> Using the “people moved to the countryside” example: Did we have a surplus of empty houses in the countryside before the pandemic? Actually yes. Before the p

> Using the “people moved to the countryside” example: Did we have a surplus of empty houses in the countryside before the pandemic? Actually yes. Before the pandemic, in the area I grew up in (Southern Appalachians) it was common for a house sale to take years, because there was indeed a surplus. Remember ten years ago all the articles about urbanization and the young people leaving the country and suburbs to live in the city? That was real and the more remote places did in fact have a surplus of housing stock I've personally seen one family move to the absolute boonies from a large metro and they just guessed that the breadwinner would be able to stay remote or find a new remote friendly employer if forced to move back. The latter happens I'd probably have more anecdotes if I knew more than like five people