OCONOMOWOC, WI – Tom Tiffany today unveiled his “Unlocking Homeownership in Wisconsin” agenda, a comprehensive plan to make homeownership more attainable by increasing housing supply, cutting costly regulations, lowering property taxes, and keeping Wisconsin homes out of the hands of Wall Street investors and Communist China.

Tiffany was joined by former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Wisconsin Builders Association President Andy Selner, CEO of Neumann Companies Matt Neumann, and Mitch Resch, a renter in Brookfield who hopes to become a homeowner. The press conference was held at a housing development in Oconomowoc.

Youngkin joined Tiffany to highlight the success of common-sense housing reforms in Virginia, where permitting and building code reforms implemented during his administration reduced the cost of constructing a new home by $24,000 while maintaining safety standards.

“Homeownership should not be a luxury reserved for the wealthy or something Wisconsin families have to wait until they are 40 years old to achieve,” said Tiffany. “Governor Youngkin showed in Virginia that common-sense reforms can make a real difference. We can bring that same approach to Wisconsin by cutting red tape, building more homes, lowering property taxes, and making sure Wall Street and Communist China are not buying up the homes Wisconsin families are trying to afford.”

The American Dream of homeownership is increasingly out of reach for Wisconsin families. The average first-time homebuyer in Wisconsin is now 40 years old, up from 29 a decade ago. Meanwhile, government regulations add an estimated $88,500 to the cost of building a new home in the Midwest, while permitting delays can force families to wait more than a year before construction even begins.

Tiffany’s Unlocking Homeownership in Wisconsin agenda includes:

  • Streamline Red Tape and Lower the Cost of Building: Tiffany will target unnecessary regulations and delays that increase construction costs and restrict housing supply.
  • Stop Wall Street and Communist China from Buying Wisconsin Homes: In Congress, Tiffany cosponsored the American Family Housing Act to prohibit large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes and the Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act to prohibit Chinese corporations and entities affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing American farmland and residential property. As governor, Tiffany will advance those same principles in Wisconsin.
  • End the 400-Year Property Tax Increase: On day one, Tiffany will call a special session of the Legislature to repeal the Democrats’ 400-year property tax increase and then work to freeze property taxes statewide.
  • Expand Pathways to Homeownership: Wisconsin housing policy currently places significant emphasis on rental housing. Tiffany will partner with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to modernize housing assistance and expand opportunities for Wisconsin families seeking to purchase their first home.

“Wisconsin should be a state where if you work hard, you can afford a home, raise a family, and build a future. We can lower costs, build more homes, and make the American Dream attainable for the next generation. That is how we unlock Wisconsin’s potential,” Tiffany concluded.