Affordable Housing Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the affordable housing market size reached USD 69.2 billion globally in 2024, driven by rapid urbanization, supportive government policies, and rising demand for cost-effective housing solutions. The market is projected to expand at a robust CAGR of 6.1% from 2025 to 2033, reaching an estimated USD 117.4 billion by the end of the forecast period. The growth is primarily attributed to increasing urban migration, widening income disparities, and a surge in public and private investments aimed at addressing the global housing deficit. As per our latest research, the affordable housing sector is undergoing significant transformation as stakeholders focus on innovative construction methods, sustainable materials, and digital technologies to streamline project delivery and reduce costs.

One of the primary growth drivers for the affordable housing market is the escalating rate of urbanization, particularly in emerging economies. Urban populations are swelling at an unprecedented pace, with millions migrating to cities in search of better employment opportunities and improved living standards. This mass migration has led to a surge in demand for affordable, quality housing, placing immense pressure on urban infrastructure and local governments. Consequently, both public and private sector players are ramping up investments in affordable housing projects, leveraging innovative financing models and partnerships to bridge the housing gap. Furthermore, the emergence of smart city initiatives and sustainable urban planning is fostering the development of integrated, affordable housing solutions that cater to the diverse needs of low- and middle-income populations.

Another significant factor propelling the affordable housing market is the increasing involvement of governments and international organizations in addressing the global housing crisis. Numerous policy interventions, such as subsidies, tax incentives, and relaxed regulatory frameworks, are being introduced to stimulate the supply of affordable homes. Governments are also collaborating with private developers through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expedite project execution and ensure long-term sustainability. Additionally, multilateral agencies and non-governmental organizations are providing technical and financial assistance to support large-scale affordable housing initiatives, particularly in regions with acute housing shortages. These concerted efforts are not only enhancing access to affordable housing but also fostering socio-economic development and reducing urban poverty.

Technological advancements in construction methods and materials are further accelerating the growth of the affordable housing market. The adoption of modular and prefabricated construction techniques is enabling developers to deliver high-quality housing units at lower costs and within shorter timeframes. These innovative approaches are also contributing to improved energy efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced structural durability. Moreover, the integration of digital technologies, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and project management software, is streamlining the design, planning, and execution of affordable housing projects. As a result, stakeholders are increasingly embracing technology-driven solutions to optimize resource utilization, minimize risks, and ensure compliance with stringent regulatory standards.

From a regional perspective, Asia Pacific continues to dominate the affordable housing market, accounting for the largest share in 2024, followed by North America and Europe. The region's rapid urbanization, burgeoning population, and proactive government policies are driving significant investments in affordable housing infrastructure. Countries such as China, India, and Indonesia are at the forefront, implementing ambitious housing schemes and leveraging innovative construction technologies to address the growing demand. Meanwhile, developed regions like North America and Europe are witnessing renewed interest in affordable housing, fueled by rising property prices, income inequality, and shifting demographic trends. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are also emerging as promising markets, supported by favorable regulatory environments and increased foreign direct investments.

The Housing Affordability Index value in the United States plummeted in 2022, surpassing the historical record of ***** index points in 2006. In 2024, the housing affordability index measured **** index points, making it the second-worst year for homebuyers since the start of the observation period. What does the Housing Affordability Index mean? The Housing Affordability Index uses data provided by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). It measures whether a family earning the national median income can afford the monthly mortgage payments on a median-priced existing single-family home. An index value of 100 means that a family has exactly enough income to qualify for a mortgage on a home. The higher the index value, the more affordable a house is to a family. Key factors that drive the real estate market Income, house prices, and mortgage rates are some of the most important factors influencing homebuyer sentiment. When incomes increase, consumer power also increases. The median household income in the United States declined in 2022, affecting affordability. Additionally, mortgage interest rates have soared, adding to the financial burden of homebuyers. The sales price of existing single-family homes in the U.S. has increased year-on-year since 2011 and reached ******* U.S. dollars in 2023.

