Kamala vs Trump: Housing

Kamala Harris has a comprehensive plan to lower the cost of housing.

Oct 03, 2024

The main item to come out of this week’s VP debate was JD Vance failing to admit that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and downplaying the violent attack on our capital on January 6th. That moment was politically damning and disqualifying.

But another part on housing policy is of equal importance:

Housing is a critical issue facing our country. There is not enough affordable housing units, rents have skyrocketed, and the ability to afford down payments on homes is becoming increasingly difficult.

This part of the American dream is unattainable for too many people, and voters are paying attention.

Earlier this year, a poll from the Center for Popular Democracy showed that 84% of voters in swing states said that “the cost of rent and housing is a major or big problem in their state.”

70% stated, “that they are more likely to vote for candidates that support rent stabilization policies.” 60% would be more likely to vote for a candidate who has a plan to create more affordable housing.

Housing is a crucial issue in this election, and there couldn’t be a more significant contrast between these two candidates.

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The Bottom Line:

Kamala Harris has a comprehensive plan that addresses all aspects of the housing crisis. Her plan will increase the supply of affordable housing units, address the rising cost of rent, and make it easier for first-time home buyers to afford down payments.

Donald Trump barely even has a concept of a plan.

Kamala Harris’ Plan:

Kamala Harris’ plan will construct three million new affordable housing units. She will do this by:
- Reducing barriers to home-building at the state and local levels, making it easier to develop affordable rental and for-sale homes.
- New tax incentives for builders of starter homes and expanding tax credits for businesses that build affordable rental housing.
- Cutting red tape and reducing bureaucracy in the homebuilding industry, helping to bring homes to market more quickly and reduce costs.
Kamala Harris plans to prevent venture capital firms and Wall Street banks from monopolizing the housing market, which has been a major driver of costs. She plans to do this through two pieces of legislation:
- The Stop Predatory Investing Act will make it harder for firms buying 50 or more single-family housing units.
- The Algorithmic Facilitation of Rental Housing Cartels Act, will go after corporate landlords using AI technology to engage in price rigging in the rental market.
And finally, Kamala Harris is proposing $25,000 in down payment support for first-generation homebuyers, which is expected to help 4 million first-time home buyers.

Donald Trump’s Plan:

Donald Trump’s plan has two components, neither of which address the primary drivers of housing costs.

He wants to prevent undocumented migrants from acquiring a mortgage.
He wants to open up federal lands (cough cough, National Parks) to develop affordable homes.

The first point is just more scapegoating of immigrants. Housing costs have NOT risen in this country because undocumented migrants (most of whom can’t even get work visas) are buying up all the homes.

And opening up federal lands for home development won’t help lower the cost of homes for people living in areas without lots of federal land. You know, like major cities such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Detroit.