Rep. Deb Manjarrez: Washington’s housing crisis is pricing families out of the American Dream
“A house is made of brick and beams. A home is made of hopes and dreams.” While the quote’s origin is unclear, its meaning resonates deeply today. Unfortunately, for many Washingtonians, the dream of homeownership is slipping further out of reach.
No matter how you measure it, Washington is in the midst of a serious housing affordability crisis. Communities of every size and demographic are feeling the squeeze. In the 14th District, the families and workers I hear from consistently say the same thing: housing is simply becoming too expensive and too scarce.
Washington ranks dead last in the nation for the per-capita supply of affordable housing, and the statistics behind that ranking are sobering.
- Washington is the second-worst state in the nation to buy a starter home, trailing only California for affordability and availability.
- Washington has the sixth-highest rent in the country.
- The median home price has increased 125%, rising from $267,600 in 2014 to $600,939 in 2024, one of the largest jumps in the nation.
Starter homes, rental prices, regulations, and permit delays all add to the problem. Right now, there is little that feels affordable about housing in Washington.
That is why I was honored to be recently appointed to the governor’s Department of Housing Task Force, which is studying the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Housing in Washington state and will make recommendations ahead of the 2027 legislative session. The work of this task force provides an important opportunity to examine the policies contributing to our housing shortage and develop solutions that make it easier, not harder, to build homes in Washington.
One of the main factors of rising housing costs is regulation. In Washington, regulations account for 23.8% of the cost of a new home, adding roughly $165,000 to the median price. Permit delays average 6.5 months, adding another $31,000. According to the National Association of Home Builders, every $1,000 increase in costs prices 2,200 families out of the housing market.
Local impact fees also add an average of $18,433 to the price of a new single-family home.
The math is simple: you cannot make housing more affordable by making it more expensive to build.
We must address unnecessary regulatory costs, reduce permit delays, revisit restrictive zoning policies, provide flexibility for local governments, and examine how the Growth Management Act impacts housing supply.
There are also opportunities for bipartisan progress. One example is my legislation, House Bill 2151, which aligns Washington’s rules for manufactured and factory-built housing with widely used national standards. This change will streamline inspections and reduce unnecessary costs, helping expand affordable housing options.
This single bill will not solve Washington’s housing crisis overnight, but it demonstrates how practical reforms can move us in the right direction. Governor Ferguson also recognized its potential, highlighting the legislation in his State of the State address.
Incremental reforms matter because the challenge before us is enormous. Washington is now one of the most difficult states in the nation to become a homeowner, with the typical household needing nearly 20 years to save for a down payment.
Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce estimates our housing shortage could last for decades, with a need for nearly one million new homes by 2044.
That is a daunting number. But the building blocks for solutions are in front of us. If policymakers are willing to work together to reduce costs, increase supply, and remove barriers to construction, we can help turn more houses into homes—and restore the hopes and dreams of homeownership for the next generation of Washington families.
