US Housing-Supply Gap Widens in 2025 as Construction Trails Demand

The housing shortage reached 4.3 million homes in 2025, up from 3.8 million in 2024, according to a new report.
US Housing-Supply Gap Widens in 2025 as Construction Trails Demand
Homes under construction at a new housing development in Richmond, Calif. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Mary Prenon
Mary Prenon
Freelance Reporter
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The U.S. construction industry missed its mark again as the country’s housing-supply gap grew to an estimated 4.03 million homes in 2025 from 3.8 million in 2024.

Realtor.com’s 2026 Housing Supply Gap Report, issued on March 3, indicates that construction once again fell short in meeting housing demands, particularly from younger households. The data shows nearly 1.41 million new households were formed last year, compared with just 1.36 million housing starts.

Mary Prenon
Mary Prenon
Freelance Reporter
Mary T. Prenon covers real estate and business. She has been a writer and reporter for over 25 years with various print and broadcast media in New York.