Linda Hunt Williams: Single Family Rentals Allow Growing NC Population More Opportunity

North Carolina grew by nearly 150,000 people in 2025. Following Texas and Florida, it is the third largest state in population growth. Unfortunately, high interest rates, housing prices, and property taxes are pricing many people out of the market for buying a home.  The Tarheel State is facing a severe housing shortage, especially after Hurricane Helene.  Our state’s housing crisis must be addressed soon. 

 The rising demand for affordable housing is on a steady incline, and many families are financially strained to purchase a home. Our citizens deserve to live in high-opportunity neighborhoods with good schools and safe, thriving neighborhoods. To alleviate this burden, we must embrace the opportunity rental housing providers offer. Single family rentals (SFRs) allow many economically disadvantaged families access to more stability and security. We should encourage more of this investment because it provides families with better and more affordable housing, as well as a stronger community.

There is no universal fix for North Carolina’s housing supply. Rather than restricting investment and imposing additional regulations, lawmakers should focus on implementing practical, evidence-based solutions that have already demonstrated success.