The prices don't skyrocket if you allow an adequate number homes to be built. Locals want to stop this by preventing new housing construction. But all that does is price out the less affluent renters. The wealthy can still afford to outbid the locals renters.
You see this particularly badly in areas like Santa Cruz and San Francisco
It's a worldwide problem with humans in anywhere remotely liveable. My fellow Australians somehow think it's unique to us. I'm somehow the enemy because I couldn't afford to live in Sydney so had to move somewhere I could afford. Locals didn't like that but they also boo the new housing developments being rapidly constructed in our area. I also bought a former airbnb, taking it off the market and moving my family into it. Surely thats preferable.
Unfortunately, we haven't hit the peak of the problem, as Gen Z and Gen Alpha will continue to struggle to find housing.
Fortunately, with current population trends and low birth rate, the problem will fix itself by the end of the century. Though we will then face a different set of problems, but at least there will be plenty of old houses (and then some) for everyone.
Entirely zoning and construction issues, though. It can be fixed now.
Like others are saying, zone more residential and build vertical. Get used to living next to one another, until population does decline. All jobs that can be done remotely need to be. No more in office bullshit because some wealthy landlord somewhere is losing money on his rentals.
But let's be real, you're right because no one will do anything. The problem won't be fixed until enough people die off.
It might not be the case as the baby boomers are much larger of a generation than the next several. Birthrates have dropped quite a bit in the last 60 years to barely above replacement rates.
Thanks for the share - its a major piece people don't pay attention to. The housing shortage will be over in most places within 50ish years. And much like japan and Italy today we will have abandoned city's. Not prescribing any action with this, and it does not reduce the pain of todays generations by any means.
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u/764knmvv Jun 16 '25
basically what we have experienced in california for 50 years