4 ms·

I'd say that every major city across the continents have a supply shortage, that's the nature of cities, but I haven't heard of any city in Europe not affordabl

I'd say that every major city across the continents have a supply shortage, that's the nature of cities, but I haven't heard of any city in Europe not affordable to live in for the middle class. Surely the good 'ol supply & demand are influencing the pricing, but I believe there must be something external that has caused this.

CountSessine 10y ago
Yes - that's because they don't have a supply problem; they don't do stupid things like zone their cities to prioritize single family detached homes. European cities are dense and if we want North American cities to be similarly liveable, we need to rezone to allow greater density and increased supply.
- candiodari 10y ago
  Can Americans stop with the "surely it's better elsewhere" crap ? No it's not better in Europe. Either you go to a capital or second tier city with jobs, and pay ridiculous rates. Buy, rent, doesn't matter. Or you go to a normal city and commute in. That adds 2-4 hours to your working day and 50-150 euros to your (effective) monthly rent, but provides you with a much better place to live. Or of course you go to rust belt equivalent communities. Northern Spain. Southern Italy. Very cheap, beautiful even, housing for no money whatsoever. And not a chance in hell of finding a job there.
aerique 10y ago
Amsterdam, at least, is not affordable to live in for the middle class. This is a problem recognized by our government.
enjo 10y ago
but I haven't heard of any city in Europe not affordable to live in for the middle class http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/most-expensive-cities http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/most-expensive-cities You will find that European cities are very expensive to buy in and equally bad to rent in. Paris, Geneva, London, Helsinki, Stockholm, etc... all suffer from the exact same issues we're now seeing in American cities. You could argue that the make-up of those cities are superior, as their suburbs are much more compact and urban connected with much better public transportation. This coupled with a culture that is much more ok with living in small spaces helps the middle class immensely. In terms of a priced out middle class, however, the United States is really just catching up to the rest of the world.

CountSessine 10y ago

Yes - that's because they don't have a supply problem; they don't do stupid things like zone their cities to prioritize single family detached homes. European cities are dense and if we want North American cities to be similarly liveable, we need to rezone to allow greater density and increased supply.

candiodari 10y ago
Can Americans stop with the "surely it's better elsewhere" crap ? No it's not better in Europe. Either you go to a capital or second tier city with jobs, and pay ridiculous rates. Buy, rent, doesn't matter. Or you go to a normal city and commute in. That adds 2-4 hours to your working day and 50-150 euros to your (effective) monthly rent, but provides you with a much better place to live. Or of course you go to rust belt equivalent communities. Northern Spain. Southern Italy. Very cheap, beautiful even, housing for no money whatsoever. And not a chance in hell of finding a job there.

aerique 10y ago

Amsterdam, at least, is not affordable to live in for the middle class. This is a problem recognized by our government.

enjo 10y ago

but I haven't heard of any city in Europe not affordable to live in for the middle class http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/most-expensive-cities http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/most-expensive-cities You will find that European cities are very expensive to buy in and equally bad to rent in. Paris, Geneva, London, Helsinki, Stockholm, etc... all suffer from the exact same issues we're now seeing in American cities. You could argue that the make-up of those cities are superior, as their suburbs are much more compact and urban connected with much better public transportation. This coupled with a culture that is much more ok with living in small spaces helps the middle class immensely. In terms of a priced out middle class, however, the United States is really just catching up to the rest of the world.