Re:Housing can’t both be a good investment and be affordable
by seanmcdirmid on Saturday November 03, 2018 @12:58AM
(#18368791)
> Moot point, this entire discussion is about urban areas where land has already run out.
That isn't true. Houston is still sprawling, many cities off the coat have plenty of land to grow, and they do.
> "Everyone", except people that care about the time cost of commuting and the financial obligation of car ownership.
Of course. But property developers can make more money off the former than they can off the latter, if given the choice.
Prices just show urban areas are highly valued, there is no proof those areas defy supply and demand.
Density increases attractiveness for some people, but the trade-offs are clearly not for everyone given NIMBYism and higher prices outside some urban areas. Increasing supply may increase demand to a point, but there is still an equilibrium - density is still part of the solution.
> The lack of zoning doesn't encourage density at all, if there is land to build out instead of up, everyone will prefer the former because its cheaper and can provide amenities like free parking. Zoning can prevent that, it can also discourage vertical growth but at the same time discouraging horizontal growth as well.
Moot point, this entire discussion is about urban areas where land has already run out.
> if there is land to build out instead of up, everyone will prefer the former because its cheaper and can provide amenities like free parking.
"Everyone", except people that care about the time cost of commuting and the financial obligation of car ownership.