Zillow: 300,242 empty lots listed for sale could cut US housing deficit 6.3% - ZG News | RalliesZillow: 300,242 empty lots listed for sale could cut US housing deficit 6.3%
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ZG• Zillow estimates vacant lots could ease housing shortage
- Zillow research estimates building one home on each empty lot listed for sale would cut the U.S. housing deficit 6.3%.
- Nationwide shortage pegged at 4.7 million homes; 300,242 sub-5-acre vacant lots were listed in June 2026, 17.4% of listings.
- That buildout would reduce the deficit to about 4.44 million homes; typical lot size 0.57 acres, implying capacity for more than one unit.
- Vacant land supply skewed rural: 25.3% of rural listings were empty lots versus 13.6% in suburbs, 9% in urban areas.
- Per-acre pricing gap: rural median about $75,000 per acre versus more than $181,000 in suburbs, about $500,000 in urban markets.
