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Comptroller's report says state housing shortage, soaring costs fueling Maryland population exodus

Construction of a mixed-use project, including residential, at Baltimore Peninsula. A new MD Comptroller report says the state's serious housing shortage is driving up home prices, and driving many Marylanders to seek cheaper and more abundant housing in neighboring states.
Paul Newson
/
The Baltimore Banner
Construction of a mixed-use project, including residential, at Baltimore Peninsula. A new MD Comptroller report says the state's serious housing shortage is driving up home prices, and driving many Marylanders to seek cheaper and more abundant housing in neighboring states.

Tom's first guest today is Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman.

A recent 78-page report in the Comptroller’s “State of the Economy” series focuses on the cost of housing, which has risen more than 60% nationwide in just the past six years, and left about half of Maryland residents struggling to afford a place to live.

Brooke Lierman, Maryland Comptroller
Credit: Office of the Maryland Comptroller
Brooke Lierman is the Comptroller of Maryland. A Democrat, she was elected in November, 2022.

In her introduction to the report, the Comptroller writes: “A troubling consequence of high housing costs is that working-aged, middle-income households are moving to more affordable states. In recent years, we’ve been losing a net average of about 40,000 people per year to states with lower housing costs and more housing options. This outmigration is a downward drag on our labor market, economic output, and state and local revenues. It could also result in Maryland losing federal representation after the 2030 census."

Tom spoke with the Comptroller earlier this morning. She joined us on Zoom…

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