#housingaffordability — Public Fediverse posts

Australia’s 30-year housing supercycle was never the market, it was deliberate policy: negative gearing, CGT discounts, rate cuts, and taxpayer stimulus that turned homes into speculative assets and locked an entire generation out.
Now prices are finally falling and the usual suspects are panicking that this time is different. Good. After decades of treating shelter like a casino for landlords and investors, a proper correction is overdue.
Affordability for actual people who need somewhere to live is greater then paper wealth for those who already own.

#HousingCrisis #HousingAffordability #NegativeGearing #Auspol #MakeHousingAffordable

ttps://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/australian-house-prices-could-have-a-long-way-to-fall-this-time-is-different-190000605.html

#WaterlooON - #YesInMyBackyard

"We advocate for greater housing affordability in #Waterloo Region.

Waterloo Region Yes in my Backyard, also known as #WRYIMBY, is a grassroots community group that urges the cities of Waterloo Region to adjust their zoning to allow for more housing, especially #AffordableHousing."

FMI and to get involved:
https://www.wryimby.com/

#SolarPunkSunday #Ontario #HousingForAll #HousingAffordability

Despite barely any population growth, Tasmania doesn't have enough houses
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-19/tas-housing-in-demand-despite-poor-population-growth-your-say/106915546

People need to be stopped from hoarding houses if we're going to increase housing affordability for low-income renters and middle-income people who want to buy a home.
Nobody is saying it.
The article devotes just one sentence to hinting at the problem: "However, that does not take into consideration other factors, such as the number of homes sitting vacant."

Real estate agents are financially motivated by selling more houses to rich people who treat them as collectables that remain unused. Politicians are financially motivated by donations from property developers and wannabe property moguls. Of course these people are saying the solution to the problem is "Increase supply," and increase the offerings for this unhealthy spiral. The solution is to wean rich people off their hoarding-addiction for houses.

#AusPol #TasPol #Housing #HousingAffordability #CostOfLiving #CostOfLivingCrisis

Raleigh’s Next Wave of Development: What RTP 3.0, Downtown South, and the Depot Historic District Could Mean for Affordability in the Triangle

Raleigh is entering another major chapter of growth. Several high-profile development projects are moving forward that could reshape how people live, work, and spend time throughout the Triangle.

Supporters see these projects as investments that will bring new jobs, housing, entertainment, and public spaces. Critics, however, worry that continued redevelopment and rising property values could accelerate gentrification and make Raleigh even less affordable for longtime residents.

Here’s a look at three major projects that could influence the future of Raleigh.

RTP 3.0: Reimagining Research Triangle Park

Research Triangle Park is preparing for its next evolution through a long-term planning initiative known as RTP 3.0.

The initiative is designed to transform the traditional office park into a more connected community by exploring:

• Additional housing options
• Walkable neighborhoods
• Mixed-use development
• Public gathering spaces
• Improved transportation connections

While detailed development plans have not yet been released, RTP leaders say the goal is to create an environment where people can live, work, and socialize without relying entirely on cars.

Residents interested in learning more can attend the RTP 3.0 Lunch & Learn: Reimagine the Park on August 13.

Potential Impact

If successful, RTP 3.0 could diversify housing choices near one of the nation’s largest employment centers. However, increased demand around RTP may also place additional pressure on housing prices throughout Wake and Durham counties if affordability is not prioritized.

Depot Historic District: Blending History with Modern Development

Downtown Raleigh’s historic Depot area is also preparing for significant investment.

Plans include:

• A 170-room boutique hotel
• More than 30,000 square feet of street-level retail
• Outdoor gathering areas
• Public plazas
• Pedestrian-friendly connections between the Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater
• Preservation of the historic 1912 Depot building

Developers say the project will strengthen downtown tourism while preserving an important piece of Raleigh’s history.

Potential Impact

The Depot Historic District could become another destination for visitors and residents alike, increasing foot traffic and economic activity. At the same time, nearby property values and commercial rents could continue to rise, raising concerns for existing small businesses and neighboring communities.

Downtown South Returns

After years of delays, Downtown South is once again moving forward.

The proposed mixed-use development near Dorothea Dix Park would include:

• New residential housing
• Office space
• Retail and restaurants
• Entertainment venues
• Public gathering spaces
• A new soccer stadium associated with the ownership group of the NC Courage

If construction begins, the project would dramatically reshape southern downtown Raleigh and create an entirely new urban district.

Potential Impact

Downtown South has the potential to generate significant economic activity and attract new businesses. However, nearby neighborhoods could also experience increasing housing costs and redevelopment pressures as investment expands beyond downtown.

What Does This Mean for Housing Affordability?

Large mixed-use developments often bring new housing, jobs, and amenities that strengthen a city’s economy. However, without a substantial supply of housing at a range of price points, increased demand can contribute to higher home prices and rents.

