Productivity in manufacturing in the U.S. between 1930 and 2020 has increased, with stagnation for the last 10 years. In contrast, residential construction productivity increased, with more variability, from 1930 until the 1970s, and then stagnated or decreased. Starting in the 1970s an increase in land use and environmental regulations caused the stagnation.
So if we want more and better and cheaper housing, the key is less government regulation.
The study I summarize above is: