LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A top issue for voters this year is inflation and the rising cost of housing, and it's already clear the housing market in Louisville is struggling.
According to a new housing report, the whole state of Kentucky is in an extreme deficit of available housing.
The Kentucky Housing Corporation analyzed the housing gap in the Commonwealth, and found there would to be more than 206,000 added units to fill the current need.
Of that, about 101,000 rental units would need to be created, but a majority of the need is from units for sale; about 104,000 houses would need to be filled to close the gap.
In Jefferson County alone, the state found there is a massive deficit in housing.
Just over 40,000 units are needed to fill the housing gap in Louisville. A majority of that is rental units; more than 21,000 would need to be filled compared to just over 18,500 for sale
However, it's not entirely an issue related to housing inventory, but of cost.
Jefferson County already has nearly 9,000 vacant rental units, and there are more than 500 vacant houses on the market.
For more information on the housing supply gap in Kentucky, click here.