Portugal, Canada, and the United States were the countries with the highest house price to income ratio in 2024. In all three countries, the index exceeded 130 index points, while the average for all OECD countries stood at 116.2 index points. The index measures the development of housing affordability and is calculated by dividing nominal house price by nominal disposable income per head, with 2015 set as a base year when the index amounted to 100. An index value of 120, for example, would mean that house price growth has outpaced income growth by 20 percent since 2015. How have house prices worldwide changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? House prices started to rise gradually after the global financial crisis (2007–2008), but this trend accelerated with the pandemic. The countries with advanced economies, which usually have mature housing markets, experienced stronger growth than countries with emerging economies. Real house price growth (accounting for inflation) peaked in 2022 and has since lost some of the gain. Although, many countries experienced a decline in house prices, the global house price index shows that property prices in 2023 were still substantially higher than before COVID-19. Renting vs. buying In the past, house prices have grown faster than rents. However, the home affordability has been declining notably, with a direct impact on rental prices. As people struggle to buy a property of their own, they often turn to rental accommodation. This has resulted in a growing demand for rental apartments and soaring rental prices.

Graph and download economic data for Other Financial Information: Estimated Market Value of Owned Home by Income Before Taxes: $150,000 to $199,999 (CXU800721LB0222M) from 2015 to 2023 about owned, market value, information, tax, financial, income, housing, estimate, and USA.

This is a historical measure from Strategic Direction 2023. This indicator measures the number of rental housing units that are considered affordable to households below 80% MFI. These are rental units that are affordable without a subsidy or any incentive from the City of Austin.

Graph and download economic data for Average Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States (ASPUS) from Q1 1963 to Q2 2025 about sales, housing, and USA.

In 2017, the County Department of Economic Development, in conjunction with Reinvestment Fund, completed the 2016 Market Value Analysis (MVA) for Allegheny County. A similar MVA was completed with the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority in 2016. The Market Value Analysis (MVA) offers an approach for community revitalization; it recommends applying interventions not only to where there is a need for development but also in places where public investment can stimulate private market activity and capitalize on larger public investment activities. The MVA is a unique tool for characterizing markets because it creates an internally referenced index of a municipality’s residential real estate market. It identifies areas that are the highest demand markets as well as areas of greatest distress, and the various markets types between. The MVA offers insight into the variation in market strength and weakness within and between traditional community boundaries because it uses Census block groups as the unit of analysis. Where market types abut each other on the map becomes instructive about the potential direction of market change, and ultimately, the appropriateness of types of investment or intervention strategies.

The 2016 Allegheny County MVA does not include the City of Pittsburgh, which was characterized at the same time in the fourth update of the City of Pittsburgh’s MVA. All calculations herein therefore do not include the City of Pittsburgh. While the methodology between the City and County MVA's are very similar, the classification of communities will differ, and so the data between the two should not be used interchangeably.

Allegheny County's MVA utilized data that helps to define the local real estate market. Most data used covers the 2013-2016 period, and data used in the analysis includes:

•Residential Real Estate Sales; • Mortgage Foreclosures; • Residential Vacancy; • Parcel Year Built; • Parcel Condition; • Owner Occupancy; and • Subsidized Housing Units.

The MVA uses a statistical technique known as cluster analysis, forming groups of areas (i.e., block groups) that are similar along the MVA descriptors, noted above. The goal is to form groups within which there is a similarity of characteristics within each group, but each group itself different from the others. Using this technique, the MVA condenses vast amounts of data for the universe of all properties to a manageable, meaningful typology of market types that can inform area-appropriate programs and decisions regarding the allocation of resources.

During the research process, staff from the County and Reinvestment Fund spent an extensive amount of effort ensuring the data and analysis was accurate. In addition to testing the data, staff physically examined different areas to verify the data sets being used were appropriate indicators and the resulting MVA categories accurately reflect the market.

Please refer to the report (included here as a pdf) for more information about the data, methodology, and findings.

