# We should have housing policies like Tokyo **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 7, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-have-housing-policies-like-tokyo/838291 "2019-08-07T14:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-have-housing-policies-like-tokyo/838291/201 "2019-08-29T11:15:35Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But of course supply and demand doesnt apply to something like housing Holy shit this is pure comedy. I suppose the new construction that makes 4k new units available in SF was all just for fun and entertainment. The developers built there because it was closer to Mom or something. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-have-housing-policies-like-tokyo/838291/202 "2019-08-29T11:17:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Really in the SF metro area there is lots of vacant land that isnt parks or greenbelt? You even quoted the word “up” there. Build up. And they keep building up in SF, hence the new units in new construction each year. So clearly there is room. Unless you think they juust team out . . . yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-have-housing-policies-like-tokyo/838291/203 "2019-08-29T12:12:42Z")
It’s pretty clear here that there is, as someone put it earlier, a fundamental economic illiteracy in parts of California. Large parts of the Bay Area think that one can have a densely populated area that does not have dense housing, and simultaneously have no shortage of housing and prices that are a good deal for consumers. It’s totally bonkers. Sadly, the legal weed fails to explain this disconnect from reality, as the housing fantasy predates those laws. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-have-housing-policies-like-tokyo/838291/204 "2019-09-01T02:09:32Z")
I’m okay with astronomical housing prices. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2019, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-have-housing-policies-like-tokyo/838291/205 "2019-09-01T12:19:15Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > I’m okay with astronomical housing prices. Don’t we know it. But many of the people who purport otherwise nonetheless support policies that lead to astronomical housing prices. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-have-housing-policies-like-tokyo/838291/206 "2019-09-05T22:05:37Z")
The problem is that Americans view their houses as an investment. They are happy with rising prices because their net worth increases and who cares if younger generations can’t buy a house. As such they support politicians who will keep the prices rising. This leads to housing prices that rise faster than inflation, making it harder and harder for the poor to afford one. People (generally liberals) support rent control because it achieves three goals: - Keeps housing prices rising, protecting those investments. - Appears to help the poor. - Sticks it to those greedy landlords. We need to change American perspective on houses-as-investments. Yeah, I know, good luck with that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-have-housing-policies-like-tokyo/838291.md?page=10)