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☆ A policy that's supposed to create more affordable housing often backfires, leaving cities with higher home prices and rents. There's a way to fix that.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A key policy designed to create affordable housing for low-income people has long been scrutinized for being generally ineffective. So a policy designed to create more affordable housing can actually result in fewer homes and higher housing costs. Related storiesPhillips wanted to determine whether there's an optimal inclusionary zoning policy and if not, what the policy's tradeoffs look like. This involves finding a balance between creating more deed-restricted affordable housing and boosting the overall supply of housing. He concluded that the value of the government subsidy for building affordable housing needs to outweigh its costs.

Persons: Shane Phillips, Phillips Organizations: Service, Business, UCLA, UC Berkeley's Terner, Housing Innovation Locations: American, Los Angeles

☆ A millennial who moved from California to Virginia after her monthly rent increased by $1,500 says the reason her generation can't afford to buy homes is because everything is too expensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFor a few years, Nicole was living the California dream. Literally, we can't afford a $1,500 a month increase in rent," Nicole, who works in advocacy, said. Median gross rent in Richmond was $1,192 in 2022, per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, compared to $2,251 in Orange County, California. "Groceries are more expensive, gas is more expensive, rent is more expensive.

Persons: Nicole, hasn't, —, they'd, homebuyers, Noah Sheidlower, she'd, she's, it's, they'll Organizations: Service, Terner Center, Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley, Survey Locations: California, Virginia, San Diego, Orange County, Florida , Arizona, Texas, Florida, Richmond , Virginia, Richmond, Orange County , California

☆ Meet a millennial who moved from California to New Mexico after cycling through 35 roommates and a tiny home in the Bay Area
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

High housing costs in the Bay Area meant a tiny home with mold and a revolving door of roommates. AdvertisementFor Julia, 39, the straw that broke the camel's back was when she found out her tiny house was moldy. During her time in the Golden State, she went through what's come to characterize the millennial housing experience. AdvertisementRight before the pandemic, Julia felt ready to leave the city; she moved into a 250-square-foot tiny house in a former garage outside of San Francisco. "Here we were in a situation where all we could afford was a moldy tiny house that was making us sick.

Persons: Julia, —, it's, She's, we're Organizations: Service, Golden State, Business, millennials, Terner Center, Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley, Survey Locations: California, New Mexico, Bay, Golden, San Francisco, Santa Fe , New Mexico, pricier Santa Fe County

☆ The state that left millennials behind
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Millennials might be stuck California dreaming — and not able to do much more than fantasize. In the Golden State, homeownership is becoming more elusive, especially for millennials. In California, just about 38% of people ages 35 to 45 can say the same. That's not to say that millennials outside California are experiencing completely smooth sailing. A RentCafe analysis found that just over half of millennials now own, not rent.

Persons: Millennials —, That's, millennials, Insider's Kelsey Neubauer, Noah Sheidlower, Texas's Organizations: Golden State, Terner Center, Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley, National Association of Realtors, Survey Locations: California, Golden, it's, New York, Midwest, Texas , Arizona, Florida, Texas

☆ California just legalized affordable housing in church parking lots and coastal cities — and it could help solve the state's crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Many housing advocates are also disappointed that Newsom vetoed a bill — AB 309 — to create "social housing" on government-owned land. Resnikoff, whose organization endorsed the effort, noted that the state's current fiscal conditions make it very hard to pass housing policy that requires funding. Advocates are quick to point out that California housing policy has impacts far beyond its borders. How effectively California deals with its housing affordability issues also directly impacts other states' housing markets. The migration of California residents to places from Texas to Oregon has put additional pressure on those states to provide even more housing.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, —, Ned Resnikoff, Chris Elmendorf, State Sen, Scott Wiener, Elmendorf, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Breed, that's, Resnikoff, Brittany Murray, Newsom, Alex Lee, Lee, Eric Adams Organizations: Service, California, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, State, San Francisco Mayor London, Bloomberg, UC Berkeley's Terner, Housing Innovation, Habitat, Getty, New York City Locations: California, Francisco, San Francisco, Washington, Long, Greater Los Angeles, Vienna, Austria, Singapore, Central, Southeast Asia, New, Texas, Oregon

The legislation would rezone land owned by nonprofit colleges and religious institutions, such as churches, mosques, and synagogues, to allow for affordable housing. An affordable housing project in a San Jose church had to go through a rezoning process that took more than two years before it could break ground in 2021. It would only apply to affordable housing projects, and the law would sunset in 2036. Supporters of the bill said it could help add hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units to the state’s housing stock. Republican lawmakers and Democratic Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil voted against it.

