We’ve all heard the complaints: house flippers gentrify an area, raising values (hence taxes) and forcing out lower income residents; compete with first-time home buyers, reducing the availability of affordable housing options; and lastly, some flippers go for a superficial rehab and neglect long-term issues leaving the new homeowner to clean up the mess. Conversely, house flippers might take on the worst properties, improving the neighborhood and giving first-time buyers a ready-to-move-in home. All this is to say, house flippers are not responsible for the lack of affordable housing – that honor goes to a shortage of inventory, high prices, and high mortgage rates. J.P. Morgan estimates “the current housing shortage at approximately 2.8 million units, and we believe it could take around 10 years to resolve.” This points to either a “renter nation” or cities implementing zoning reforms that allow for increased neighborhood density.

What is Middle Housing

Middle housing refers to the gap between single family neighborhoods and large apartment complexes. Middle housing can be a duplex, triplex, town home, accessory dwelling unit (ADUs), and/or a small housing clusters – any multi-unit developments that can fit in a traditional neighborhood. As more cities across the US are looking a ways to tackle the housing issue, middle housing is entering the conversation in planning and council meetings across the nation. In addition to creating a pathway for first-time home ownership, these smaller scale projects open the door for the small real estate developer to be a part of the solution while scaling his/her portfolio.

Check out these articles on middle housing and check out what your city is considering to help tackle the problem to see if you can fit in.

The Promise and Paradox of Middle Housing

Missing No More: Planners Should Harness Private Developers to Build Middle Housing

Eliminating Owner-Occupied Restrictions for Missing Middle Housing