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Housing in California is fixed because of zoning and construction regulations. Also, more people can't move here than can be supported...and how does putting ar

Housing in California is fixed because of zoning and construction regulations. Also, more people can't move here than can be supported...and how does putting arbitrary limits on maximum rent increase the amount of people that can live here if we're already dealing with the limitation of too many people wanting to live here? That will just increase the demand... Otherwise, there is a natural equilibrium. Many people want to live here, housing scarcity goes up. Prices go up, less people want to live here (this is already happening). What you're left with is the price reflecting precisely the degree to which people are willing to pay to live here.

inferiorhuman 7y ago
Housing in California is fixed because of zoning and construction regulations. And who decides these zoning laws? Typically cities and counties. Unfortunately Prop 13 has incentivized building out retail properties (sales tax revenue) over all else. So let's start by doing away with Prop. 13 protections for everything but primary residences. Then, change the statewide zoning laws to encourage/require available housing before non-residential property can be built. Want 2,500 office units? Fine, but if you don't have 2,500 residences available those need to be built first. Or maybe have the state keep 75% of the property tax revenue of new developments until the housing requirements are met. That money can then be used to subsidize affordable housing.
- fountainofage 7y ago
  I mostly agree, but we should get rid of prop 13 completely. Just put a lien on the property rather than having the state seize the property if the "concern" is that we don't want people kicked out of their homes for property taxes.
  - averros 7y ago
    Why do you hate pensioners who worked all their lives, paid off their mortgages, and paid for the roads and such you youngsters use for free? Repealing Prop 13 will result in hundreds of thousands of old people being evicted from their homes. (Liens? Quite a lot of these same people sustain their living by reverse mortgages. Liens will destroy it.) And techies are wondering why they're seen as a*les by those without fancy degrees. You only need to look in the mirror to see a prime example.

inferiorhuman 7y ago

Housing in California is fixed because of zoning and construction regulations. And who decides these zoning laws? Typically cities and counties. Unfortunately Prop 13 has incentivized building out retail properties (sales tax revenue) over all else. So let's start by doing away with Prop. 13 protections for everything but primary residences. Then, change the statewide zoning laws to encourage/require available housing before non-residential property can be built. Want 2,500 office units? Fine, but if you don't have 2,500 residences available those need to be built first. Or maybe have the state keep 75% of the property tax revenue of new developments until the housing requirements are met. That money can then be used to subsidize affordable housing.

fountainofage 7y ago
I mostly agree, but we should get rid of prop 13 completely. Just put a lien on the property rather than having the state seize the property if the "concern" is that we don't want people kicked out of their homes for property taxes.
- averros 7y ago
  Why do you hate pensioners who worked all their lives, paid off their mortgages, and paid for the roads and such you youngsters use for free? Repealing Prop 13 will result in hundreds of thousands of old people being evicted from their homes. (Liens? Quite a lot of these same people sustain their living by reverse mortgages. Liens will destroy it.) And techies are wondering why they're seen as a*les by those without fancy degrees. You only need to look in the mirror to see a prime example.