In the last five years, the number of housing units completed in Germany has risen by around 50 %. In 2012, around 200 000 residential units were completed, and by 2017 there will be around 100 000 more. Nevertheless, this increase in residential construction activity continues to be less than the demand. What political framework conditions must the new Federal Government create for demand-oriented housing construction? What part will building materials and construction methods play in this development? This article provides answers to these questions.