Some residents have expressed concern that continued redevelopment in Raleigh is accelerating gentrification and making it more difficult for longtime residents to remain in their neighborhoods. Others argue that adding more housing through projects like these can help accommodate growth over time.

The ultimate impact on affordability will depend on several factors, including:

• The amount and type of housing ultimately built
• Whether affordable housing is included
• Local zoning and land-use policies
• Regional population growth
• Infrastructure and transit investments

As these projects continue to evolve, they are likely to remain central topics in conversations about Raleigh’s future.

The Bottom Line

Raleigh continues to attract new residents, employers, and investment at a rapid pace. Projects like RTP 3.0, the Depot Historic District, and Downtown South represent significant opportunities for economic growth and urban transformation.

At the same time, they raise important questions about affordability, neighborhood preservation, and how the city balances growth with the needs of current residents.

As plans become more detailed, DoRaleigh.com will continue following these developments and what they could mean for the future of the Triangle.

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A rent freeze for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments has been officially approved—a major win for New Yorkers struggling with housing costs. Keeping people in their homes strengthens families and communities. #NYC #HousingAffordability
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Australia’s 178 billionaires are $25.7bn richer than last year as 3.7 million live in poverty

"Oxfam finds the 20 richest Australians now hold more wealth than the bottom 3 million households."

“There is something fundamentally wrong with a system where extreme wealth keeps skyrocketing while so many people are struggling to afford the basics, and governments claim there is not enough money for housing, healthcare, climate action and essential services." >>

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/02/australian-billionaires-richer-than-last-year
#inequality #Australia #SocialCohesion #CostOfLivingPressures #HousingAffordability #housing #healthcare #transport #tax #ClimateFinance #FossilFuels

N.L. has a housing crisis. Does its government have a plan?
#NL #NewfoundlandAndLabrador #Canada #HousingCrisis #HousingAffordability #RentControl #PublicPolicy #Politics #AffordableHousing #HousingPolicy #CostOfLiving #Housing #UrbanHousing #Development
https://the-14.com/n-l-has-a-housing-crisis-does-its-government-have-a-plan/

Our Voice Our Vote Arizona's Storytellers in Policy series covers housing affordability in Tucson and Pima County May 23 from 10 AM to noon, connected to their Rent is Rigged campaign. Virtual and free to attend.

https://www.mobilize.us/ovovaz/event/953637/

Please boost to spread the word.
#Arizona #Tucson #Housing #HousingAffordability #RentIsRigged

They're talking about government-mandated #RentControl. The article doesn't mention it, because #jermalisms, but we have it in #Canberra. My #rent went up $5/week last year; were we still in #Brisbane, we'd be paying exactly twice what we were five years ago.

We don't have a #HousingAffordability problem in #Australia—we have a politician problem. There's simply no political will at state or federal levels to rein landlords in.

#poverty #housing #CostOfLiving #meeja https://social.chinwag.org/@sbs_bot/116242703120447855

What housing crisis? For most, there isn’t one – but look how the other third live
https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-housing-crisis-for-most-there-isn-t-one-but-look-how-the-other-third-live-20251210-p5nmjs.html

This article by Dr Kate Shaw, an urban geographer at the University of Melbourne, correctly identifies the root cause of the housing problem in Australia: people treating land and housing as investment vehicles, and extracting as much financial return from them as possible in rent or at sale. On top of that, governments keep offering tax incentives (such as negative gearing) to investors, which encourages buying and selling churn.

Dr Shaw also demolishes the myth of housing affordability being a problem of supply-shortage. She shows how a simplistic increase in supply will only worsen the problem for people who want to buy a home to live in, and encourage property developers and property speculators to worsen the iniquitous housing market. Dr Shaw writes:

"Here’s the thing: no amount of increase in density or market-rate housing supply will reduce prices. Nor do governments and most Australians want it to. The market will continue to produce housing that generates profit for its developers and owners, and prices will continue to rise. So let’s do away with the conceit that an increase in supply will increase affordability. It will not."

#AusPol #HousingCrisis #NegativeGearing #HousingAffordability #CostOfLivingCrisis

#California Gov #Newsom signs #ScottWiener bill to bulldoze over opposition to expansion of #housing density and residential construction projects along key rail transit corridors.

New #Yimby law "Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act" (#SB79) creates less restrictive state #zoning codes, limits options for those seeking to stall plans, restrict density or halt new housing near transit stations.

Opposition to legislation included exburb #NIMBY #realestate investors who fear #construction of potential seven story condo bldgs near rail transit corridors that would destroy perception of aesthetic quaintness of #suburbs like Burlingame, or Petaluma etc.

Earlier this summer #GovNewsom signed similarly YIMBY-backed #legislation to exempt most urban apartment projects from #CEQA reviews, the state’s signature environmental protection law. “Go YIMBYs,” Newsom said when signing that bill into law.

The state's "housing crisis" conditions in which distinct lack of rental unit availability, and #Prop13 tax measure after effects etc, have all spiked the price of basic housing options, and put vast swaths of not particularly exceptional suburbs amongst the nation's highest priced #realestate markets.

