More than 300,000 empty lots of 5 acres or smaller were listed on Zillow in June, giving builders a sizable pool of potential home sites despite a tight single-family housing market.
Zillow said those parcels made up more than 17% of all active for-sale listings, framing them as the most accessible near-term option to expand supply.
Kara Ng, Zillow's senior economist, called the lots the "lowest-hanging fruit" in a housing shortage built over two decades, while stressing the harder task is making development feasible.
The finding lands just after Congress passed landmark housing reform legislation in mid-July, highlighting that available land alone may not quickly close the broader U.S. housing gap.
Will new homes on vacant lots actually be affordable, or will they only benefit wealthy buyers?
Could developing 300,000 empty lots just create a new suburban sprawl crisis?
With new laws passed, what is the fastest way to turn empty lots into affordable manufactured homes?
300,000 Empty Lots for Sale: Policy, Barriers, and the Path to Easing the U.S. Housing Shortage
Overview
Zillow’s July 2026 research reveals that over 300,000 empty lots are listed for sale across the United States, offering a major opportunity to ease the nation’s long-standing housing shortage. According to Zillow’s senior economist, these lots are the 'lowest-hanging fruit' for new housing, as they are widely available and vary in price and size depending on location. The report highlights that making use of these lots could help address a shortage that has persisted for two decades, especially if policy changes make it easier and more affordable to build new homes on this untapped land.