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Why is the parent downvoted? It's the truth. The US is near the all-time high record high number of housing units per capita. We'll likely exceed it some time

Why is the parent downvoted? It's the truth. The US is near the all-time high record high number of housing units per capita. We'll likely exceed it some time within the next 2 years. There is absolutely no housing crisis of any kind. There is a _density_ crisis, that is forcing people into unaffordable locations.

Gigachad 2y ago
People per dwelling has gone down quite a lot over the years so even with more houses per capita housing still a pretty constrained resource.
- cyberax 2y ago
  I mean... If housing is available, why would you want to live in crowded conditions? Housing per family (household) is also near the all-time high: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=15tRv https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=15tRv
ethagknight 2y ago
In a nutshell, people paying super high rents in elite locations believe there’s a housing shortage and believe they should get assistance for living in super desirable locations. Calling it a crisis is disingenuous at best. Specifically calling a “affordability crisis” instead of “availability crisis” is telling. People being unwilling to live with a roommate(s) is the biggest driver here. Rent controls are also a significant factor driving market imbalances. Yes of course growing areas need more housing, but it’s not a crisis.
SR2Z 2y ago
> The US is near the all-time high record high number of housing units per capita. And that would be a reasonable thing to say if housing was a national issue, but it's not. It's always been a local and regional issue. The United States does not benefit by moving people into decrepit houses in the Midwest. People should live where there are jobs and opportunities - they should CHOOSE where they live. The individual regions of the United States with extreme housing prices are NOT near record housing per capita levels. They've dramatically underbuilt compared to how they've grown. > There is absolutely no housing crisis of any kind. There is a _density_ crisis, that is forcing people into unaffordable locations. Any kind of regional issue is a "density crisis" by this logic. Shortage of plumbers? "Density crisis." Hurricane hit the town and now a lot of people need to be rescued? "Density crisis." Sewer line burst and now it smells? "Density crisis." This is a shortage of housing where people need it. If your entire point rests on you pretending "housing shortage" means something else, well... that's not very convincing.
- cyberax 2y ago
  > The United States does not benefit by moving people into decrepit houses in the Midwest. People should live where there are jobs and opportunities - they should CHOOSE where they live. So you want Midwest to be a toxic dumping ground? Why do you hate America? > Any kind of regional issue is a "density crisis" by this logic. No. The density crisis happens when cities _increase_ the density. And it can NOT be solved. No way, no how. There is not a SINGLE city in Europe, Japan, or the US that managed to lower the housing sale prices by increasing density. Not one. > This is a shortage of housing where people need it. No. There's a crisis of density that forces people to move where they might not want to go. Most people do not _want_ to live in dense slums, but they can't afford _not_ to.
  - JambalayaJimbo 2y ago
    The “dense slums” happen to be the most desirable areas of the country. People live in dense areas because they want access to their amenities.
  - SR2Z 2y ago
    > No way, no how. There is not a SINGLE city in Europe, Japan, or the US that managed to lower the housing sale prices by increasing density. Not one. Kindly take a look at the city of Berkeley. This statement is just wrong.

Gigachad 2y ago

People per dwelling has gone down quite a lot over the years so even with more houses per capita housing still a pretty constrained resource.

cyberax 2y ago
I mean... If housing is available, why would you want to live in crowded conditions? Housing per family (household) is also near the all-time high: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=15tRv https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=15tRv

ethagknight 2y ago

In a nutshell, people paying super high rents in elite locations believe there’s a housing shortage and believe they should get assistance for living in super desirable locations. Calling it a crisis is disingenuous at best. Specifically calling a “affordability crisis” instead of “availability crisis” is telling. People being unwilling to live with a roommate(s) is the biggest driver here. Rent controls are also a significant factor driving market imbalances. Yes of course growing areas need more housing, but it’s not a crisis.

SR2Z 2y ago

> The US is near the all-time high record high number of housing units per capita. And that would be a reasonable thing to say if housing was a national issue, but it's not. It's always been a local and regional issue. The United States does not benefit by moving people into decrepit houses in the Midwest. People should live where there are jobs and opportunities - they should CHOOSE where they live. The individual regions of the United States with extreme housing prices are NOT near record housing per capita levels. They've dramatically underbuilt compared to how they've grown. > There is absolutely no housing crisis of any kind. There is a _density_ crisis, that is forcing people into unaffordable locations. Any kind of regional issue is a "density crisis" by this logic. Shortage of plumbers? "Density crisis." Hurricane hit the town and now a lot of people need to be rescued? "Density crisis." Sewer line burst and now it smells? "Density crisis." This is a shortage of housing where people need it. If your entire point rests on you pretending "housing shortage" means something else, well... that's not very convincing.

cyberax 2y ago
> The United States does not benefit by moving people into decrepit houses in the Midwest. People should live where there are jobs and opportunities - they should CHOOSE where they live. So you want Midwest to be a toxic dumping ground? Why do you hate America? > Any kind of regional issue is a "density crisis" by this logic. No. The density crisis happens when cities _increase_ the density. And it can NOT be solved. No way, no how. There is not a SINGLE city in Europe, Japan, or the US that managed to lower the housing sale prices by increasing density. Not one. > This is a shortage of housing where people need it. No. There's a crisis of density that forces people to move where they might not want to go. Most people do not _want_ to live in dense slums, but they can't afford _not_ to.
- JambalayaJimbo 2y ago
  The “dense slums” happen to be the most desirable areas of the country. People live in dense areas because they want access to their amenities.
- SR2Z 2y ago
  > No way, no how. There is not a SINGLE city in Europe, Japan, or the US that managed to lower the housing sale prices by increasing density. Not one. Kindly take a look at the city of Berkeley. This statement is just wrong.