NC’s population is booming. Our housing market is not.

The state is projected to grow by 427,200 residents, nearly 4% between 2024 and 2029. The pressure is already visible across the Triangle. Raleigh surpassed 500,000 residents in 2024. The Raleigh-Cary metro area added 39,000 people in a single year. And the homes needed to house them simply aren’t there.

The people being hit hardest by the gap are those our communities depend on most, teachers, healthcare workers, young professionals, business owners, and families searching for a stable place to put down roots. Rising home prices and elevated interest rates have put homeownership out of reach for many who would have qualified just a decade ago. The American Dream isn’t disappearing. But it is getting harder to reach.

As the leader of one of the state’s most diverse housing coalitions, I see this every day. The Triangle Community Coalition represents builders, developers, property owners, brokers, and public-sector stakeholders united around one goal: responsible growth that works for everyone. We believe in balancing development with environmental stewardship and community needs. We believe in protecting private property rights. And we believe North Carolina has everything it needs to meet this moment if policymakers let it.

It’s no longer a question of whether North Carolina needs more housing. It’s how we will build it.

The answer is an all-of-the-above approach. Apartments. Townhomes. For-sale homes. And build-to-rent communities. No single housing type can close the gap alone and none should have to.

Not everyone is ready to buy a home, and that’s fine. Many residents want the space, privacy, and neighborhood feel of a single-family home but can’t afford the down payment, long term commitment, or maintenance that comes with owning one. Build-to-rent communities were built for exactly that need and to close that gap. It gives people who would otherwise be priced out a real chance at that lifestyle. We are also steadily seeing people who could purchase a home, choose to rent instead, exchanging the burden of maintenance for flexibility. Build to rent is the fastest-growing segment of the US housing market because it fills a genuine gap, and North Carolina is already proof. Charlotte ranks second among the nation’s top BTR markets, with more than 4,156 units under construction. That’s not a trend imposed on the market but the market responding to what people actually want.

The right housing mix will look different from one community to the next. A fast-growing Raleigh suburb faces different challenges than a smaller city elsewhere in the state, and local leaders are best positioned to know the difference. Broad statewide restrictions on housing types won’t solve our housing shortage. They’ll exacerbate it, reduce supply, limit local flexibility, and send the wrong signal to the developers and investors North Carolina needs to attract.

The private sector is ready to do its part. Builders and investors continue to view North Carolina as a place worth betting on. The population growth is real. The demand is undeniable. The question is whether policymakers will allow an environment that makes it easier to deliver homes or harder.

The decisions made now will shape this state for a generation. Supporting market-driven housing policies, encouraging private investment, and preserving local flexibility will help ensure North Carolina remains a place where people can actually afford to live, work, and raise a family. That means real options for the young professional starting a career, the family ready to put down roots, and the person looking for a fresh start.

North Carolina has the momentum. The challenge now is making sure we have enough homes to keep pace with it.

That’s not a partisan position. It’s a pragmatic one.