Ignoring that there is zero chance such a hateful sociopath whose entire life is built on apartheid would do that:
No, he couldn’t. Because the housing crisis is less about money and more about zoning. People HATE multifamily housing and new construction. The moment any attempt at new construction starts you get all the whahoos coming out of the woodwork to talk about how that overgrown field full of abandoned tires is actually a fundamental part of the culture of the town and where their children play and that new construction can’t happen because The Poors might invade.
Fixating on money is a trap. It isn’t about money. Slumlords would LOVE to build out apartment complexes they can gouge people on and to increase overall population density. It is all about the politicians and the zoning laws.
New-build apartment complexes charge what the market will bear. The market will bear such a high price because the zoning code restricts supply by limiting where the apartments can be built and mandates expensive amenities (most notably, dedicated parking spaces).
Relax the zoning code and more, cheaper, apartments would be built.
I would also add on that Florida is very atypical (oh no, I am a prejudiced elitist!). if only because of the high probability of flooding and hurricane damage coupled with insurance companies actively leaving the state.
Although I acknowledge that those issues are real and important, I’m skeptical about assigning too much weight to them in terms of causes of high housing costs. Frankly, prices in most other parts of the country are similarly bad even without those factors in play.
For newly constructed apartment complexes: it is 100% a very high weight. Because the companies building those aren’t stupid. They know these won’t be up for decades making profit over time. They need to make back their investment before the state sinks or the building becomes condemned.
Houses? Those are pretty much normal, if a bit under, national average last I checked. Because the bank doesn’t care. If your house gets washed away then they get some FEMA cash and you are still on the hook for the mortgage on the sewage stained remnants of your foundation.
With 44 billion us dollars Elon could have built a small home for every homeless us citizen.
Ignoring that there is zero chance such a hateful sociopath whose entire life is built on apartheid would do that:
No, he couldn’t. Because the housing crisis is less about money and more about zoning. People HATE multifamily housing and new construction. The moment any attempt at new construction starts you get all the whahoos coming out of the woodwork to talk about how that overgrown field full of abandoned tires is actually a fundamental part of the culture of the town and where their children play and that new construction can’t happen because The Poors might invade.
Fixating on money is a trap. It isn’t about money. Slumlords would LOVE to build out apartment complexes they can gouge people on and to increase overall population density. It is all about the politicians and the zoning laws.
I Florida apartment complexes are being built to increase population density and gouge money. Rent here is $1600 - $2000.
New-build apartment complexes charge what the market will bear. The market will bear such a high price because the zoning code restricts supply by limiting where the apartments can be built and mandates expensive amenities (most notably, dedicated parking spaces).
Relax the zoning code and more, cheaper, apartments would be built.
I would also add on that Florida is very atypical (oh no, I am a prejudiced elitist!). if only because of the high probability of flooding and hurricane damage coupled with insurance companies actively leaving the state.
Although I acknowledge that those issues are real and important, I’m skeptical about assigning too much weight to them in terms of causes of high housing costs. Frankly, prices in most other parts of the country are similarly bad even without those factors in play.
For newly constructed apartment complexes: it is 100% a very high weight. Because the companies building those aren’t stupid. They know these won’t be up for decades making profit over time. They need to make back their investment before the state sinks or the building becomes condemned.
Houses? Those are pretty much normal, if a bit under, national average last I checked. Because the bank doesn’t care. If your house gets washed away then they get some FEMA cash and you are still on the hook for the mortgage on the sewage stained remnants of your foundation.