Structures manufactured using 3D printing are renowned for their fast development and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, would it answer the affordable housing problem in the United States? Explore the potential of 3D printing to address this issue.
(Photo : Pixabay/Oleksandr Pidvalnyi )
The Potential of 3D Printing to Address Affordable Housing Crisis
Sierra Romas observed the construction of the walls of her three-bedroom home as 166 concrete layers, each less than an inch in height, were poured horizontally through a nozzle mounted on a gantry that traversed rails on a narrow, empty lot adorned with the inscription 'Habitat for Humanity: Live Life in 3D.' As mentioned, the rare 3D-printed residence built and sold to Sierra could serve as a potentially effective remedy for the escalating problem of affordable housing, which the National Low Income Housing Coalition figures have increased to a demand for over 7 million homes.
Due to faster concrete printing, the walls of Sierra's 1,300-square-foot home were built in 40 hours. The land was subsequently transferred to Habitat for $215,000, representing a reduction of $25,000 from the original purchase price. Accordingly, the city housing authority additionally provided the property to Habitat without any charge. Thus, future 3D home manufacturing for Habitat would cost the organization between $180,000 and $190,000, which is lower than a listing price for a home of that proportion in Sierra's neighborhood, which frequently exceeds $260,000.
Moreover, aside from ease of use and cost-effectiveness, the construction industry is more environmentally friendly, which leads to less waste. Every year, the United States generates 600 million tons of debris from construction and demolition projects. Since concrete provides superior insulation, reducing heating and cooling expenses, so 3D-printed dwellings are more energy-efficient. They also have a significantly lower risk of being destroyed by fire or by a blowout, which could result in lower insurance premiums. One or two persons can use 3D printers to print walls and foundations, reducing labor costs during a construction worker scarcity.
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Affordable Housing Crisis in the United States
Since early 2020, the affordable housing crisis has become more severe due to increased mortgage rates and inflationary pressures. Even though a significant portion of the damage had been done by the time 2022 came to a close, the situation continued to deteriorate throughout the first three quarters of 2023.
The average monthly mortgage payments, excluding tax and insurance escrows, have increased from around $1,200 at the beginning of the pandemic to approximately $2,400. This increase is based on median property prices, a down payment of twenty percent, and a mortgage interest rate that has increased from roughly three and a half percent to approximately seven and a half percent.
After pausing its ascent in the middle of the year, the Case-Shiller National Home Price Index has resumed in recent months. It is currently 6% higher than it was at the beginning of 2023 and a staggering 47% higher than it was at the beginning of 2020. The National Association of Realtors Housing Affordability Index has experienced a steep decline, falling from 154.2 before the pandemic to 94.1 by the third quarter of 2023, which represents a reduction of almost 40%.
On the other hand, grants are provided to nonprofit organizations through the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) program to assist in developing affordable housing units for buyers with modest incomes. Accordingly, between 2011 and 2020, SHOP funding helped develop homes in over 40 states and 140 metropolitan regions. Nevertheless, the initiative has been put under strain due to increased land and building costs.
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