[MobiusHorizons]

Really? I think I can agree that the zoning isn't helping, but claiming we have figured it out seems like bold claim. Where _is_ it working? My impression is that housing costs are increasing faster than inflation and wages not only in North America, but also in the UK and EU, which don't have the same kinds of zoning laws.

[andrewmutz]

It’s working in Japan

[sadeshmukh]

I wouldn't believe most in the US would live in Japanese style housing at all.

[kiba]

Most homes in Japan aren't built in the traditional Japanese style at all IIRC.

[sadeshmukh]

I was referring to the little space and tiny storage. Pay isn't exactly great for the rent either.

[EstanislaoStan]

Why not?

[trallnag]

Aren't Japanese homes super tiny? Even smaller than the already small homes and apartments in Europe? That's one reason. In the US, it seems that people live in bigger places, with higher ceilings.

[herewulf]

The American Dream has become living in a McMansion in suburbia?

[MobiusHorizons]

My understanding was that Japanese housing costs are only good in USD because the yen is devalued. I had the impression that housing is expensive relative to local wages. Is that not true?

[andrewmutz]

It's not true. Here is an apples-to-apples comparison of the price of residential property between the US and Japan in real (inflation adjusted) terms.

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/QJPR368BIS

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/QUSR628BIS