and limiting zoning regulations to forge a future where more Americans can secure a residence.”
The policy, introduced by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and passed during the organization’s annual assembly in Tampa, Fla., acknowledges the escalating housing affordability issues impacting communities nationwide. It advocates for local initiatives and efforts to update housing regulations, alleviate impediments, and reform zoning and permitting processes, encompassing the Let America Build campaign.
“Homeownership, once the American dream, has become an unattainable aspiration for too many—particularly younger generations seeking the same life opportunities as their predecessors,” stated Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas. “This is why city leaders nationwide are directly confronting the affordability crisis and advocating for pro-housing measures that facilitate increasing housing stock, allowing individuals to not only dream again but also realize those aspirations.”
Realtor.com® initiated Let America Build to champion transformative solutions that streamline bureaucracy, remove limiting zoning, and update obsolete rules impeding or preventing new residential builds. The initiative urges legislators at every level to make pro-housing decisions that increase availability and foster affordability – including considering options such as for residential development.
“The National Association of REALTORS® is committed to making the American Dream of homeownership accessible to all. We commend the Let America Build campaign for emphasizing the critical necessity for intervention—both locally and nationally—to address the nation’s housing supply and affordability challenges,” stated NAR 2025 President Kevin Sears. “Developing enduring remedies will require cooperation among all governmental tiers and with partners across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.”
The endorsement from the U.S. Conference of Mayors underscores the escalating widespread apprehension regarding the housing shortage and its broader economic consequences. A 2025 Realtor.com® analysis indicates the U.S. faces, and while some efforts are underway to address that shortage, others are proving inadequate.
“The housing crisis necessitates decisive, localized action, and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) applauds city leaders across the country for placing high importance on housing supply and affordability,” commented Jim Tobin, NAHB President and CEO. “We are prepared to collaborate with local officials to eliminate obstacles and construct the necessary housing for all Americans.”
This represents a significant achievement for Let America Build, which began in Austin, Texas and is steadily building impetus. With growing support from real estate professionals, housing advocates, and now the nation’s mayors, the campaign is galvanizing officials across the country to seek tangible, enduring remedies for America’s housing affordability crisis.
About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® spearheaded online real estate and has led the way for over 25 years, linking buyers, sellers, and renters with reliable information, expert advice, and effective resources to assist them in finding their ideal home. Acknowledged as the foremost platform relied upon by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is an esteemed collaborator, providing consumer outreach and a comprehensive array of marketing instruments to foster business expansion. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.
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SOURCE Realtor.com