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Housing in the Bay Area

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Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#51

Post by dragonwriter »

TJTorola wrote: post #28
sinak wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Source?

I can't say for sure if this is what Foobarqux was referring to but this article https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11708873 came up a couple weeks ago which states > Tim Redmond of 48 Hills has argued that building more housing would make the problem [high housing costs] worse because the people who would move into it are likely to be wealthy newcomers whose demand for services will increase low-income employment,…

The affordable housing requirements to qualify for the streamlined process should mitigate this effect, to the extent that it's real in the first place.

Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#52

Post by brc »

s3r3nity wrote: post #38

This is one of the top factors preventing me from moving back to the Bay Area. It's good to know there's at least SOME serious attempt at a solution (even if folks around here are mostly pessimistic.) It still surprises me that an industry that's all about connecting the world through the internet and allowing anyone to work with anyone else on anything says "yeah but you need to work in this small area of the countr…

It's a good theory but I think the investors are pretty straight-up about wanting their companies on a short leash.

The key will be those other cities/hubs having their own successes, bringing in the capital and expertise to nurture new talent. It's likely that the number of successful hubs that can be supported is pretty low. I happen to believe that the amount of (awful word) synergy needed to flip a few percent of startups from fail/borderline to success is pretty high. In other words, all those know-a-guy-who-can-help connections have to have a high concentration before it starts to pay off.

But then mine is just a theory as well and has a high chance of being wrong.

Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#53

Post by jvm »

sytelus wrote: post #13

I highly doubt this bill would pass without severe modifications. The problem is that we have two groups in population: One who own houses and other who don't. First group don't want new houses and dilute value of their property. Politicans very well knows that making this group unhappy will end their careers. The second group is often in minority outside large cities. This is why its very hard to pass laws that woul…

> First group don't want new houses and dilute value of their property

Increasing as-of-right development opportunities can potentially actually increase land values. Definitely bad for condo owners though.

Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#54

Post by woah »

arebop wrote: post #49
honkhonkpants wrote: post #40

When I look at this bill I have to wonder if it will really help. Outside of the city of San Francisco itself, almost nothing is being built, because the construction costs are too high. Not the permitting and planning costs, but the actual guys-with-hammers-and-saws costs. For example in Oakland there are number of properties that are fully entitled to build and have been sitting that way for years. So how does Brow…

If construction costs explain the high price of bay area housing, how is it possible that houses in the midwest are produced at less than 1/5 the price? Are the Kansas guys with hammers really making 1/5 the wages of the California hammer swingers?

Maybe the California hammer swingers have to pay higher rent.

Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#55

Post by kbenson »

s3r3nity wrote: post #38

This is one of the top factors preventing me from moving back to the Bay Area. It's good to know there's at least SOME serious attempt at a solution (even if folks around here are mostly pessimistic.) It still surprises me that an industry that's all about connecting the world through the internet and allowing anyone to work with anyone else on anything says "yeah but you need to work in this small area of the countr…

> The cynic in me likes to think that VC's and other wealthy tech execs are trying to keep housing prices high by artificially creating this in-elasticity

I think the benefits of more people meeting, networking, and starting new things in the area vastly outweighs their interest in their homes. It's not like this really affects the pricing of mansions much anyway, and if they aren't living in a mansion, it's probably such a small amount of their overall wealth that it's inconsequential.

Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#57

Post by iamleppert »

I'm currently renting out my upstairs walk-in closet. I live in Potrero, near 26th & Rhode Island. The closet is pretty big and can easily fit a double bed and dresser. $900 + utilities, but we might be able to work something out.

edit: this is a serious post

Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#58

Post by phamilton »

weisser wrote: post #10

Cannot believe I'm posting here but relevant: I have a room in my house in the Sunset opening next month. $900. It's month-to-month rent. Looking to house a founder/hacker/designer/etc currently struggling with SF rent (or someone who wants to move to SF but didn't think they could afford to live in SF) My email is in my bio.

That's cool and all, but sort of counter to the point being made. Subsidizing housing for those already on top doesn't really help with wealth inequality.

Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#59

Post by sampo »

jvm wrote: post #53
sytelus wrote: post #13

I highly doubt this bill would pass without severe modifications. The problem is that we have two groups in population: One who own houses and other who don't. First group don't want new houses and dilute value of their property. Politicans very well knows that making this group unhappy will end their careers. The second group is often in minority outside large cities. This is why its very hard to pass laws that woul…

> First group don't want new houses and dilute value of their property Increasing as-of-right development opportunities can potentially actually increase land values. Definitely bad for condo owners though.

> Definitely bad for condo owners though.

Why? I would assume, as the area gets denser, more popular, more shops, more restaurants, that also condos go up in price?

Re: Housing in the Bay Area

#60

Post by blantonl »

iamleppert wrote: post #57

I'm currently renting out my upstairs walk-in closet. I live in Potrero, near 26th & Rhode Island. The closet is pretty big and can easily fit a double bed and dresser. $900 + utilities, but we might be able to work something out. edit: this is a serious post

This boggles this mind.

And is unsustainable.

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