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This [isn’t the best](1) article] on it but it’s worth saying that there’s a cultural element to crappy Japanese prefab homes: they scrap and rebuilt when they

This [isn’t the best](1) article] on it but it’s worth saying that there’s a cultural element to crappy Japanese prefab homes: they scrap and rebuilt when they buy property. What we should learn from Japan is to *not do this*. Most of the world is not on the Pacific Rim and doesn’t have as many earthquakes, sure. But also, this excavates wealth from working class homeowners. Most Americans’ wealth is tied to their homes, and apparently our willingness to live in an old home. Can you imagine if a home depreciated like a car?! “You loose 20% of your home’s vale as soon as you cross the threshold.” AHH!!! No! [1] : https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/nov/16/japan-reusable-housing-revolution https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/nov/16/japan-reusabl...

lotsofpulp 6y ago
> Most Americans’ wealth is tied to their homes It’s not the same wealth as having $500k in cash or investments, as you always need a roof over your head. It’s not nothing either, as you might be able to sell and move somewhere cheaper, but that’s costing you in maybe moving somewhere you don’t want to be. The “wealth” of being in a $400k house that goes up to $500k isn’t all that great when the house you were aiming to move into goes from $500k to $700k.
- staticman2 6y ago
  You can also sell and rent or get a reverse mortgage. Your speaking from a place of relative wealth compared to most Americans when you say a 400k house isn't all that great.