Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What we need are more 3-4 bedroom apartments and condos, but zoning requirements make build them hard. They typically need to be larger buildings with long main hallways with a set of stairs on either end for fire safety. Instead we get lots of luxury 2 bedroom units since they are easy to build and accommodate in a structure.

Part of this is that many families with children don't want to live in apartments. People want a house with a yard for their kids to play in and it is also more profitable to rent out smaller units. https://www.westgaterents.com/apartments/va/manassas/floor-plans#/
Look at these apartments in Manassas for example. The monthly rent per sq. ft is the highest for a loft ($3.73 per sq. ft) and the lowest for a 3 bedroom (2.38 per sq. ft). There is clearly less demand for 3bd+ apartment units because families with children are less interested in them and most people prefer not to have roommates. If 3bd+ apartments were truly in high demand landlords would be able rent them for more money. Stair reform is not necessarily a bad idea (for buildings 5 stories or less), but I think this would predominately result in more 1 to 2 bd units.

Booo friggin hooooooo. You realize how many billions of people with families live in apartments their entire lives? Once again, stupid entitlement mentality.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

They make a good income but they cannot afford a $500K house. They probably don't have much of a downpayment or savings and if they have child care that would not work. Maybe $350K.

But most people don't expect to buy a house their first year of working, either.

Anonymous wrote:

reggie14 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

You're not buying a 500k house on a 130k income if you have kids. And certainly not if you're still paying off your student loans. You can't be that dense.

Who says the cop with 2 years
Of experience had kids?? They don’t even need a college degree so why would you assume they have college debt?

Go to Montgomery college, become a cop, work 10 years and you’ll
Be 32. If your spouse has an identical job you could be making 160k with zero debt and solid benefits. If you can’t afford a 500k house with a kid or two in public school you’re a moron. That’s not societies fault, it’s yours.

I take it you haven't looked at daycare prices in a couple decades.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

I am fine with rental breaks and house buying incentives (subsidized) for providers. No need to create housing, just give them a subsidy, tax break, mortgage boost or what not for regular rate housing. They make great neighbors anywhere. And then we can stop complaining they cant afford to live where they work.

I understand this, but remember that drives up either the cost of market rate housing, or the tax bill of everyone else, which makes them less able to afford housing. It is an unending cycle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

I am fine with rental breaks and house buying incentives (subsidized) for providers. No need to create housing, just give them a subsidy, tax break, mortgage boost or what not for regular rate housing. They make great neighbors anywhere. And then we can stop complaining they cant afford to live where they work.

+1. Everyone always brings up police officers, firefighters, and teachers. If there are certain professions where we've determined that they add value to neighborhoods, just give them appropriate incentives to buy housing. Could also help with the shortages in those professions. Seems like we keep having "affordable housing" as a goal, and we always bring up these professions, but is it reaching those people? We single out certain types of jobs in other areas (like public interest forgiveness for student loans), so it's not unprecedented to do something like this.

Or, we could enable the housing supply to increase to meet demand, so that everyone is able to afford housing, not just certain people deemed worthy of receiving public subsidies so they can afford housing they would otherwise be unable to afford.

There already is enough supply. That’s the point. It’s just that people entitled to own a 4 bedroom home with a garage in an expensive area of the country. They feel like they’re above living in a 2-3 BR apartment, which there are plenty of available. Or they are too picky with location.

It's the "Everybody wants to live in Bethesda" argument again. I don't know where some people get the idea that everyone wants to live in Bethesda. Also the housing shortage is not caused by everybody wanting to live in Bethesda.

Because the council is dead aim at Bethesda with their idiotic zoning policies. Oh, and they hate wealthy people who fund the county/schools.

reggie14 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

You're not buying a 500k house on a 130k income if you have kids. And certainly not if you're still paying off your student loans. You can't be that dense.

Who says the cop with 2 years
Of experience had kids?? They don’t even need a college degree so why would you assume they have college debt?

Go to Montgomery college, become a cop, work 10 years and you’ll
Be 32. If your spouse has an identical job you could be making 160k with zero debt and solid benefits. If you can’t afford a 500k house with a kid or two in public school you’re a moron. That’s not societies fault, it’s yours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

I am fine with rental breaks and house buying incentives (subsidized) for providers. No need to create housing, just give them a subsidy, tax break, mortgage boost or what not for regular rate housing. They make great neighbors anywhere. And then we can stop complaining they cant afford to live where they work.

