Escaping the Housing Trap: Addressing the Root of America's Housing Crisis
The REALTORS® of South Central Kansas invites you to a pivotal presentation on "Escaping the Housing Trap," a timely discussion tackling America's growing housing crisis to be held on January 28, 2025. As REALTORS®, we understand the critical balance between housing as an investment and as a basic necessity. This one-hour presentation sheds light on the interwoven complexities of our current housing market, including the history and financial evolution that has made housing increasingly unaffordable for many.
The event delves into key historical milestones, starting with how financial innovations from the Great Depression stabilized the housing market and how post-World War II policies led to rapid urban expansion. Today, these same policies have left many in a trap, where housing prices rise, but the ability to become homeowners or long-term renters has diminished.
REALTORS® will gain valuable insights into the forces that have financialized the housing market, turning homes from customer purchases into commodities tied to the mortgage industry. The presentation will also explore why simply enabling more borrowing is not the answer and how it has further exacerbated the affordability issue.
Finally, the session will empower REALTORS® to understand local-level interventions that can help communities escape the broader market’s harmful boom-and-bust cycles. The emphasis will be on practical, city-specific responses to increase housing affordability and restore balance in our neighborhoods.
Save the date and join us for this insightful discussion and walk away with actionable strategies that you can use to guide your clients and influence housing policy in your area.
For more details on the event, contact Government Affairs Director Gentry Thiesen at gentry@sckrealtors.com.