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Re:To save California, sacrifice single-family zoning by benrbray on Wednesday August 25, 2021 @11:45PM (#28310400)
You have that backwards. Housing can only be affordable if it's not a good investment. If it's a good investment, people will buy houses expecting to get much more out of it than just a place to stay.

Look at Japan, for example, where houses lose their value after 40 years. I pay cheaper rent in Tokyo than I ever did in even mid-sized American cities.

Re:To save California, sacrifice single-family zoning by shuckles on Thursday August 26, 2021 @12:09AM (#28310599)
Both of these are wrong because they confuse buildings and land. Land can be a good investment even if shelter is affordable. My understanding, for example, is land in Tokyo is quite expensive.
Re:To save California, sacrifice single-family zoning by kadomony on Thursday August 26, 2021 @12:47PM (#28317344)
Random, but what do you do in Tokyo? I’ve been trying to break into their market for two years. Had an offer rescinded from Rakuten because immigration shut down.

The housing market boggles my mind how houses don’t appreciate at all there.

Re:To save California, sacrifice single-family zoning by fragmede on Friday August 27, 2021 @12:32PM (#28329806)
Houses are like cars. Nice when they're new, but problems accumulate over time, and eventually with the march of technology and fashion, no one wants an old beater if they can afford otherwise.