• OneWomanCreamTeam@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    8
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    10 months ago

    Space isn’t the issue here. We have more empty homes than we have homeless people.

    Prices aren’t astronomical because we’re running out of space.

    • htrayl@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      10 months ago

      They are astronomical because we build too large. That accounts for the vast majority of home ownership cost increases. The average home size is up 230%+ from the 70s, or 300% per person.

      This makes up the vast majority of the difference in prices seen since that time.

      Other direct causes are that we add two or three car garages (30k+) and increased home construction standards ( which add cost up front but often save money long term).

      When looking at a price per area, the price is almost static (after accounting for inflation).