A broad coalition of real estate, housing and nonprofit organizations is backing Realtor.com’s “Let America Build” campaign, an effort to encourage state and local officials to expand home construction. The initiative highlights the nation’s housing shortage and promotes policy changes intended to make building faster, less costly and more attainable.
Key takeaways
- Realtor.com, Zillow, NAHB and other organizations have joined the campaign.
- The initiative supports implementation of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.
- Organizers cite a national shortage of approximately 4.03 million homes.
- The coalition is seeking additional participants from across the housing industry.
The campaign launched at SXSW in 2025 and has now expanded into a larger industry effort. Its central message is straightforward: increasing housing availability requires the United States to build more homes.
Coalition targets housing affordability
Let America Build argues that the affordability crisis cannot be addressed solely through demand-side assistance or market adjustments. Organizers say additional housing supply is essential, particularly as regulations, taxes, fees and other development costs continue to constrain construction.
According to the coalition, those barriers can add more than 26% to the price of an average new single-family home. The campaign is intended to encourage conversations about zoning, permitting and other local decisions that affect whether new homes can be delivered.
Federal housing law provides a policy framework
The campaign is promoting the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which passed earlier in 2026. The legislation is designed to support new construction by expanding financing options, helping communities reduce administrative barriers and encouraging a broader range of housing types.
Realtor.com CEO Damian Eales said the law gives elected officials an opportunity to make housing supply a visible community priority. The campaign, he added, is intended to help residents and leaders discuss practical ways to create more housing opportunities.
Real estate and nonprofit groups join effort
Founding participants include Realtor.com, Zillow, T3 Sixty, eXp Realty, NextHome, the National Association of Home Builders, Veterans United, Habitat for Humanity, ICON, Land Use Labs, Home Services of America and RIS Media.
The coalition also includes the Asian Real Estate Association of America, the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. Their participation gives the initiative representation across brokerage, homebuilding, housing advocacy and community-focused organizations.
Campaign seeks local action and broader support
NAHB CEO Jim Tobin said the initiative will bring housing stakeholders together with government officials to address inefficient zoning rules, unnecessary regulations, permitting delays and other obstacles to construction.
The founding organizations are described as the first members of the campaign, with organizers expecting more stakeholders to join. Its success will depend on whether national advocacy can translate into local policy changes that allow builders to add supply and produce more attainable homes.