4 ms·
On the one hand, it looks like the policy is working and having the desired effect of reducing rent prices and sale prices. But, this is just a short term effe
by thorwasdfasdf 8y ago
On the one hand, it looks like the policy is working and having the desired effect of reducing rent prices and sale prices. But, this is just a short term effect that brings prices closer to their underlying cost.
But, one of the bigger problems we're facing is the underlying cost of building homes. Humanity hasn't made much progress in this regard for the last 100 years: inflation adjust, homes per sq foot still sell for about the same amount. if we're going to make progress on this, we really need to look at those underlying costs and start addressing them. Jumping from one band-aid to another isn't going change things significantly in the long term.
- powera 8y agoFirst, 80% of the cost of housing in the Bay Area is location. Second, many houses from 100 years ago didn't have features like electricity and indoor plumbing. Third, we're not going to invent magical 3D printers that make houses out of thin-air.
- nostrademons 8y agoAlready have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCzS2FZoB-I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCzS2FZoB-I (The workmanship isn't as good as a conventional contractor, but you can't beat the price, and they're being aimed at people who would otherwise be homeless or living in shantytowns.)
- closeparen 8y agoWatch a planning meeting sometime. One of the typical community demands is to use onsite union carpenters vs. brining in prefab components from assembly lines elsewhere. Like so many things about Bay Area housing, we actually do have the capabilities, we’re just throwing up legal roadblocks to their use.
- baroffoos 8y agoAutomated house construction certainly seems like a possibility once it costs less than just paying someone to do it.
- swiley 8y agoIt's definitely possible to build small rooms with power and a single exterior wall for very cheap. Usually you can rent a storage unit in most cities for ~$30/month. Personally I'd be happy living in something like that. I spend most of my free time in coffee shops/parks/bars anyway and usually take a shower at the gym. I just want a place sleep and keep a few things.
- mikekchar 8y agoYou can rent a room in a house. It's not $30/month cheap, but it can be cheap enough. Sometimes housemates are not great, but you can usually find a nice quite family to rent from if you are also quiet. It can be a kind of transient lifestyle because usually those rooms are not available permanently, but it's not necessarily bad you you are only thinking about having a place to sleep and storage for a few things.