|
|
|
|
|
|
by andkon
3502 days ago
|
|
|
Zoning is just one cause of high housing prices. If zoning allowed for greater supply, we'd have lower housing prices. No argument from me there. But if we believe that housing isn't meant to be an empty investment that pushes out local residents, we should regulate uses of housing that don't actually put roofs over heads. Honestly, if you take your (a) point seriously seriously, I think you have a moral prerogative to regulate the market in that way. It decreases demand and absolute prices, sure, but trying to accommodate both investment and residency is exactly what Vancouver's been doing for the last 20 years, and it's why we're where we are now. Our local GDP is largely based on real estate. It's not great. |
|
|
As a libertarian I feel that protections of any free trade are the cause of most of these problems so no, I do feel that housing is meant to be an "empty investment" as you put it. I don't believe in government protectionism.
To me it looks like you are saying "I want more people to be able to afford houses" then following up with "oh that person? No they're too poor, they don't deserve a house" as that is where this sort of "necessities-as-an-investment" thinking leads. A house should only be worth what a house is worth, nothing inflated by a restriction on the homes created.
> we should regulate uses of housing that don't actually put roofs over heads
Do you think that anyone would buy a home that doesn't have a roof? I could actually see a few situations for doing this (installing your own roof after purchasing is one). I don't think government should mandate safety scissors. This is again another protectionist mentality that ruins freedoms of decisions.
In my ideal world I'd go to a reputable inspector, have them inspect one of the thousands of new homes in a development, then based on their comments buy or not buy the home. No one should tell me I have to live in this home. What if I want to use it as an office for a doctors clinic that's built in the center of the town? No one should be able to tell me that isn't allowed other then the person selling me the home. Government involvement in this is a) just to increase price and b) just red tape that keeps "those people" out of "my" neighborhood.
> Honestly, if you take your (a) point seriously seriously, I think you have a moral prerogative to regulate the market in that way
I don't see how wanting someone to be allowed to build a home for themselves, or allow someone to build homes for the poor/homeless as a charitable prospect, on land that isn't currently developed requires government regulation.
> but trying to accommodate both investment and residency is exactly what Vancouver's been doing for the last 20 years, and it's why we're where we are now.
Again, I don't think a property is an investment. Then again I also don't believe in bailouts or other protectionist viewpoints. It would be beneficial to you to read up on libertarian viewpoints as your characterizations aren't correct in these cases. I don't believe any investment should be protected as every investment is to be a compensation for the risk that was taken in making it.
To a libertarian this looks like a ruling elite class oppressing the poor minority in an attempt to make themselves rich.
> Our local GDP is largely based on real estate. It's not great.
I don't see why property sale being a large percent of GDP is bad. If a country was made of 90% diamonds selling the land to diamond mines would be very profitable and as such a large percentage of the GDP would be from land sales. This isn't a necessarily bad thing. It just depends on who it's benefiting. Currently this benefits the ultra-rich and the government and that's just doesn't fit in my world view.