New York Launches “Move In NY” to Expand Affordable Housing with Modular Homes
Governor Kathy Hochul’s $50M program brings prefabricated homes to address New York’s housing shortage by 2030.
New York is rolling out an ambitious strategy to expand affordable housing, led by Governor Kathy Hochul. The initiative relies on prefabricated and modular homes to tackle the state’s housing shortage in urban centers, suburbs, and rural communities, with a goal of delivering hundreds of high-quality units for low- and middle-income families.
The “Move In NY” program, backed by $50 million in state funding, will add 200 factory-built homes over the next year. It’s part of a broader $1.5 billion housing package approved in the 2026 state budget. The need is urgent: from August 2019 to August 2025, median home prices jumped 74% in suburban counties and 73% in rural areas, compared to 51% in cities. Experts say New York needs around 800,000 new homes by 2030 to keep up with demand.
Early Results and Overcoming Barriers in New York’s “Move In NY” Housing Program
Early progress is already visible. Homes have been installed in Syracuse, Schenectady, and Macomb. One three-bedroom, two-bath house in Syracuse—with an open floor plan and a modern kitchen—was assembled in just eight days. Compared to traditional houses, which can take 18 months to build, modular homes can be ready within six months and cost about half as much.
For decades, manufactured homes carried stigma and financing challenges, often associated with outdated mobile homes or trailers. Banks were reluctant to offer mortgages since many weren’t classified as real property. Hochul stressed that today’s manufactured homes are nearly indistinguishable from traditional ones, featuring pitched roofs, garages, porches, and open kitchens.
To overcome financing barriers, every “Move In NY” home must be sold with land, making it eligible for conventional mortgages. The state will also provide down-payment assistance and mortgage support to ensure affordability for working families.
Concerns and Long-Term Vision for New York’s “Move In NY” Housing Plan
Municipalities are invited to participate, with up to 15 communities expected to join. To qualify, towns must commit to building at least 10 homes on zoning-free land for eligible buyers. While the first homes came from a single manufacturer, future projects will be open to competitive bids, strengthening the supply chain.
Still, some concerns remain. Rural housing advocates warn that the 10-unit minimum could exclude smaller towns that need infrastructure upgrades like roads and sewers before new housing can be developed. Instead of imposing mandates, the program offers incentives such as zero-interest loans and partial grants to encourage participation.
Governor Hochul has made clear that expanding affordable housing is not optional: “Communities that fail to grow risk losing their young people to other states.”
The “Move In NY” plan is designed not just to build houses, but to build stronger, more sustainable communities. With its mix of modern design, cost efficiency, and state-backed financing, New York is taking a bold step toward solving its housing crisis.