Persons: Democratic Sen, Scott Wiener, Gavin Newsom, Democratic Assemblymember Sharon Quirk, Silva, ”, Newsom, Tony Thurmond, ” Thurmond, Harvey Milk, Susan Talamantes Eggman, Republican Sen, Rosilicie Ochoa, Marie Alvarado, Gil, Ochoa Bogh, Lena Gonzalez, ” Gonzalez, ___ Austin, Austin @sophieadanna Organizations: U.S, Democratic, Democratic Gov, University of California, Terner, Housing Innovation, Temecula Valley Unified, Gov, California Legislative, Caucus, Republican, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, ”, San Jose, Orange County, Berkeley, Southern California, Temecula Valley, San Francisco

☆ YIMBY Movement Is Winning: Build More Houses, Lower Home Prices, Rents
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Eliza Relman | Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The adherents of the "Yes In My Backyard," or YIMBY, movement believe that America's housing crisis comes down to the fundamental tension between supply and demand. Today, nearly 75% of residentially-zoned land in the US is restricted to single-family housing — detached homes designed for one family. Folks are like, 'Oh, we're in a housing crisis for the very first time. Ground zero for the modern YIMBY movement was California, where sky-high home prices forced people to reconsider their attitudes toward development. The city didn't allow new multiunit buildings to be taller or wider than the single-family homes they replaced, making construction less financially attractive to developers.

Persons: Nolan Gray, YIMBYism, Sonja Trauss, Trauss, YIMBYs, NIMBYs, Gray, I'm, —, Bill, They've, Tayfun Coskun, Muhammad Alameldin, Emily Hamilton, We're unwinding, Jenny Schuetz, Greg Gianforte, California YIMBY, Republican Sen, Todd Young, Democratic Sen, Brian Schatz, Eliza Relman, Kelsey Neubauer Organizations: San, San Francisco Bay Area, Urban Institute, Twitter, of Regional Planning, Public, Cato Institute, University of California, Berkeley Terner Center, Housing, George Mason University, Conservative, Brookings Institute, Republican, Todd Young of Indiana, Democratic, Hawaii Locations: California, San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, I'm, Los Angeles County, Florida, Utah, Minneapolis, Oregon, Austin, Dallas, Seattle, Portland , Oregon, Denver, New York, Texas, YIMBYism, We're, Bozeman, Montana, Miami

☆ A California homeowner fixed up her converted garage and rents it on Airbnb. It now pays for her mortgage.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Selma Hepp renovated a converted garage in her Burbank backyard and now rents it on Airbnb. The state has passed a series of laws allowing for, and in some cases helping pay for, ADU construction. Courtesy of Selma HeppEighteen months into the process, Hepp finally had drawings from a different architect. During the course of construction, Hepp started dating someone new, and they ended up buying a home in Mid City, a neighborhood in Central Los Angeles. She also managed to refinance her mortgage a few times over the past several years and pays $2,700 a month, which is now covered by her ADU's rental income.

Persons: Selma Hepp, Hepp's, Hepp, It's Organizations: Service, Terner Center, Housing Innovation, University of California, Construction, Hollywood, Universal, Burbank Studios, Warner Bros . Locations: Burbank, Wall, Silicon, Burbank , California, Croatia, California, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Mid City, Central Los Angeles

☆ California found a way to ignore NIMBYs and build more housing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

California may have found an effective model to build affordable housing more quickly. The law applies to all regions of California that haven't met their housing construction targets, which is almost everywhere in the housing-scarce state. Between 2018 and 2021, 156 projects with more than 18,000 units have been approved or are under review under SB 35. SB 35 projects are also exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act, further speeding up the approval process. "It'll be catastrophic if it's not extended," Ramie Dare, director of real estate at the non-profit affordable housing developer Mercy Housing California, told the researchers.

Persons: —, Bill, haven't, it's, Caleb Roope, Scott Wiener Organizations: UC Berkeley, Service, Terner Center, Housing Innovation, Bay Area, Pacific Companies, Mercy Housing Locations: California, Wall, Silicon, Bay, Los Angeles County, Mercy Housing California

☆ Thinking of building an ADU in your backyard? Here are some pros and cons.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Backyard tiny homes are increasing in popularity, especially in California. If you're considering building a tiny home in your yard, here are some pros and cons to consider. San Jose homeowner and ADU advocate Joyce Higashi rents her backyard home to traveling nurses for $3,000 per month, she previously told Insider. Pro: Tiny homes can allow a child or elderly parent to remain nearbyAn ADU in Seattle. Selma Hepp, chief economist at CoreLogic, previously told Insider she ran into many challenges when building her ADU.