In late 2016, the URA, in conjunction with Reinvestment Fund, completed the 2016 Market Value Analysis (MVA) for the City of Pittsburgh. The Market Value Analysis (MVA) offers an approach for community revitalization; it recommends applying interventions not only to where there is a need for development but also in places where public investment can stimulate private market activity and capitalize on larger public investment activities. The MVA is a unique tool for characterizing markets because it creates an internally referenced index of a municipality’s residential real estate market. It identifies areas that are the highest demand markets as well as areas of greatest distress, and the various markets types between. The MVA offers insight into the variation in market strength and weakness within and between traditional neighborhood boundaries because it uses Census block groups as the unit of analysis. Where market types abut each other on the map becomes instructive about the potential direction of market change, and ultimately, the appropriateness of types of investment or intervention strategies. Pittsburgh’s 2016 MVA utilized data that helps to define the local real estate market between July, 2013 and June, 2016: • Median Sales Price • Variance of Sales Price • Percent Households Owner Occupied • Density of Residential Housing Units • Percent Rental with Subsidy • Foreclosures as a Percent of Sales • Permits as a Percent of Housing Units • Percent of Housing Units Built Before 1940 • Percent of Properties with Assessed Condition “Poor” or worse • Vacant Housing Units as a Percentage of Habitable Units The MVA uses a statistical technique known as cluster analysis, forming groups of areas (i.e., block groups) that are similar along the MVA descriptors, noted above. The goal is to form groups within which there is a similarity of characteristics within each group, but each group itself different from the others. Using this technique, the MVA condenses vast amounts of data for the universe of all properties to a manageable, meaningful typology of market types that can inform area-appropriate programs and decisions regarding the allocation of resources. During the research process, staff from the URA and Reinvestment Fund spent an extensive amount of effort ensuring the data and analysis was accurate. In addition to testing the data, staff physically examined different areas to verify the data sets being used were appropriate indicators and the resulting MVA categories accurately reflect the market.

The US residential real estate market, a cornerstone of the American economy, is projected to experience steady growth over the next decade. While the provided CAGR of 2.04% is a modest figure, it reflects a market maturing after a period of significant expansion. This sustained growth is driven by several key factors. Firstly, population growth and urbanization continue to fuel demand for housing, particularly in densely populated areas and emerging suburban markets. Secondly, low interest rates (historically, though this can fluctuate) have made mortgages more accessible, stimulating buyer activity. Thirdly, a robust construction sector, though facing challenges in material costs and labor shortages, is gradually increasing the housing supply, mitigating some of the upward pressure on prices. However, challenges remain. Rising inflation and potential interest rate hikes pose a risk to affordability, potentially dampening demand. Furthermore, the ongoing evolution of remote work is reshaping residential preferences, with a shift toward larger homes in suburban or exurban locations. This trend impacts the relative demand for various property types, potentially increasing the appeal of landed houses and villas compared to apartments and condominiums in certain regions. The segmentation of the market into apartments/condominiums and landed houses/villas provides crucial insights into consumer preferences and investment strategies. High-density urban areas will continue to see strong demand for apartments and condos, while suburban and rural areas are likely to experience a greater increase in landed property sales. Major players like Simon Property Group, Mill Creek Residential, and others are strategically adapting to these trends, focusing on both development and management across various property types and geographic locations. Analyzing regional data within the US (e.g., comparing growth in the Northeast versus the Southwest) will highlight market nuances and potential investment opportunities. While the global data provided is valuable for understanding broader market forces, focusing the analysis on the US market allows for a more granular understanding of the specific drivers, trends, and challenges within this significant segment of the real estate sector. The forecast period (2025-2033) suggests continued, albeit measured, expansion. Recent developments include: May 2022: Resource REIT Inc. completed the sale of all of its outstanding shares of common stock to Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. for USD 14.75 per share in an all-cash deal valued at USD 3.7 billion, including the assumption of the REIT's debt., February 2022: The largest owner of commercial real estate in the world and private equity company Blackstone is growing its portfolio of residential rentals and commercial properties in the United States. The company revealed that it would shell out about USD 6 billion to buy Preferred Apartment Communities, an Atlanta-based real estate investment trust that owns 44 multifamily communities and roughly 12,000 homes in the Southeast, mostly in Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Florida cities of Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa.. Key drivers for this market are: Investment Plan Towards Urban Rail Development. Potential restraints include: Italy’s Fragmented Approach to Tenders. Notable trends are: Existing Home Sales Witnessing Strong Growth.

