The American Dream has always been rooted in opportunity.
For generations, that opportunity has often started with a home. A place to raise a family, build equity, create stability, and invest in the future. Homeownership represents independence, security, and the belief that through hard work, the next generation can achieve even more than the last.
Here in the Sioux Empire, that dream is still alive. Our communities continue to grow, new neighborhoods continue to emerge, and families continue to choose this region as a place to live, work, and build their future.
But preserving the American Dream requires more than building homes. It requires protecting the ability to build them.
That is what the Freedom to Build conversation is really about.
Across the country, regulations, permitting requirements, and approval processes continue to add cost and complexity to housing development. A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders found that government regulations now account for 26.4 percent of the final price of a new home, adding more than $131,000 to the cost of the average newly constructed home.
According to the study, nearly 12 percent of a home’s final price is tied to regulatory costs incurred during lot development, before construction even begins. Another 14.5 percent is added during the construction process itself through permitting requirements, code compliance, inspections, fees, and other regulatory obligations.
Over the last five years, those costs have increased by more than 40 percent, far outpacing the growth of household incomes. As costs continue to rise, affordability becomes an even greater challenge for first-time homebuyers, young families, and workforce housing projects.
The challenge is not that regulations exist. Quality construction, public safety, and responsible development matter. The challenge is ensuring regulations achieve their intended purpose without unnecessarily driving up costs or limiting housing opportunities.
That is why advocacy remains so important.
Earlier this year, the National Association of Home Builders secured a significant victory when a federal court vacated a mandate that would have imposed the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code on certain HUD- and USDA-backed housing programs. NAHB argued that the mandate would increase construction costs and make housing less attainable for many families. The court’s decision was viewed as a win for housing affordability and common-sense regulation, demonstrating that it is possible to balance energy efficiency goals with the need to keep housing within reach.
Here in the Sioux Empire, we see the importance of these conversations every day.
We are fortunate to live in one of the fastest-growing regions in the Midwest. New residents continue to move here. Employers continue to expand. Communities continue to invest in infrastructure, schools, and quality of life. Growth creates opportunity, but it also creates a responsibility to ensure housing remains attainable for the people who want to live and work here.
Teachers, nurses, first responders, young professionals, skilled tradespeople, and growing families all need housing options they can afford. Businesses need housing to attract and retain employees. Communities need a healthy supply of housing to support continued economic growth and long-term prosperity.
Freedom to Build is not about removing standards. It is about removing unnecessary barriers. It is about creating an environment where communities can grow, housing can remain attainable, and families have opportunities to achieve the dream of homeownership.
The Sioux Empire has become one of the most successful and fastest-growing regions in the Midwest because leaders have embraced growth, innovation, and opportunity. As we look toward the future, we must continue working together to ensure that housing remains within reach for the people who want to call this region home.
Because protecting the freedom to build is ultimately about protecting something much bigger. It is about preserving opportunity, strengthening communities, and ensuring that future generations can still achieve the American Dream.
Jordan Hefner
NAHB Area 10 Representative
