Skip to content

Why the BIA’s Housing Blueprint Matters More Than Ever

As 2025 comes to a close, Central Ohio’s housing market is sending mixed signals. According to the latest October’s Columbus REALTORS® report, local home sales surged nearly 10% year-over-year, inventory reached its highest point in nearly a decade, and mortgage rates dipped to their lowest level of the year.

At the same time, affordability continues to slip out of reach for many families.

The median sale price climbed to $325,000 (up 3.2%) and the median age of a first-time home buyer has risen to 40, up from 33 just six years ago. Even with more homes on the market, buyers are entering homeownership later, staying renters longer, and having a harder time building generational wealth.

For builders, this moment signals both progress and a challenge: The market is moving, but not necessarily becoming more attainable.

But why?

The BIA’s blueprint for solving central Ohio’s affordable housing crisis addresses pieces that keep new housing high and remains just as relevant today as when we first introduced it last year.

The Affordability Gap Is Widening — Even as Inventory Grows

It may seem counterintuitive: Inventory reached 5,913 homes, the broadest selection since 2016, yet, affordability remains stubborn.

Here’s what the October report tells us:

  • Prices continue to rise. Even a larger supply hasn’t significantly slowed upward pricing trends.
  • Buyers are aging. A later entry into homeownership has long-term financial consequences for Central Ohio families and the broader economy.
  • Mortgage rates dipped to roughly 6.25%, but that wasn’t enough to pull younger buyers into the market in meaningful numbers.
  • National conversations are exploring 50-year mortgages, highlighting just how stretched affordability has become.

All of this points to one conclusion: Inventory alone cannot fix our housing challenges. We need structural changes.

Why We Must Revisit the Housing Blueprint

Last year, the BIA released Cracking the Housing Code: A Blueprint for Solving Central Ohio’s Affordable Housing Crisis, a look at the barriers restricting the region’s housing supply and what must change to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community.

The blueprint identifies several critical obstacles:

  1. Lengthy Zoning Timelines: Slow approvals delay projects, increase carrying and finance costs, and discourage needed development.
  2. Lot Sizes and Density Restrictions: Minimum lot sizes and low-density zoning drive up land and infrastructure costs — and push development farther from job centers.
  3. Rigid Architectural Standards: While well-intentioned, they can dramatically increase construction costs.
  4. Parking Minimums: Parking requirements absorb land, reduce buildable space, and raise per-unit costs.
  5. Utility Fees and Access Challenges: Tap and impact fees add significant upfront expenses, especially for multifamily and middle-density projects.

Many of these issues are solvable. But without meaningful regulatory progress, affordability will continue to slip further from reach.

New Data, Same Message: Policy Change Is Essential

The October market update confirms what BIA members experience every day: 

Demand is strong.
Opportunity is high.
But barriers remain.

Communities across Central Ohio – from Grove City to Hilliard to Newark – are absorbing buyers at a rapid pace, yet price and supply pressure persist. We are seeing the early signs of regional sprawl, longer commute times, and growing environmental impacts: all issues the Blueprint warns will continue unless density and zoning rules evolve.

Now, more than ever, the region needs:

  • Faster, more predictable approvals
  • Smarter density in appropriate places
  • Reduced regulatory obstacles
  • More flexibility in housing types
  • A commitment to attainable options for first-time buyers and working families

Looking Ahead: Central Ohio’s Moment of Opportunity

With rising inventory and renewed discussion around housing affordability – from local zoning reforms to national conversations about 50-year mortgages – Central Ohio has a moment of opportunity.

We can either react to market shifts as they come or reshape the system so our communities can grow sustainably, affordably, and intentionally.

The BIA and our members know the answer and the blueprint remains our guide: a clear vision for unlocking more housing across Central Ohio and ensuring families can put down roots sooner in life, not later. The region is growing. The demand is real.
Now the policy environment needs to catch up.

Scroll To Top