“In California we talk a lot about where we don’t want to build #homes, but rarely do we talk about where we do—until now,” said law sponsoring state senator Wiener in a statement about his fourth in a decade long attempt to get similar laws passed. “SB 79 unwinds decades of overly restrictive policies that have driven housing costs to astronomical levels, forcing millions of people away from #jobs and #transit and into long commutes from the #suburbs or out of the state entirely. It has been a long road to tackling these decades-old problems, but today’s signing marks a new day for #AffordableHousing in California.”

https://calmatters.org/housing/2025/10/newsom-signs-massive-california-housing-overhaul/

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2025/10/10/california-sb79-housing-berkeley-transit-oriented-development

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2025/10/10/sb-79-san-francisco-signed.html

https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-sb-79-map-neighborhoods-address-housing-california-bill-bass-newsom

https://calmatters.org/housing/2025/09/neighborhood-transit-upzoning/ #UpZoning #Development #WeinerWorld #HousingAffordability

I'm spending a lot of time looking at #SanFrancisco's proposed #FamilyZoningPlan. Perhaps that's why reading about Pope Leo XIV's just released Dilexi Te (https://apnews.com/article/vatican-poor-pope-leo-francis-wealth-elite-fb63ece4f0c302c7a321a09da52374ac) brought it to mind.

We have a massive affordable housing problem, with housing unaffordable to most people (based on rent burdens) - and he wrote "“Thus, in a world where the poor are increasingly numerous, we paradoxically see the growth of a wealthy elite, living in a bubble of comfort and luxury, almost in another world compared to ordinary people.”

And I see a zoning plan that allows (incentivizes?) 90' buildings with 4000 sq ft residential units, all less than 9 units so no inclusionary requirement - and hear planning staff talk about how it will help affordability through the inclusionary requirements. Disingenuous is an understatement, but the Planning does answer to #MayorLurie.

Whose brother, a real estate agent for the wealthy, bemoaned a lack of mansions for his clients, living in that bubble.

#housingAffordability

To increase home ownership, we need fewer investors in the housing market.
Oxfam’s new report shows Australia’s tax breaks — the CGT discount, negative gearing — overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy, fueling inequality and reducing first-home buyer opportunities.
If we want more people owning their own homes, not just more people investing in property, these incentives must be wound back.
Let’s have a tax system that works for working people, not just property speculators.

#HousingAffordability #TaxReform #HomeOwnership #Australia #Auspol #HousingCrisis

https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2025/10/to-increase-home-ownership-reduce-the-number-of-investors/

Η επίδραση του αυξανόμενου κόστους κατασκευής, στην προσιτή στέγαση στην ΕΕ

https://substack.com/@apostolosklitsoyiannis/note/c-159709996

#EU #RealEstate #Greece #EuroArea #HousePrices #residential #property #Eurozone #housing #homes #HomePrices #Hellas #HousingAffordability #HousingSupply #ΗousingShortage #HousingCrisis #rents #ΕΕ #Ευρωζώνη #Ελλάδα #ακίνητα #κατοικία #σπίτια #νεόδμητα

Στεγαστική κρίση στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση

Housing Crisis in the European Union

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/353487/housing-crisis-in-the-european-union

#HousingInflation #HousingSupply #HousingShortage #HousingAffordability #HousingBubble #HousingCrisis

#EU #RealEstate #EuroArea #housing #HousePrices #rents #residential #Eurozone #Greece #homes #counterurbanization #ruralization

Will Doig shares that New Rochelle embraces YIMBYism, and is one of the few places in NYC where rents are actually decreasing.

This could be a game changer for the housing crisis! #HousingAffordability #YIMBY

And then again, there's no complex problem (like homelessness) you cannot make worse with simple steps:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/study-says-trumps-proposed-time-limit-for-low-income-housing-most-likely-to-affect-working-families-and-children

#housingAffordability #HousingPolicy #homelessness #PointlessCruelty

Australia keeps propping up house prices with demand-boosting gimmicks, while affordability spirals out of reach. Meanwhile, NZ is showing what real reform looks like—letting the market cool and celebrating falling prices. Maybe it’s time we stopped fearing a crash and started valuing affordability.

#housingaffordability #australianhousing #housingcrisis

https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2025/08/house-price-crashes-should-be-celebrated/

@dyckron
Yes, Australia is likely to follow if Canada tips into recession. Even if we avoid a technical recession, real living standards here are already falling—wages, housing, and services are all under strain.
As for mass immigration, it’s helping headline GDP and supplying cheap labour, but per capita outcomes are going backwards. Without matching investment in infrastructure, housing, and wages, the policy is becoming economically and socially unsustainable.

#auspol #ausrecession #immigrationpolicy #costoflivingcrisis #housingaffordability #gdppercapita #canadarecession #massimmigration