E26: The Most Refreshingly Practical Take on Housing in NH I've Seen

Rep. David Paige (D-Conway) is a sharp guy. In only his second term in the NH House, he's arguably the most sophisticated member in the 400-member body on the #1 issue facing New Hampshire these days: Housing (and the lack thereof).In this episode, we went through the reasons why the NH housing market is so tight, and so expensive. It's supply problems, including challenges legislators can help address (like zoning changes to lower some of the costs of new construction, and to make ADUs and manufactured housing easier to build), and some that are bigger than simply New Hampshire (like the high cost of supplies, such as lumber, thanks in part to tariffs). It's also the demand side, though - especially for those at the entry-level side of renting or buying.There may be as much bipartisan opportunity in housing policy as *any* topic in NH, but Democrats (dealing with being on the wrong side of a GOP trifecta) have been pushing Governor Ayotte and Republicans to fund housing programs *proven* to increase new home starts (like the Housing Champion Program), and to consider fairness in access to housing, particularly for renters.We went through it all, and then closed with David's thoughtful take on how he seeks to lead at a moment when the GOP has full control, as well as some of the underlying factors going into the continued growth and dynamism in the Mount Washington Valley - one of my favorite parts of the state.