From Local Voices to Albany Action, REALTORS® Are Leading the Way on Housing Solutions

by Doreen Spagnuolo, LIBOR CEO

Long Island’s housing challenges are no longer abstract – they are being felt every day by buyers, renters, sellers, real estate professionals, and others who guide them. With inventory at historic lows and prices on the rise, including median single-family home values in Nassau County approaching $850,000, the urgency to act has never been greater.

Progress will not come from another round of discussion alone, however, but from action – deliberate, focused, and sustained. That is why our approach must center on advancing real solutions one bill at a time, and just as importantly, ensuring those efforts are supported by a unified voice from the ground up. This includes:

• Supporting legislation that enables transit-oriented development near LIRR stations and job centers;
• Advancing policies that legalize and standardize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with clear safety and affordability frameworks;
• Backing reforms that streamline approvals and reduce unnecessary delays for compliant projects;
• Encouraging measures that incentivize affordability without stalling development; and
• Ensuring that every community participates in solutions that expand housing options, not restrict them.
  

REALTORS® are uniquely positioned in this conversation. We see firsthand the consequences of limited inventory, restricted housing options, and affordability barriers. That perspective carries weight, not just in our local communities, but in the halls of government.

Real change will require alignment at every level:

• Local municipalities making room for smart growth, including transit-oriented development and diverse housing types;
• County and regional leadership supporting policies that expand supply while protecting communities; and
• State lawmakers in Albany are advancing legislation that enables these outcomes and removes unnecessary barriers.
  

This is not a top-down effort. It starts locally with informed, engaged voices and builds upward.

That is why it is worth recognizing and appreciating the many REALTOR® members who recently participated in Lobby Day in Albany. Their presence mattered. They met directly with State Senate and Assembly representatives from Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties, spoke to the realities facing Long Island’s housing market, and advocated for meaningful legislation – asking for sponsorship of bills that promote housing affordability, uphold fair housing principles, and address the persistent challenge of low inventory.

That kind of engagement is exactly what is needed.

The path forward is not a single sweeping reform, but a series of targeted, practical steps moving us closer to a more balanced and accessible housing market. REALTORS®, working together, have the ability to help drive that progress by staying engaged, speaking with a unified voice, and continuing to advocate at every level of government.

Solving Long Island’s housing challenges will take more than policy ideas. It will take consistent, collective action – and that work is already underway.