Southeast Michigan Faces Major Affordable Housing Crunch
In cities like Detroit and its surrounding areas, the affordable housing crisis is brewing, and it is becoming harder and harder for first-time homebuyers to find their dream homes. According to the Home Builders Association of Michigan, the state is nearing a “near-crisis” point when it comes to the shortage of affordable homes.
Construction Slump: A Surprising Turn
Last year, builders were urged to ramp up construction to combat the alarming shortage of affordable homes. Instead, the opposite has happened: a significant slowdown. Many point fingers at rising costs, regulatory challenges, and serious shortages of land and labor. All of these factors have made it increasingly expensive to build new homes in the area.
Meanwhile, the demand for homes continues to climb, primarily affecting starter houses and midsize homes. Real estate agents report that home prices have surged by about 4-6 percent across Oakland County since the beginning of the year. This trend is causing bidding wars that leave many first-time buyers in the dust.
Low Inventory: Where Are All the Homes?
Bradley Jernigan, an associate broker with Century 21 in Clarkston, highlighted that the inventory of homes priced under $250,000 is alarmingly low. “They sell very quickly, especially if they are updated and not distressed properties,” Jernigan added. This year, August housing permits for single-family construction dipped by about 1.8 percent compared to last year. And the problem is even worse in Southeast Michigan—those permits plummeted by nearly 10 percent.
First-Time Buyers Struggle to Compete
Throughout the first eight months of the year, there were just 11,481 approved building permits submitted statewide. This barely registers as a 1.8 percent increase from the previous year and is nowhere near the recommended 25,000 homes that ought to be built to meet Michigan’s growth. On top of this, the homes that are being constructed tend to be large, luxurious, and often vary between $300,000 and $500,000, making them out of reach for first-time buyers.
In areas like Macomb County, new homes typically sell for around $400,000-$500,000, while locations like Birmingham or Rochester are even pricier. Michael LeVan, another real estate agent, noted that properties priced under $350,000 have been catching multiple bidders, with many buyers finding themselves in tight spots.
The Realities of Rising Costs
It’s worth mentioning that new construction isn’t just facing challenges on the inventory front; it’s also significantly affected by rising costs. Over the past year, the cost of materials has skyrocketed by as much as 20 percent, largely due to tariffs on wood and other goods. David Compo, a Novi-based homebuilder, highlighted that skyrocketing lumber prices—sometimes up 30 percent during projects—can obliterate profit margins.
“After all the work you’ve done, you’ve made 2 percent profit. That’s simply not sustainable,” Compo lamented.
Labor Shortages Creating Delays
The workforce in the residential construction industry has drastically decreased, with a mind-boggling 43 percent decline from 2000 to 2009. Many have left the industry altogether, while recently established high school curriculum requirements have further choked out vocational programs. Consequently, builders are now scrambling to find skilled subcontractors.
As Mike Miller, a Northville-based builder said, “This is the first time I’ve seen competition for contractors in 30 years.” High-paying commercial projects are pulling residential tradespeople away, making it increasingly difficult to find and keep workers.
Some Positive Signs: Initiatives to Bridge the Gap
Despite the challenges, some states are taking proactive measures to alleviate these housing problems. For instance, the Michigan Land Bank is teaming up with high schools to offer students the chance to build homes, which not only provides valuable trade skills but also addresses the land shortage.
Additionally, some communities are easing building department regulations, cutting down permit costs and turnaround times, like Livingston County, which has been making construction smoother with expedited approvals.
Ultimately, the lack of affordable housing in Southeast Michigan poses a complicated set of problems that will require various players—builders, government, and communities—to come together to solve. Until then, many hopeful buyers may find themselves left waiting and despairing on the sidelines.
