AFFORDABILITY

Politicians and planners love to say that Middle Housing will “make homes affordable.” But if that were true, wouldn’t housing already be cheaper in the places that built it?

The reality is simple: Middle Housing brings higher fees, higher construction costs, and more rentals — while homeownership becomes harder, not easier.

1. The Myth of Affordability

The sales pitch:
Smaller units = cheaper homes.
More density = lower prices.
Parking cuts = cost savings.
But none of this holds up in practice. Smaller units still carry high fees. Density raises land values. Cutting parking creates congestion but doesn’t cut prices.

2. What Really Drives Prices

Permit Fees — Up 70% in the last decade, adding tens of thousands per unit.
Impact & Connection Fees — $20,000–$40,000+ per unit, multiplied by every new dwelling.
Slow Permitting — 14% fewer permits issued, creating artificial scarcity.
Inflated Land Costs — Rezoning boosts lot prices, not affordability.
Every one of these factors drives prices up — not down.

3. Who Wins and Who Loses

Cities win with more fee revenue.
Developers win by selling or renting higher-priced units.
Homeowners & Buyers lose as ownership slips further out of reach.
The only affordability being created is for City Hall’s budget.

4. The Local Picture

In Bellingham and across Washington, home prices have risen far faster than incomes — despite years of “affordable housing” policy. Middle Housing doesn’t reverse this trend; it accelerates it by making homes smaller, more expensive per square foot, and less available to buyers.

5. What You Can Do

Question the Narrative — Don’t accept “density = affordability” without proof.
Follow the Fees — Every added fee ends up in the final price tag.
Stay Informed — The Real Issues Podcast tracks the real numbers behind Washington’s housing costs.