National Emergency 101: Could It Actually Help Housing?

Home prices up 403% since 1985 while incomes rose 252%—no wonder “national housing emergency” is entering the chat. In this episode, Tim Lucas and Craig Berry explain what a declaration really is, what powers it could unlock, and where it would still hit walls. You’ll learn:What a “national emergency” means: Why a declaration doesn’t require a natural disaster, and how past emergencies guide what housing actions might look likePossible levers: Opening select federal land for housing, rolling back tariffs on materials (e.g., Canadian lumber, Mexican drywall), and trimming FHA costs (e.g., 1.75% upfront fee; ~$140/mo on a $300K loan)What it can’t do: The government doesn’t set mortgage rates; market forces dominateLocal roadblocks: Zoning/permits are mostly local—dense areas issue very few permits per 1,000 residents, limiting new supplyWhy this isn’t 2008: Today’s problem is chronic underbuilding + affordability, not excess inventoryReality vs. expectations: An emergency could speed targeted fixes, but structural change still requires coordinated federal–state–local actionRead the full article:https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/what-is-a-national-emergency-how-could-it-help-housing/