Message from the CEO

When most people think of a “housing crisis,” they picture crowded cities or growing suburbs like Madison, Wauwatosa or De Pere. Yet the real crisis extends far beyond urban boundaries. Across rural Wisconsin, small towns and farming communities are facing a quiet but profound challenge: not enough homes, too few workers to build them, and aging housing stock that no longer meets the needs of modern families.

This isn’t simply about housing units. It’s about the long-term sustainability of rural Wisconsin’s economy, schools and healthcare systems. When workers can’t afford to live near the places where they teach, care or manufacture, the community fabric begins to fray. Employers struggle to fill positions. Young families move away. And the cycle of economic decline accelerates — not because people don’t want to live there, but because they can’t find a place to call home.

For too long, public policy has treated housing as an urban concern, leaving rural communities to fend for themselves within outdated regulatory and financing frameworks. State and local governments have relied on limited federal programs that were never designed to meet the scale or complexity of today’s housing challenges. It’s time to modernize how we think about housing in Wisconsin — not as a social service, but as critical infrastructure that underpins the vitality of every region, large or small.

That’s why the Wisconsin REALTORS^® Association (WRA) is working to advance a comprehensive housing agenda focused on expanding supply, streamlining development and strengthening homeownership opportunities across all communities. This effort recognizes that government alone cannot build its way out of the problem. Real progress requires a partnership between policymakers, private developers, local leaders and REALTORS^® who understand how housing markets function in every corner of the state.

Among the priorities in this legislative package are policies to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers that delay projects and drive up costs; provide communities with more flexible financing tools to support workforce and starter homes; and encourage the conversion of apartments to owner-occupied condominium units. These solutions are designed to be pragmatic, bipartisan and respectful of local control — but bold enough to make a measurable difference in Wisconsin’s housing future.

The task ahead is about more than economics. It’s about preserving the character and continuity of rural Wisconsin — ensuring that nurses, teachers, farmers and first responders can live in the same communities they serve. Housing is the foundation of opportunity and the starting point for revitalizing local economies.

If Wisconsin is to remain a state where every person can thrive, regardless of ZIP code, we must treat rural housing as a strategic priority — not an afterthought. The WRA stands ready to work with leaders across government and industry to turn this shared vision into reality. Together, we can ensure that the next generation can live, work and prosper in the places that made Wisconsin strong.

Tom Larson
WRA President & CEO