How National Housing Policies Are Failing NYC (And What I Learned About Tariffs While Building A Home)

Apr 12

I’m in the thick of one of the most difficult — yet rewarding — processes of my life: building a home.

And while the journey has been full of learning, growth, and gratitude, I’ve also hit snags that blindsided me. Case in point: during what felt like hell week for this build, my contractor pulled me aside and said:

"Due to Liberation Day, people are buying up steel, forcing prices to rise. Not only that, but the pieces and materials we need are no longer in stock."

Excuse me… what?

Apparently, a holiday I’d never heard of was now affecting the cost and availability of critical materials. And that moment opened the floodgates to a bigger realization:

Government policy — both foreign and domestic — is affecting real estate in ways we don’t talk about enough.

As a real estate agent, I’ve joked in the past that elections felt distant — like nothing they argued about in D.C. ever really touched my life. But now? I can’t ignore it anymore. Family, friends, clients — we’re all feeling the effects financially, emotionally, and logistically.

So let’s talk about it.

3 National Policies That Sound Good… But Don’t Help NYC Real Estate

1. “Lowering Interest Rates to Increase Affordability”

Rates have started to shift — slightly — and there’s a narrative being pushed that if the government forces rates down, it’ll make housing more affordable.

But here’s the truth: the President doesn’t control the Fed. The Fed’s decisions are based on investor expectations, inflation, and long-term economic data. Even if government policy eventually pushes rates lower, that won’t help affordability in NYC — it’ll just drive prices up due to increased buyer competition.

So yes, rates may tick down. But that’s not relief — that’s a recipe for more bidding wars.

2. “Loosening Building Regulations”

This one worries me the most.

During my own build, I’ve seen how much stress is already on the Department of Buildings. Staff cuts, fewer inspectors — and now there’s talk of making regulations even looser to encourage more development?

No. NYC’s strict building codes exist for a reason. Loosening them opens the door to corner-cutting and unsafe construction. Think Miami condo collapse. Think FiDi parking garage failure. Think Bronx facade collapses.

We don’t need faster building. We need better building.

3. “Opening Up Federal Land for Housing”

Sounds smart… until you look at a map.

Most of NYC’s land is already spoken for — and the federal land we do have? It’s mostly parkland and protected areas. We’re not building condos in Jamaica Bay anytime soon.

This plan might help in rural states, but it does absolutely nothing for NYC’s housing supply.

So What’s the Takeaway?

I’m usually an optimist. I look for silver linings, always. But when it comes to national housing policies and how they affect New York City?

I don’t see the benefit.

We need real, localized solutions. Policies that consider the unique density, regulation, and infrastructure challenges of our city. Until then, we’ll continue to feel the squeeze — as homeowners, renters, builders, and brokers alike.