The battle between YIMBYs and NIMBYs is shaping the future of housing affordability.
The Big Picture
If you don’t follow housing and zoning issues, no one will blame you. However, zoning debates fall into two main camps: the YIMBYs (“Yes In My Backyard”) and the NIMBYs (“Not In My Backyard”).
YIMBYs support adding housing density, while NIMBYs oppose increasing housing in less dense areas. This debate has serious implications for housing affordability and the future of American cities.
Zooming In
The Case for More Housing
Let’s propose a low-rise apartment/condo building: 12 units, two floors, 35 feet tall, on one acre of land in Atlanta, GA. This could fit in areas zoned R-1 or R-2, but both are currently restricted to single-family homes.
Why is this a problem? Because land costs are prohibitively expensive. Most two-acre properties in Atlanta are priced over $1 million. Even smaller lots zoned R-2 remain out of reach for many middle-class families.
The Affordability Challenge
Consider a family with two teachers earning a combined annual salary of $110,162. Based on ADP's paycheck calculator:
- Their max affordable monthly mortgage: $2,754.
- Mortgage cost of a $1M home: $4,796 per month.
- Conclusion: They cannot afford to live where they work.
The “Missing Middle” Housing Solution
Instead of forcing families to commute long distances, YIMBYs propose hidden-density housing—small-scale multi-unit buildings that fit the character of single-family neighborhoods.
A 12-unit condo building on the same lot as a single-family home would:
- Drastically improve affordability.
- Allow teachers and essential workers to live where they work.
- Reduce commutes and increase economic mobility.
Data Snapshot
Here’s what the numbers tell us:
- To afford a $1M home, a family needs an annual income of $191,840.
- Two public school teachers take home $110,162 annually.
- The max mortgage they can afford: $2,754/month (far below the cost of a $1M home).
Independent Lens
Housing affordability is not just an economic issue—it’s a quality-of-life issue. Restrictive zoning policies have made it impossible for middle-class families to buy homes in cities where they work.
If we want the American Dream to be attainable, we must rethink outdated zoning laws and embrace smart housing solutions.
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