The Rising Costs of Housing
Sun Feb 08 2026
Homeownership has been part of the traditional American dream. But increases in home prices, borrowing costs, and home insurance are making it harder for many Americans to buy a home. The cost of renting is also rising. These increases have recently been more widespread across the country. What's driving the higher cost of housing? What policies could help alleviate the challenge of housing unaffordability? Jeff Zabel joins EconoFact Chats to discuss these, and other, questions about housing in America.
Jeff is a Professor of Economics at Tufts University. He is co-editor of the Journal of Housing Economics and serves on the editorial boards of Real Estate Economics and the Journal of Regional Science and Urban Economics.
More
Homeownership has been part of the traditional American dream. But increases in home prices, borrowing costs, and home insurance are making it harder for many Americans to buy a home. The cost of renting is also rising. These increases have recently been more widespread across the country. What's driving the higher cost of housing? What policies could help alleviate the challenge of housing unaffordability? Jeff Zabel joins EconoFact Chats to discuss these, and other, questions about housing in America. Jeff is a Professor of Economics at Tufts University. He is co-editor of the Journal of Housing Economics and serves on the editorial boards of Real Estate Economics and the Journal of Regional Science and Urban Economics.