This week on The Home Builder Digital Marketing Podcast, David Belman of Belman Homes joins Greg and Kevin to discuss how home builders can advocate for housing affordability.
In the 1950’s a family could buy a home for approximately two times annual income. David says,
“Today it’s somewhere between nine and 10 times your average income. It’s a really unsustainable path. There’s a lot of things wrong with that. There are obviously supply and demand issues and regulations and all sorts of different things. But the bottom line is housing has become very unaffordable. And as much as we want to pin the millennials on not wanting to own homes, I don’t think that’s true. I think they do want to own homes. I just don’t think they can afford them.”
One factor that greatly impacts housing affordability is government regulation. David explains,
“Well, there is one big part of it…regulation. I hate to make it sound like I’m trying to blame the government, but according to a recent study, the cost of local, state, and federal regulations on a brand-new home, one home, is $93,870.”
Home builders and buyers can help initiate changes in housing affordability. David says,
“First off, in the building industry, get involved with at least your local builders association, or you can also get involved with the state builders association, and eventually work your way to the national builders association. And give your time. That’s a huge help right there…And then, the other is to contact your elected officials. If everybody does a little bit of it and we start changing the dialogue and start shifting the dialogue more to housing, especially with our elected officials and getting that on their radar, I think we can make a big difference.”
Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about how to become involved in the housing affordability conversation.
About the Guest:
David Belman is a 2nd Generation Builder, Developer, and REALTOR® and Past President of the Metropolitan Builders Association (MBA) 2016, and Past President of the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) 2017 as well as a Director at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
David has helped build and provide 7 mortgage-free homes to wounded war heroes in Wisconsin. David also hosts a podcast called the Home Building Hero which has been downloaded 420,000 times.
David continues to be an advocate for housing affordability by working with elected officials to promote the American Dream. He recently wrote a whitepaper on practical solutions to the housing affordability crisis.
David is also an Amazon Best Selling Author for the book “Leadership Growth Hacks” and helps promote leadership skills to the next generation.
He has received numerous awards including his recent nomination into the Wisconsin Builders Association Hall of Fame in 2024, 2021 Wisconsin Builder of the Year, 2017 Waukesha Freeman Citizen of the Year, Top Choice Award for Best Builder in Milwaukee six times in a row, and 2020 Emerging Leader award for Waukesha County.