The dataset is a catalog of major residential development projects in Somerset County, NJ. This includes Affordable Housing, Senior housing options, and Market-rate rentalsAffordable Housing Options: With New Jersey having some of the highest housing costs in the county, the state government has implemented several initiatives and programs to provide housing options for low- and moderate-income eligible households. In addition, several municipalities have implemented inclusionary zoning laws, that require property developers to allocate a certain percentage of the units for affordable housing. Somerset county has several affordable housing programs to help low-and moderate-income eligible households and first-time homebuyers, including the Mt. Laurel Doctrine, New Jersey Balanced Housing Program, HUD Public Housing Program, HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). This dataset provides a comprehensive list of all affordable housing projects in the county. The dataset includes ‘inclusionary’ developments that are comprised of both market-rate units and affordable units. It also includes municipality-sponsored and other 100% affordable housing projects, as well as affordable housing created through the redevelopment process. The total number of market rate and affordable housing units in each project is provided. Some projects include a blend of both rental and for-purchase units. Senior Housing Options: There are several housing options in Somerset County for older adults seeking assistance with daily living or those who want to maintain their independence or those who seek to live in communities designed for older adults. These options include – Active Adult Communities: These are communities designed for older adults who can live independently but want to live in a community specifically for older adults. They typically offer amenities such as fitness centers, swimming pools, and social activities. Many independent living communities also offer additional services such as transportation, housekeeping, and meals. Assisted Living Communities: These communities aid with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. They offer a range of services, depending on the level of care needed. Some assisted living communities also offer memory care services for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Continuing Care Retirement Communities: These communities offer a continuum of care that includes independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. This allows residents to "age in place" and receive additional care as needed without having to move to a different community. Senior Residence: These communities are restricted to residents who are 55 years of age or older. They typically offer amenities like active adult communities and may have additional features such as golf courses, community centers, and events. Market Rate Rentals: These properties are typically owned/operated by private landlords and are not considered affordable housing and are not subject to government subsidies. These include apartments, condominiums, town homes, single-family homes. The information included in this dataset represents a point-in-time (November 2023) and is subject to change. Furthermore, new, or alternative housing projects may be proposed in future years, which will be incorporated into subsequent dataset updates. Updates to this dataset will take place on an as-needed basis.

This dataset contains multifamily affordable and market-rate housing sites (typically 5+ units) in the City of Detroit that have been built or rehabbed since 2015, or are currently under construction. Most sites are rental housing, though some are for sale. The data are collected from developers, other government departments and agencies, and proprietary data sources in order to track new multifamily and affordable housing construction and rehabilitation occurring in throughout the city, in service of the City's multifamily affordable housing goals. Data are compiled by various teams within the Housing and Revitalization Department (HRD), led by the Preservation Team. This dataset reflects HRD's current knowledge of multifamily units under construction in the city and will be updated as the department's knowledge changes. For more information about the City's multifamily affordable housing policies and goals, visit here.Affordability level for affordable units are measured by the percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI) that a household could earn for that unit to be considered affordable for them. For example, a unit that rents at a 60% AMI threshold would be affordable to a household earning 60% or less of the median income for the area. Rent affordability is typically defined as housing costs consuming 30% or less of monthly income. Regulated housing programs are designed to serve households based on certain income benchmarks relative to AMI, and these income benchmarks vary based on household size. Detroit city's AMI levels are set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI Metro Fair Market Rent (FMR) area. For more information on AMI in Detroit, visit here.

Graph and download economic data for Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States (MSPUS) from Q1 1963 to Q2 2025 about sales, median, housing, and USA.

This table shows the average House Price/Earnings ratio, which is an important indicator of housing affordability. Ratios are calculated by dividing house price by the median earnings of a borough.

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is based on a 1 per cent sample of employee jobs. Information on earnings and hours is obtained in confidence from employers. It does not cover the self-employed nor does it cover employees not paid during the reference period. Information is as at April each year. The statistics used are workplace based full-time individual earnings.

Pre-2013 Land Registry housing data are for the first half of the year only, so that they are comparable to the ASHE data which are as at April. This is no longer the case from 2013 onwards as this data uses house price data from the ONS House Price Statistics for Small Areas statistical release. Prior to 2006 data are not available for Inner and Outer London.

