Photos courtesy of Garvin Homes
A recent statewide poll commissioned by Neighbors for More Neighbors and the Yes to Homes! coalition revealed what many Minnesotans already feel: Housing costs are out of control. 80 percent of Minnesota voters surveyed believe the cost of homes is a problem—and more than half say it’s a “very” serious one. For homeowners and future buyers alike, the message is clear: Housing affordability is shaping nearly every aspect of how Minnesotans live, buy, build, and remodel.
Ben Garvin, owner and operator of Garvin Homes—a boutique remodeling and custom home building firm serving the Twin Cities—sees this reality every day. “I am not surprised to hear this,” Garvin says of the poll’s findings. “As builders, we have a pretty good view into where housing costs are heading because we see real-time data every day from trade partners and suppliers. It can be shocking to see some of the numbers for bids come across my desk. Comparing my numbers from six years ago to today, I’ve seen certain line items increase by 50%—in some cases, even double.”
What Minnesotans Are Saying About Housing
The March 2025 poll, conducted by YouGov at the request of Neighbors for More Neighbors, surveyed 800 Minnesota voters. The findings reveal just how widespread concern over housing costs has become.
- 83% of voters earning under $50,000 say housing costs are a problem—but so do 79% of voters earning over $100,000.
- 73% of Minnesotans believe state and local governments should do more to make housing affordable.
- 75% of voters under age 50 are concerned they or their children won’t be able to afford a home in their community.
- 79% of respondents agree Minnesota needs to build more homes to address rising costs.
- 65% of respondents said their community needs more housing.
- 57% of respondents think the state is facing a housing shortage.
- And while many Minnesotans still value single-family homes, there’s growing support for flexible housing solutions—including duplexes, triplexes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
What’s Fueling the Affordability Crisis?
Garvin identifies five major factors contributing to today’s housing challenges: Low inventory, increased borrowing costs, a shrinking skilled labor pool, rising cost of goods, and declining purchasing power. “All five of these factors coming together have created the perfect storm in terms of the affordability crisis for the potential homebuyer,” says Garvin, who confirms the poll’s findings match what he has witnessed in his own business. “I’ve lost several client projects over the last six years due to homeowners not moving forward with their plans based on increasing costs and being priced out of the market.”
And while builders, remodelers, and designers can’t control every factor driving prices, Garvin believes the industry still has a role to play in finding solutions. “As a builder, I do think we have some responsibility to help where we can,” he says. “We can’t change monetary policy, interest rates, or the cost of goods, but we can make a difference in helping to inspire the next generation of skilled labor to come in and learn a trade.”
The Skilled Labor Shortage—and Why It Matters
Garvin emphasizes the need to attract young talent to the trade —not only to sustain the industry but to help ease housing costs in the long run. “Right now, there are more skilled people retiring and exiting the trades than coming into the trades,” he says. “It’s a basic lesson in economics between supply and demand. If we don’t act fast on attracting more young people to a fun and fulfilling career in the trades, the cost of skilled labor is going to get a lot higher and negatively affect home affordability.”
His Advice for Homeowners
For homeowners contemplating a construction or remodeling project, Garvin has a word of caution about waiting for the “perfect” time. “There are a lot of people out there waiting for rates to come down or home prices to fall to build, remodel, or buy a house,” he says. “The people who have been saying that for the past three years have seen the cost of their project go up 20% to 30%. I bet if you could go back and ask them if they regret waiting, they will say they should’ve pulled the trigger on that project or that house a few years ago.”
Garvin’s advice is simple: Don’t wait.
“The cost of your project isn’t going down, and you can always refinance if we get lower rates,” he says. “If we do get lower rates, one could also make the argument that the costs of building and remodeling are going to increase even more as the pent-up demand starts to make its way back into the market. The best time to buy is always now. If you can afford to do it, take the leap—because waiting will cost you more in the long run as prices continue to rise.”
