Home Buyers Face Crisis

Attention: Not only in QAC, but the state of Maryland's home building industry and home buyers are facing an economic and social crisis.

We have more than 10,000 households are forced to live outside the region in which they work. Here in QAC, the commuters are living in nearby counties and traveling to our county to go to work. We are even expecting our service people who provide our education service to our students, armed force service men and women, medical service providers and many others to live in other counties. Let's face it we are missing the boat in many economic aspects.

Maryland ranks as the 4th least affordable in the state. Here in QAC we have a very limited supply of buildable land - the root of the crisis. Compounded by the demographic, the current housing market, financial challenges imposed by our local government, including moratoria, down zoning, under utilization of facilities, and increased fees and taxes are all directed at new construction. Of course, if economic and local regulations are not challenged enough - influential county, special interest groups and state legislators will continue to add more layers of county and state land use controls and fees to be challenged with.

As a group of builders and real estate agents we do have power and there is strength in numbers. We can have a more visible impact by forming coalitions and sharing our goals and objectives with our neighbors, friends and associates. Please look back here, as we near election time.

Thank you, Camille B. O'Donnell