The lowest 25 per cent of prices are below the lower quartile; the highest 75 per cent are above the lower quartile.
The "lower quartile" property price/income is determined by ranking all property prices/incomes in ascending order.
The 'median' property price/income is determined by ranking all property prices/incomes in ascending order. The point at which one half of the values are above and one half are below is the median.

Regional data has not been published by DCLG since 2012. Data for regions has been calculated by the GLA. Data since 2014 has been calculated by the GLA using Land Registry house prices and ONS Earnings data.

Link to DCLG Live Tables

An interactive map showing the affordability ratios by local authority for 2013, 2014 and 2015 is also available.

The house price to income index in Europe declined in almost all European countries in 2023, indicating that income grew faster than house prices. Portugal, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands led the house price to income index ranking in 2023, with values exceeding *** index points. Romania, Bulgaria, and Finland were on the other side of the spectrum, with less than 100 index points. The house price to income ratio is an indicator for the development of housing affordability across OECD countries and is calculated as the nominal house prices divided by nominal disposable income per head, with 2015 chosen as a base year. A ratio higher than 100 means that the nominal house price growth since 2015 has outpaced the nominal disposable income growth, and housing is therefore comparatively less affordable. In 2023, the OECD average stood at ***** index points.

The US residential real estate market, a significant component of the global market, is characterized by a moderate but steady growth trajectory. With a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.04% from 2025 to 2033, the market demonstrates resilience despite fluctuating economic conditions. The 2025 market size, while not explicitly provided, can be reasonably estimated based on available data and considering recent market trends. Assuming a continuation of the observed growth pattern in preceding years, a substantial market value in the trillions is plausible. Key drivers include sustained population growth, particularly in urban areas, increasing household formations among millennials and Gen Z, and ongoing demand for both rental properties (apartments and condominiums) and owner-occupied homes (landed houses and villas). However, challenges persist, including rising interest rates which impact affordability, supply chain constraints affecting new construction, and the potential for macroeconomic shifts to influence buyer confidence. Segmentation analysis highlights the varying performance across property types, with apartments and condominiums potentially experiencing higher demand in urban centers while landed houses and villas appeal to a different demographic profile and geographic distribution. The competitive landscape includes a mix of large publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) like AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential, regional developers like Mill Creek Residential, and established brokerage firms such as RE/MAX and Keller Williams Realty Inc., all vying for market share within distinct segments. The geographical distribution of the market shows significant concentration within North America, particularly in the US, reflecting established infrastructure, economic stability, and favorable regulatory environments. While other regions like Europe and Asia-Pacific contribute to the global market, the US continues to be a dominant force. The forecast period (2025-2033) suggests continued expansion, albeit at a moderate pace, indicating a relatively stable and mature market that remains attractive for investment and development. Future growth hinges upon addressing affordability concerns, navigating fluctuating interest rates, and managing supply-demand dynamics to ensure sustainable market expansion. Government policies influencing housing affordability and construction regulations will play a crucial role in shaping the future trajectory of the US residential real estate sector. Recent developments include: May 2022: Resource REIT Inc. completed the sale of all of its outstanding shares of common stock to Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust Inc. for USD 14.75 per share in an all-cash deal valued at USD 3.7 billion, including the assumption of the REIT's debt., February 2022: The largest owner of commercial real estate in the world and private equity company Blackstone is growing its portfolio of residential rentals and commercial properties in the United States. The company revealed that it would shell out about USD 6 billion to buy Preferred Apartment Communities, an Atlanta-based real estate investment trust that owns 44 multifamily communities and roughly 12,000 homes in the Southeast, mostly in Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Florida cities of Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa.. Notable trends are: Existing Home Sales Witnessing Strong Growth.

Koster, Hans R.A., and van Ommeren, Jos, (2019) "Place-Based Policies and the Housing Market." Review of Economics and Statistics 101:3, 400-414.

The number of affordable housing units added in San Francisco declined for the second year in a row in 2023. In that year, the number of affordable housing units added to the housing stock was ***, while the number of new market rate housing units stood at *****.

This dataset includes all housing projects that have received a subsidy from or participated in a city of Austin developer incentive program. Projects may include a mix of income-restricted and market rate units and span the development pipeline from developer incentive certification or loan approval to project completion.

