Groundwork proposes 500,000 factory-built starter homes for under $215,000

Groundwork Collaborative released a proposal titled “The Modern Sears Home” that calls for a federal effort to supply 500,000 factory-built starter homes within eight years, each priced under $215,000. The plan would leverage the government’s buying power, access to land, and financing capacity to make new, durable housing affordable for working families, especially in areas where private developers have withdrawn. By guaranteeing a large, steady market, the program is expected to encourage private manufacturers to scale up, cut production costs, and increase overall housing supply.

The paper cites polling indicating that three-quarters of voters across party lines back the initiative and believe it would make homeownership feel more attainable. Groundwork’s senior advisors and CEO stress that reviving the catalog-home model could restore homeownership as a realistic milestone for many Americans.