Nebraska Is Winning in Affordability and Homebuilding: Can Gov. Pillen Keep It Up?

"Nebraska's housing market continues to quietly outperform much of the nation. The Cornhusker State earned a solid B on Realtor.com® State-by-State Housing Report Card, signaling that it's getting the balance between affordability and homebuilding mostly right. The report, part of Let America Build campaign, grades each state on how well it provides attainable homes today while preparing for tomorrow's demand. Nebraska's results show a steady, sustainable housing market that is keeping pace with both its population and economic growth."

"In a post on his Truth Social platform in early October, he accused major builders of hoarding lots to prop up prices-likening them to OPEC, which restricts oil output to maintain high prices. "They're my friends ... but now, they can get Financing, and they have to start building Homes. They're sitting on 2 Million empty lots, A RECORD," Trump wrote. He urged Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to intervene and "get Big Homebuilders going" to "restore the American Dream.""

"Realtor.com's analysis gave Nebraska a total score of 66.7, putting it among the top-performing states in the Midwest. The state's median listing price was $350,229 in 2024, paired with a healthy median household income of $74,027. Nebraska's Realtors Affordability Score came in at 0.72, reflecting a broad range of homes still attainable for middle-income households. When it comes to building, Nebraska punched above its weight. The state made up 0.7% of national housing permits in 2024 while accounting for 0.6% of the U.S. population-a permit-to-population ratio of roughly 1.2."

Nebraska received a B grade and a total score of 66.7, reflecting a balance of affordability and homebuilding. The state's 2024 median listing price was $350,229 and median household income was $74,027, producing an affordability score of 0.72 and indicating a broad range of homes attainable for middle-income households. Nebraska accounted for 0.7% of national housing permits in 2024 and 0.6% of the U.S. population, yielding a permit-to-population ratio near 1.2 and showing construction activity keeping pace with population. Nationally, concerns persist about lot hoarding and slow building, prompting calls for agency intervention.

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