Homeownership remains out of reach for many Americans, but Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner reveals some states are making more progress than others.In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Turner said Florida and Texas are "ahead of the game" on housing affordability, citing efforts to expand housing opportunities and reduce barriers to new construction.His comments come as home costs has emerged as a major midterm issue, with elevated mortgage rates, a persistent housing shortage and rising construction costs continuing to put homeownership out of reach for many families.'AMERICAN HOUSES ARE FOR AMERICAN PEOPLE': TRUMP HOUSING CHIEF INSISTS IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN WILL LOWER COSTSHousing affordability has emerged as a top political and economic issue as many Americans continue to grapple with high home prices and mortgage rates.(Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)Against that backdrop, President Donald Trump's HUD chief argued that increasing housing supply through state and local reforms will be critical to improving affordability, saying the Trump administration is working to reduce regulatory barriers and encourage more homebuilding nationwide."Florida is really ahead of the game, in particular when it comes to opportunities, and Texas is doing a great job," Turner told Fox News Digital from the National Mall last week on one of the final days of the Great American State Fair.He said states that prioritize housing development and work closely with local communities are better positioned to keep pace with demand.THE SURPRISING HIDDEN COST QUIETLY ADDING NEARLY $132K TO NEW HOME PRICES REVEALEDHousing experts argue that expanding homebuilding is one of the most effective ways to improve affordability.
(David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)Beyond those two states, Turner said other communities are also making strides."Other states are laser focused on this.I was just in Philadelphia and they are dialed in and working very well tog...