Hacker Read

AnthonyMouse | karma 32571 | avg karma 2.49 · 2023-11-27 00:38:29

This isn't an unexpected result of political incentives: Property owners want housing prices to go up, so they want to limit supply. Builders want to make more money, and their two ways to do it are to build more housing or make more money per housing unit.

The thing that satisfies both of them is regulations that increase the cost of construction. The builders get to put the money in their pocket (bill for more hours on the same house) while raising the price and so discouraging more housing from being built (so the landlords get to keep collecting high rents).

reply

bratwurst3000 | karma 344 | avg karma 0.98 · 2023-11-27 02:06:49

At the end it’s this. People who speculate have the money to pay lobbyists to encourage politicians to bring in regulation that drive prices higher.

rightbyte | karma 9157 | avg karma 1.83 · 2023-11-27 04:54:42

The houses are made in a cheaper way though. Just look at old houses.

I believe a more major cause is that people in general are not handy anymore. They don't do their cars and don't build their homes.

Comparing housing prices today with the 50s is like comparing restaurant pricing to a home dinner.

Regulations are probably not to blame (except zoning).

reply