Nationwide ‘Let America Build’ Initiative Is Underway
Industry professionals from across the real estate sector are uniting to establish ‘Let America Build,’ a comprehensive national public awareness initiative founded on a fundamental principle: expanding America’s housing stock requires increased construction activity. The campaign aims to educate the public, establish housing supply as a collective objective, and foster evidence-based dialogue regarding the community-level measures necessary to facilitate residential construction expansion.
Initial organizational partners encompass: Realtor.com, Zillow, T3 Sixty, eXP Realty and NextHome, the National Association of Home Builders, Veterans United Home Loans, Habitat for Humanity, ICON, Land Use Labs, Home Services of America, RIS Media, the Asian Real Estate Association of America, the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals.
“Affordability and supply are the biggest issues facing our industry, and this fall we have a real chance to make them part of the national conversation,” said Jack Miller, President & CEO of T3Sixty. “That’s why T3 Sixty is joining Let America Build—an industry-wide effort to raise awareness of the practical, local solutions that get more homes built. A stronger housing market is the foundation everyone in real estate builds on.”
These organizations are leveraging their collective influence to enhance public comprehension of how pro-development policies can augment housing availability, fortify neighborhoods, and create pathways for prosperity in future generations. Through LetAmericaBuild.org, citizens can access practical case studies and informational resources demonstrating how zoning regulations, approval processes, residential configurations, and development practices influence supply dynamics within their respective regions. The initiative to ‘Let America Build’ has commenced.
What It Entails
“We didn’t build eXp and NextHome around a one-size-fits-all model, because we know entrepreneurs and consumers alike do better when they have choice,” said Leo Pareja, CEO of eXp Realty and NextHome. “America’s housing shortage demands that same thinking at the local level: more options, fewer barriers, faster paths from plan to reality. That’s why we’re proud to join Let America Build.”
The U.S. confronts a residential housing shortage of 4.03 million units, as documented by Realtor.com’s housing supply gap analysis. This deficit is exacerbated by structural impediments that elevate construction complexity and expenses. Research from the National Association of Home Builders indicates that regulatory requirements, taxation, administrative charges, and supplementary expenses constitute more than 26% of the cost for a typical newly constructed single-family residence.
“Let America Build brings industry stakeholders together with officials at every level of government to address the nation’s housing affordability crisis by removing inefficient zoning rules, unnecessary regulations, permitting delays and other barriers that keep builders from delivering more affordable, attainable homes,” said Jim Tobin, CEO of NAHB. “The campaign builds on the momentum of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and advances practical solutions to help builders expand the nation’s housing supply.”
Simultaneously, Zillow’s analysis demonstrates that developing housing on the approximately 300,000 underutilized small parcels currently marketed for purchase could diminish the nation’s housing shortage by 6.3%.
“America’s housing shortage is pricing renters and buyers out of the communities they love. We know what’s driving it and we know what will fix it: streamlining permitting, modernizing zoning and unlocking land that’s already there,” said Jeremy Wacksman, CEO of Zillow. “The ROAD to Housing Act is a real commitment to getting this right, and Zillow is proud to stand with these partners through Let America Build to meet the moment and help more people get home.”
The initiative is grounded in the enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a landmark bipartisan legislation that equips states and municipalities with enhanced mechanisms, operational flexibility, and financial incentives to advance housing development. The legislation acknowledges that meaningful advancement requires localized efforts and that jurisdictions implementing modernized housing frameworks, optimized administrative procedures, and strategic incentive programs are more effectively positioned to succeed.
“Homeownership remains one of the most important ways families build stability and put down roots in a community,” said Nathan Long, CEO of Veterans United Home Loans. “For many veterans and military families, the challenge today isn’t the desire to own a home—it’s simply finding one they can afford. Efforts that help communities create more housing are an important part of solving that problem.”
Implementing Initiatives
The subsequent stage of implementation will be shaped by communities throughout the nation, where state and local authorities determine permissible construction types, geographic placement of development, and the timeline for converting housing proposals into completed residential units.
“Our team—which has sifted through 1.4 million pages of zoning codes—sees the consequences of red tape up close, day in and day out,” said Sara Bronin, CEO, Land Use Labs. “We’re proud to stand with a campaign that shares our belief that the status quo is broken, and we need significant reforms to unlock more housing and more opportunity.”
Let America Build represents an evolution of the foundational Realtor.com initiative unveiled at SXSW in 2025, which convened housing specialists, policy leaders, and sector representatives to direct national focus toward the relationship between housing availability and cost accessibility.
“If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together, and with a problem as big as America’s home shortage, it is time we go together,” said Damian Eales, CEO of Realtor.com. “Earlier this year, I challenged the industry to come together and unify. Let America Build is a result of that call. Now after the 21st Century ROAD to Housing bill has become law, elected officials have the opportunity to make housing supply a visible community priority. This campaign aims to help Americans engage in real conversations about how their communities can create more housing opportunities.”
The initiative has now expanded into a comprehensive industry-wide public awareness effort accessible through LetAmericaBuild.org. The campaign maintains a position of neutrality, neither supporting nor opposing any candidates, political organizations, or electoral propositions.
“Housing affordability starts with having enough homes,” said Chris Kelly, President and CEO of HomeServices of America. “The supply challenge has been years in the making, and solving it will require our industry, policymakers, and communities to work together to create more homes, more neighborhoods and more opportunities for people to put down roots. HomeServices of America is proud to be part of that effort.”
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