Persons: it's, Glenn Robinson, Robinson, Joyce Higashi, Eugene Chu, Peter Bohler, Cindy Loughridge, Seth Restaino, Redfin, Higashi, Selma Hepp, Abodu, George Beatty, Realtor.com Organizations: Service, National Association of Realtors ., California Housing Works, Pew Research Center, Terner Center, Housing Innovation, University of California, Villa Locations: California, Wall, Silicon, Sonoma ., National Association of Realtors . California, Redwood City , California, Jose, San Diego, Seattle, Bay, Sonoma, Golden, Berkeley, Philadelphia

☆ California could pay homeowners $40,000 to build a tiny home in their backyards. It's 'vital,' for increasing the housing supply in the state, one expert said.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

California set aside $50 million in the state budget for homeowners building backyard homes. The cash plays a "vital," part of the state's ability to increase housing supply, one expert said. The state is short 2 million homes, and many experts think ADUs can ease the issue. Through that previous program, homeowners received grants of up to $40,000 to develop at least one additional housing unit on their property. ADU financing is hard to findNearly 20% of all homes built in California are ADUs, according to data from the state's department of housing.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Muhammad Alameldin, CalHFA, Alameldin Organizations: Service, Gov, University of California, Berkeley Terner Center, Housing Innovation, Los Angeles Times Locations: California, Wall, Silicon

☆ Why the US should be more excited about tiny homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

While there is a lot of interest in tiny homes, it's too early to measure their success. Tiny homes, generally defined as homes under 1,000 square feet — compared with the typical US home size of 2,500 square feet — are a growing market for those seeking affordability, community, and simplicity. Tiny homes — and accessory dwelling units, their slightly larger counterpart — are being eyed as a solution to the country's housing shortage. A tiny home designed and built by Colorado-based tiny home developer, Mitchcraft Tiny Homes. Tiny homes are "a spear point against the armor" to these restrictions, he added.

Persons: Katie Sandoval, Clark, Blue Wells, you've, Skylar Olsen, Zack Giffin, Giffin, Louise Beaumont, Getty, Rebecca Zisser, Muhammad Alameldin, Gavin Newsom, Joyce Higashi, Tiny, Newsom, Alameldin, It's, Barbara Clark, Sandoval Organizations: Service, Consumers, California, University of California, Housing Innovation, state's Department of Housing, Gov, Washington D.C Locations: California backyards, Wall, Silicon, Bay, Blue, South Carolina, New Hampshire, San Diego, Denver, Portland, Cities, Indianapolis, Austin, Colorado, California, ADUs, Jose, While California, —, Washington, Jersey, Sonoma .

☆ Phoenix residents are transforming their homes to save energy and conserve water as climate scientists warn of an ever-worsening crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Aj Latrace | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Its desert climate inspires builders whose designs prioritize conserving both water and energy. A construction worker installing wood-fiber insulation boards over an airtight membrane of the Vali Mews townhouse development in Phoenix. In 2021, of the more than 120,000 Energy Star-certified homes that were built in the US, Arizona built the highest share, 17%, or 20,140 homes. Arizona builders that tout their energy-efficient homes include Fulton Homes, Maracay Homes, and Meritage Homes. Gerald Leenerts used natural Havelock Wool insulation for his accessory dwelling unit instead of spray foam or fiberglass insulation.

☆ It took a progressive Virginia suburb 8 years to let developers build apartments instead of single-family houses. It shows how hard it is to build middle-class housing in the US.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Arlington, Virginia, is finally set to pass a "missing middle" housing policy after years of debate. Arlington is just the latest community to address missing middle housing as a part of a broader national reckoning. Across the country, critics of increasing housing density in single family neighborhoods are disproportionately older, wealthier, white homeowners. Advocates of missing middle housing say there's a deep generational gap when it comes to housing density. Despite the massive effort it took to come to the verge of passing missing middle housing, Arlington officials predict change will be slow and limited.

☆ Inside California's tiny-home takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

For the state with the most dire housing shortage, the move could be a game changer — eventually. As the US grapples with a massive housing shortage, one possible solution is playing out in California right now — and the state may have struck gold. Oregon, Maine, and Nebraska, as well as cities like Miami, have enacted laws similar to California's. There's been opposition to ADUs from homeowners worried about the density of their neighborhoods and sometimes the aesthetics of the structures. Ultimately, the housing shortage could be alleviated, she said.

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