Housing Policy 2024: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Cities and states are passing lots of productive reforms, local courts are increasingly striking them down, and local governments continue their harassment of homeless shelters.
Cities and states are passing lots of productive reforms, local courts are increasingly striking them down, and local governments continue their harassment of homeless shelters.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac distort the housing market, explains Mike Pence's former chief economist.
To the bewilderment of many, North Carolina's hurricane relief bill includes the nation's strongest property rights protections against new zoning restrictions.
Internal tensions within the movement are real, but far from irreconcilable. Litigation and political reform are mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive pathways to curbing exclusionary zoning.
A new paper by housing expert Salim Furth shows it does so by making it harder for marginal people to find housing with relatives and friends.
Plus: New York City moves forward on zoning reforms, Utah city moves backward on granny flats, and D.C. considers a ban on landlords' pit bull bans.
The Yakama Nation has won a temporary restraining order preventing the City of Toppenish, Washington, from closing its new cold weather shelter.
The final version of New York's "City of Yes" reforms makes modest liberalizing changes to the city's zoning code.
With the help of New York’s environmental review law, local NIMBYs halted an approved housing project, adding to delays and costs in a city facing a housing shortage.
Plus: Democrats' housing-lite postelection recriminations and yet another ballot box defeat for pro–rent control forces in California.
Justice Gorsuch shows more interest in property rights challenges than his colleagues on the Court.
Golden State voters decisively rejected progressive approaches to crime and housing.
As skyrocketing costs and mass exoduses define the Golden State, Democrats face a crucial reckoning.
A related initiative preventing the state's most prolific rent control–supporting nonprofit from funding future initiatives is headed for a narrow victory.
Victory in the fight for cheaper housing, a more liberal land-use regime, and greater property rights won't come from the White House.
In this Texas Law Review article, Josh Braver and I argue that most exclusionary zoning violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
California would benefit from building more housing and having more experimentation with how public services are delivered.
Links to all my writings on these topics.
Plus: Kamala Harris' closing argument, the FTC's harassment of Musk-owned Twitter, and more
Proposition 33 would repeal all of California's state-level limits on rent control. It's passage could prove to be a disaster for housing supply in the Golden State.
The state's powerful coastal land-use regulator is arguing its awesome development-stopping powers applies to rocket launches as well as housing.
Urban renewal efforts should recognize that existing businesses and new residents can coexist.
Advocates unconvincingly argue that repealing California's limits on rent control will open up more housing for people with disabilities.
These policies may sound good on paper—but they would be disastrous in reality.
Despite homelessness being on the rise, local governments keep cracking down on efforts to shelter those without permanent housing.
Instead of focusing on the ways a rollback of zoning laws could lower housing costs for everyone, Vance wants to zealously enforce zoning codes to keep Haitians out of town.
A free market for housing is one that benefits both renters and landlords.
Federal housing officials allege a New Hampshire landlord violated the Fair Housing Act for refusing to show a unit to two women with emotional support dogs.
Plus: Massachusetts NIMBYs get their day in court, Pittsburgh one-step forward, two-steps back approach to zoning reform, and a surprisingly housing-heavy VP debate.
To give storm victims the best chance at recovery, let local knowledge and markets guide decisions.
Harris rightly calls out regulations for causing the housing shortage, but she also supports rent control policies that will make it worse.
Housing is unaffordable because regulations have prevented its commodification.
Both candidates mentioned the importance of new supply to bring down housing costs. But their focus was firmly on their chosen boogeymen.
Plus: the transformation of California's builder's remedy, the zoning reform implications of the Eric Adams indictment, and why the military killed starter home reform in Arizona.
The ruling highlights need for state-level zoning reform and stronger judicial protection of constitutional property rights.
Revised versions of both publications are now up on SSRN.
The New York City Council takes up the mayor's City of Yes for Housing Opportunity reform package the same day Adams is indicted on federal corruption charges.
Javier Milei’s repeal of restrictive rent control laws increased housing supply and stabilized prices.
Economist Jeremy Horpedahl breaks down the economic outlook for Millennials and Gen Z and assesses how the 2024 presidential candidates' policies stack up against reality.
Plus, a look at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Tina Smith's plan to resurrect public housing in America.
It provides an overview of several major issues in land-use policy.
Increasing the supply of housing requires looser rules and fewer bureaucratic delays.
Columnists keep trying to find a coherent philosophy behind Harris' confused and contradictory policy agenda.
Plus: An alleged slumlord gets a "tenant empowerment" grant, Seattle's affordable housing mandates lead to less housing, D.C.'s affordable housing crisis.
Bobby Debelak, new host of this podcast, interviewed me about a variety of topics related to eminent domain and property rights.
New data shows that "housing supply skeptics" can be persuaded by evidence showing that allowing more construction reduces prices. But not clear this is a good road map for addressing the problem of public ignorance in the real world.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has been dogged by accusations that it operates dangerous, dilapidated housing. Now, it'll distribute taxpayer dollars to tenant groups fighting for better living conditions.
Plus: The Montana Supreme Court rescues zoning reform, and a new challenge to inclusionary zoning.
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