+1. Everyone always brings up police officers, firefighters, and teachers. If there are certain professions where we've determined that they add value to neighborhoods, just give them appropriate incentives to buy housing. Could also help with the shortages in those professions. Seems like we keep having "affordable housing" as a goal, and we always bring up these professions, but is it reaching those people? We single out certain types of jobs in other areas (like public interest forgiveness for student loans), so it's not unprecedented to do something like this.

Or, we could enable the housing supply to increase to meet demand, so that everyone is able to afford housing, not just certain people deemed worthy of receiving public subsidies so they can afford housing they would otherwise be unable to afford.

If the point is everyone, why do those arguing for rezoning for those x-plexes, etc., regularly bring up teachers, police officers and firefighters? If the point is teachers, police officers, firefighters, et al., why not have solutions targeted for those public service workers?

Because a methodical and targeted approach opposes their kumbaya fantasy world where we all live in Denmark. I mean, sure, they use racism as some tool to their advantage, but the truth is they just want to ride expensive bikes to local coffee shops and talk about how awful the OTHER affluent white people are as they gentrify entire parts of cities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

I am fine with rental breaks and house buying incentives (subsidized) for providers. No need to create housing, just give them a subsidy, tax break, mortgage boost or what not for regular rate housing. They make great neighbors anywhere. And then we can stop complaining they cant afford to live where they work.

+1. Everyone always brings up police officers, firefighters, and teachers. If there are certain professions where we've determined that they add value to neighborhoods, just give them appropriate incentives to buy housing. Could also help with the shortages in those professions. Seems like we keep having "affordable housing" as a goal, and we always bring up these professions, but is it reaching those people? We single out certain types of jobs in other areas (like public interest forgiveness for student loans), so it's not unprecedented to do something like this.

Or, we could enable the housing supply to increase to meet demand, so that everyone is able to afford housing, not just certain people deemed worthy of receiving public subsidies so they can afford housing they would otherwise be unable to afford.

If the point is everyone, why do those arguing for rezoning for those x-plexes, etc., regularly bring up teachers, police officers and firefighters? If the point is teachers, police officers, firefighters, et al., why not have solutions targeted for those public service workers?

Anonymous wrote:Single family housing has been the path to financial stability for decades. It’s how the middle class has built wealth. It’s always odd when people throw out words like “racism” when the policies they support will actually just keep people entrenched in poverty. Great for developers, bad for everyone else.

Yeah, I know. Lower rents in job-rich areas are just horrible for wealth generation. Our political leaders should be listening to you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No housing shortage, just a bunch of woke idiots trying to get zoning changes to get rid of single family homes in favor of multi-family units. Take your socialism somewhere else.

Troll on, but single family zoning is 1) rooted in racism 2) financially unsustainable and 3) investors should be allowed to build multi unit properties on their lots if they choose. Stop interfering with the housing market.

Single family housing has been the path to financial stability for decades. It’s how the middle class has built wealth. It’s always odd when people throw out words like “racism” when the policies they support will actually just keep people entrenched in poverty. Great for developers, bad for everyone else.

Anonymous wrote:No housing shortage, just a bunch of woke idiots trying to get zoning changes to get rid of single family homes in favor of multi-family units. Take your socialism somewhere else.

Troll on, but single family zoning is 1) rooted in racism 2) financially unsustainable and 3) investors should be allowed to build multi unit properties on their lots if they choose. Stop interfering with the housing market.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

You're not buying a 500k house on a 130k income if you have kids. And certainly not if you're still paying off your student loans. You can't be that dense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

I am fine with rental breaks and house buying incentives (subsidized) for providers. No need to create housing, just give them a subsidy, tax break, mortgage boost or what not for regular rate housing. They make great neighbors anywhere. And then we can stop complaining they cant afford to live where they work.

