The United States is grappling with a significant housing affordability crisis, exacerbated by a supply gap that has reached nearly 4 million homes. Experts and economists warn that rising costs are putting immense financial strain on households, making homeownership more critical yet less accessible than ever. At a recent SXSW panel, specialists discussed multifaceted solutions to the crisis, including advocating for more housing development and addressing property rights issues. However, projections indicate it could take up to seven years to alleviate the shortage at the current construction pace. With rising homeownership costs and a bleak market outlook, calls for bold solutions to improve housing availability are more urgent than ever.