Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

California's housing crisis stems from a severe supply shortage, worsened by restrictive zoning and costly building codes. Proposed laws limiting investor ownership of single-family homes, aimed at improving affordability, would likely reduce rental supply and worsen the problem. Investors own less than 1% of such homes, and the real issue is the state's failure to…

California is set to enact Assembly Bill 609, exempting certain infill housing projects from CEQA review to speed up urban housing development while maintaining environmental protections. The law targets code-compliant projects in developed areas, aiming to reduce costly delays and litigation that have hindered housing supply. It includes fair labor wage provisions and aligns with…

The Bay Area housing market is cooling, with home sales down 8.2% year-over-year and prices declining in most counties. Inventory has risen nearly 50%, increasing buyer options and negotiation power. Median days on market have also increased, signaling a shift from a seller's to a buyer's market. Economic uncertainty, high mortgage rates, and tech sector…

California's Senate Appropriations Committee advanced SB 79, aiming to legalize multi-family housing near major transit stops and allow transit agencies to build housing on their land. The bill targets restrictive zoning, permits buildings up to seven stories near transit, and supports transit-oriented development to address housing shortages, reduce costs, lower emissions, and stabilize transit funding.…