+1. Everyone always brings up police officers, firefighters, and teachers. If there are certain professions where we've determined that they add value to neighborhoods, just give them appropriate incentives to buy housing. Could also help with the shortages in those professions. Seems like we keep having "affordable housing" as a goal, and we always bring up these professions, but is it reaching those people? We single out certain types of jobs in other areas (like public interest forgiveness for student loans), so it's not unprecedented to do something like this.

Or, we could enable the housing supply to increase to meet demand, so that everyone is able to afford housing, not just certain people deemed worthy of receiving public subsidies so they can afford housing they would otherwise be unable to afford.

There already is enough supply. That’s the point. It’s just that people entitled to own a 4 bedroom home with a garage in an expensive area of the country. They feel like they’re above living in a 2-3 BR apartment, which there are plenty of available. Or they are too picky with location.

It's the "Everybody wants to live in Bethesda" argument again. I don't know where some people get the idea that everyone wants to live in Bethesda. Also the housing shortage is not caused by everybody wanting to live in Bethesda.

OK cool. There are plenty of affordable apartments in SE DC, PG County, Prince William county, and Gaithersburg. Problem solved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people not understand there’s a shit ton of cheap housing in this area? PG, most of Silver Spring (it’s a massive area), Gaithersburg, etc? No one needs to move to Iowa. You just maybe can’t afford to live in Bethesda. Neither can I.

Define "cheap".

I don't understand why people believe this is a "Evearyone wants to live in Bethesda!!!!!!11111" problem.

The median Montgomery household ($125,000) can barely afford a townhouse in Clarksburg($500,000ish).

Denying the housing crisis is the new denying the crime crisis.

Which is why it’s a GOOD thing that developers are focusing on building more apartments and condos that the middle class can actually afford. Not everyone can afford or should be trying to buy a house. I’m sorry but it’s true.

Real middle class cannot afford $500K.

Real middle class in metro DC can. Two government workers are easily making 150-250k.

Two police officers making 160k combined can afford a 500k house. It may be tight but they can easily do it.

You're describing the upper range of government pay, not purely middle class. And certainly not young-family middle class.

No I’m not. Per MCPD(below). Two first year officers are making 130k+. That’s solid middle class and can afford a 500k home. Stop complaining about nothing.


Starting Salary for police officer candidates is $64,556 a year. Starting salaries based on police or military police experience:
$66,818 – 1 year experience
$69,156– 2 years experience
$71,576 – 3 years experience
$74,081– 4 years experience
$76,678 – 5 years experience

I am fine with rental breaks and house buying incentives (subsidized) for providers. No need to create housing, just give them a subsidy, tax break, mortgage boost or what not for regular rate housing. They make great neighbors anywhere. And then we can stop complaining they cant afford to live where they work.

+1. Everyone always brings up police officers, firefighters, and teachers. If there are certain professions where we've determined that they add value to neighborhoods, just give them appropriate incentives to buy housing. Could also help with the shortages in those professions. Seems like we keep having "affordable housing" as a goal, and we always bring up these professions, but is it reaching those people? We single out certain types of jobs in other areas (like public interest forgiveness for student loans), so it's not unprecedented to do something like this.

Or, we could enable the housing supply to increase to meet demand, so that everyone is able to afford housing, not just certain people deemed worthy of receiving public subsidies so they can afford housing they would otherwise be unable to afford.

There already is enough supply. That’s the point. It’s just that people entitled to own a 4 bedroom home with a garage in an expensive area of the country. They feel like they’re above living in a 2-3 BR apartment, which there are plenty of available. Or they are too picky with location.

It's the "Everybody wants to live in Bethesda" argument again. I don't know where some people get the idea that everyone wants to live in Bethesda. Also the housing shortage is not caused by everybody wanting to live in Bethesda.

he economic incentives for cost-effective operations and long-term maintenance are also bad for owner-occupied condo/apartment communities. People have minimal incentive to properly maintain their condo buildings when and there tend to be a lot of expensive amenities that most people do not use. Builders include expensive amenities because they help sell units, but this is an overall net-negative for most owners. However, there is always a Karen who is consistently involved with HOA meetings (who uses the expensive amenities daily) and votes against any cost-saving measures. The buildings eventually become blighted property and become a drain on the community. It becomes nearly impossible to demolish the building because it is exceedingly unlikely that a super majority of owners will vote to tear it down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NRFmaVHJxM