This dataset is an authoritative inventory of new housing units constructed in the City of Saint Paul from 2010 through the end of Q1 2025. The data originates from two sources: the City's permitting system, and from the City's records on housing affordability. The dataset helps provide a deeper understanding of trends in market rate and affordable housing production. This dataset is updated quarterly, generally by the 15th of the month following the end of each quarter.For the purposes of this dataset, the delineation of "affordable units" is tied to the construction of the new units: does the project — its development financing or the regulatory framework under which it was built — require units be affordable upon the completion of construction?
This definition of affordability does not include units that are affordable only because of a post-construction subsidy or other similar subsequent commitment to affordability, such as through the city's Rental Rehab Loan Program or 4d Affordable Housing Incentive Program. It does, however, include units that are affordable under the terms of zoning district-based density bonuses for affordability. Projects built under a zoning-based density bonus currently comprise a very small portion of the larger total, and are identified in the Notes column of the associated table.This dataset will be updated quarterly, given the manual work currently involved in bringing it up-to-date. It is the product of work over five years across three City departments.Field definitions are available below. In addition to being available for download through the Open Information website, this data is perhaps more easily accessible in an interactive Housing Production Dashboard.This data is designed under a methodology specific to the City of Saint Paul. Other government entities use the same originating permit data, but somewhat divergent methodologies, which can produce very different results. We believe this particular methodology gives the fullest and most timely depiction of housing production available. For specific details, see the "Methodologies Compared" tab at the bottom of the Housing Production Dashboard.Technical detailsThis dataset is generally designed to have one record (row) per building project that creates new units. A project may be the result of one or more building permits. In cases when a project contains both subsidized / affordable and unsubsidized / market rate units, the project is split across two records (rows).

Fields (Columns) Defined

PropertyRSN: An internal unique identifier for the address point with which the permit is associated.

Property Address: The street address at which the permit work took place.

ParcelID: The county-assigned unique identifier for the parcel on which the permit work took place.

Type of Work: The kind of work undertaken at the site. CHOICES: New · Addition · Remodel

Residence Type: What is the physical form of the dwelling units that were created under this building permit? CHOICES: 2-Family/Duplex · Mixed (Commercial/Residential) · Residential (Multi-Fam) · Single Family DwellingDwelling Unit Type: The type of financial structure tied to the new dwelling units created under this permit. CHOICES:Market Rate Unit: Units that did not receive some sort of direct public subsidy or assistance outside normal market sources.Affordable Unit: Units that contractually ensure affordability / access for those in need, at the level of 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) and below. This definition does include units that are affordable under the terms of zoning-based density bonuses, which comprise a very small portion of the overall total. This demarcation of affordable units does not include units that received financial assistance in preparing the site for redevelopment, for activities such as pollution remediation. Further, the affordability included here are only those contractually included at the closing of the development financing of the project, and does not include units restricted as affordable at a later date, such as through the City's 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program, or the Rental Rehab Loan Program.

Commercial to Housing Conversion: The units shown were produced by converting formerly commercial space (including retail, commercial, institutional and industrial type uses) into residential space (including single family, duplex, 3-4 unit, multifamily and congregate-type residential uses). CHOICES:Yes: The housing units shown were converted from commercial space.No: The housing units shown were not converted from commercial space.Project Permit Issue Date: The date the first permit was issued for the project that created the new dwelling units.

Project Permit Issue Year: The year the first permit was issued for the project that created the new dwelling units.

Existing Dwelling Units: The number of dwelling units that existed just prior to the start of the project under the definition of "dwelling unit" in the International Building Code.

New Dwelling Units: The number of new dwelling units created under the building permit(s) under the definition of "dwelling unit" in the International Building Code.

Total Final Dwelling Units: The number of dwelling units existing upon completion of the associated building permit(s), under the definition of "dwelling unit" in the International Building Code.

Notes: This field contains notes on specific unique circumstances. In particular, a few building permits produced both subsidized / affordable and unsubsidized / market rate dwelling units. To make building permits in this scenario function as needed within data systems, we split such permits into two lines, one for each type of unit, and made a notation in this field to reflect that division.