The housing crisis in the city of Spokane has now reached a dangerous level. The total number of permits for residential housing for 2025 was only 146. The last time we built that few homes was in 1970, around the time the Beatles were still a band.

The result has been millions in lost tax revenue, the potential loss of thousands of jobs, and a housing shortage that's sending potential homebuyers across the border into Idaho where housing is more plentiful.

Homebuilding experts say each new home brings tremendous benefits to communities. In Spokane, limited home construction is driving home prices and rents up. 

With housing estimates of 1,000 homes needed each year in the Spokane region, according to data from the Building Industry Association of Washington, the impacts of limited housing construction are startling: 

• $61 million lost in surplus public revenue from housing construction
• $8.5 million lost a year in ongoing local taxes and government revenue
• 2,500 full-time jobs lost

Regional economists say the combined loss of jobs, tax base, and reduced housing construction costs Spokane County nearly $1 billion every year, with those benefits going right into northern Idaho. This lack of new homes has Realtors worried the market is forcing long-term residents out. 

As a Realtor and president of the Spokane Realtors Association, it's concerning that the market is pushing Spokane out of Spokane. Since the pandemic, we've seen out-of-town buyers paying cash and driving up home prices to record levels.

You can see the crisis yourself on Interstate 90 during rush hour in Spokane Valley. In the past few years, the Washington Department of Transportation reports Idaho commuters have increased traffic on Interstate 90 by nearly 100,000 cars every single day.

Now, leaders are calling for immediate action.

“New construction pays the bills. Otherwise, the people who live here end up footing the extra tax bill — with many choosing to vote with their feet and moving out,” says former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart.

The housing crisis in Spokane has led to the formation of the Spokane Housing Coalition, a group of 15 local nonprofit housing providers, matched with builders, developers, and Realtors. 

Their study, "The Truth About Housing in Spokane County," outlines several key steps to help Spokane out of this current building crisis. Everything from providing more land for housing, to smaller lot sizes, to making housing a top priority for each jurisdiction. The goal is to create more workforce housing in the $300,000 to $350,000 range — affordable with current interest rates and Spokane-area incomes. 

With renewed fears of increased homelessness, higher home prices, and lower construction levels, many builders are fearful that the market will get much worse before it gets better.

That’s why we are calling on our city leaders to consider an Affordable Housing Summit. The goal is to build housing at a price point where more of us can afford a home. Our pledge is bringing our exclusive market statistics to the table, along with builders, developers, and nonprofit housing providers with the singular goal of providing more housing opportunities immediately.

Spokane has faced housing shortages in the past, where industry and community leaders have joined to create more housing in an immediate fashion. It’s time for us to push for housing again.

The future of Spokane may depend on it.

Lee McIntyre is the managing broker at Coldwell Banker Tomlinson and president of the 2,400-member Spokane Realtors Association. He can be reached at 509.919.1599 or [email protected].