Why Housing Matters to Conservatives
The dream of homeownership is central to American values. It represents independence, stability, and building wealth for future generations. But today, that dream is slipping away for many families.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo (R) just announced a major housing plan that conservative Nevadans should cheer about. His approach matches President Trump’s focus on cutting red tape and creating more housing choices. Both leaders understand that more rules and higher costs are the real enemies of affordable housing.
Lombardo highlighted this crisis in stark terms: the monthly payment on a median-priced home jumped from $1,363 in January 2021 to $2,808 by early 2024 – more than doubling the cost for the average family. This isn’t just a Nevada problem; it’s happening nationwide.
For conservatives who value self-reliance and limited government, affordable housing isn’t about handouts – it’s about removing barriers that prevent hardworking Americans from achieving financial independence.
Lombardo’s Comprehensive Housing Plan
Governor Lombardo’s approach to housing is multi-faceted and aligns with conservative principles:
“Nevada cannot grow without offering available and affordable housing to its new residents.”
His plan focuses on both short-term and long-term solutions, acknowledging that Nevada currently ranks last in the country for affordable and available rental units.
His strategy includes:
- The Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act, which would create a $250 million Nevada Attainable Housing Fund to support more than $1 billion in housing through grants, loans, and rebates.
- Expanding affordable housing eligibility to households earning up to 150% of the area median income – specifically helping Nevada’s workforce, including teachers and first responders.
- Matching local grant funds from local agencies, recognizing that “it’s a little bit easier to identify the people in need at the local level versus the state level.”
- Providing incentives to homebuilders through the Nevada State Infrastructure Bank and low-interest loans.
- Exempting attainable housing projects funded through the Nevada Attainable Housing Fund from prevailing wage requirements – a move that can significantly reduce construction costs.
- Directing state agencies and developers to “eliminate bottlenecks in the licensing and building process and institute free market competition to help curb unnecessary costs.”
- Putting “government agencies on notice that they work for us. That permitting and licensing must be streamlined and housing projects specifically must be shovel ready immediately.”
Federal Land: The Key to Nevada’s Housing Future
Perhaps most significant is Lombardo’s push to unlock federal lands:
With a staggering 85% of Nevada land federally owned and managed, Lombardo has consistently pushed for federal cooperation. “The lack of collaboration by our federal partners has greatly limited our ability to take action,” he stated in a letter to President Biden last year.
In March 2024, Lombardo urged the Biden administration to:
“cut the bureaucratic red tape that prevents Nevada communities from achieving their housing and economic development goals.”
More recently, he asked the Nevada Legislature to back a resolution calling on Congress and President Trump to facilitate the release of federal lands, adopt a timeline for land transfers, and prioritize bipartisan legislation to “address the inequities created by federal land retention.”
Trump’s Executive Order: A Partner in Reform
President Trump’s executive order on housing aligns perfectly with Lombardo’s vision:
Trump’s January 2025 executive order on housing relief specifically identified “regulatory requirements that alone account for 25 percent of the cost of constructing a new home” as a key factor driving up housing costs.
The order directs federal agencies to identify and eliminate regulations that unnecessarily increase housing construction costs, with a focus on streamlining approvals to accelerate new development projects.
During his campaign, Trump specifically promised Nevadans:
“I will work with your governor to open up new tracts of federal land for large-scale housing construction and you’ll get it for a much lower price.”
Lombardo also works across party lines on housing solutions, even supporting Democratic Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen’s lands bills to expand areas where federal land can be sold for development.
Real Results, Not Just Talk
Lombardo’s approach is already showing results:
In November 2024, Lombardo announced the largest affordable housing project in Nevada history, approving $25 million in financing to convert the Desert Pines Golf Course into 1,400 new affordable housing units.
Lombardo stated:
“Nevadans deserve ample access to affordable and attainable housing options,”
His administration is also directing the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Nevada Housing Division to “provide incentives and defer payments on land to be paid after development,” getting more affordable housing inventory built and ready for families.
The Liberal Alternative: More Control, Fewer Homes
Democratic lawmakers have pushed for very different approaches, including rent control for seniors and those with disabilities, changes to summary evictions procedures, and limits on land purchases by out-of-state corporations.
Meanwhile, national housing groups like the National Low Income Housing Coalition have criticized Trump’s executive actions, claiming they:
“would make it harder for our nation to ensure that everyone has access to an affordable, accessible place to call home.”
These approaches focus on controlling the market rather than expanding it – exactly the opposite of what’s needed to increase housing supply and bring down costs.
The Conservative Path Forward
For conservatives concerned about housing affordability, the Lombardo-Trump approach offers a blueprint:
- Cut red tape and streamline permitting
- Open federal lands for development
- Create market incentives rather than mandates
- Support local decision-making over federal control
- Remove wage requirements that drive up construction costs
As the National Association of Realtors noted in response to Trump’s executive order:
“The President’s executive order underscores the critical need for bold, coordinated action to lower housing costs and increase the availability of homes for families across this country.”
With Governor Lombardo and President Trump working together on housing, there’s real hope for bringing back the American Dream of affordable housing and homeownership.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
