I’ve had a successful 15-year career working in real estate economics. My background as an economist, focused solely on the real estate industry, will bring fresh perspectives to Washington as our nation struggles with the current housing crisis.

My private sector work included research on the impact of federal, state, and local regulations on the real estate market. Because of this experience, I bring a unique understanding of how regulations can both positively and negatively affect local housing markets.

The primary reason housing is so expensive today — and why costs keep rising faster than inflation — is because productivity in housing construction has barely grown in 30 years. Until we make it more affordable and efficient to build new homes, prices will continue to outpace inflation, leading to more shortages and, ultimately, more homelessness.

Here’s how I would work from Washington to address housing shortages:

Expand the construction workforce

I would advocate for increased support for trade programs to create a pipeline of skilled workers for the construction industry. These are good, family-supporting jobs where people can take pride in what they build. For decades we’ve pushed young people toward four-year degrees, while overlooking lucrative careers in the trades. This has left us with critical shortages in the workforce needed to maintain our housing stock — never mind expand it.

Update and modernize the Obama-era “Housing Development Toolkit”

In 2016, President Obama and his Council of Economic Advisers created the Housing Development Toolkit to help cities and towns foster new housing development. It’s time to dust off that work and modernize it, giving local governments the tools to lower barriers and reduce costs for new housing.

Invest in infrastructure for affordable, denser housing

One of the biggest drivers of high development costs in New Hampshire is the lack of public water and sewer in many communities. Without it, developers must spend an extra $100,000 or more on wells and septic systems. Federal investment in water and sewer infrastructure would allow towns to support denser housing at a much lower cost per square foot, making homes more affordable.

Fund innovation in housing construction

I would establish a competitive federal grant program for universities and private companies to research and develop new ways to build housing affordably. We already fund medical research this way — including the development of the COVID vaccine. Why not invest in research into new construction technologies like 3D printing or other innovations that could drastically reduce costs?