Stossel
Home Sweet Home
S6 E12 Mar 26, 2015 60m TV-PG
GOVERNMENT MORTAGE COMPLEX: Homeownership is "good for the community" because owners care more about schools and maintaining the neighborhood. Unfortunately, our government thinks if something's good, it ought to require it...or at least subsidize it. And so it does. Now the government owns or guarantees 85% of America's mortgages and approves mortgages backed by down payments as low as 3%. America is on the road to another housing bubble, and crash that will follow.
AIRBNB: Lots of people love the new home-sharing companies like Roomarama and Airbnb. Airbnb has more than 6 million users. But whenever there's a new idea, control freaks always say "You've gotta stop that!"
GENTRIFICATION: Liberals object to gentrification, and so many other changes that make life better for the poor.
TINY HOMES: Tiny homes like the ones in Washington DC are illegal if someone tries to move in. (My guest does live in one).
HOMELESSNESS: Homelessness is a big problem, but it's solvable, say politicians. Government will provide affordable housing. And free housing for the truly needy. It's not working.
MY TAKE: Affordable housing is a good thing, but politicians who yammer the most about it are often the ones who do the most to keep us from having it. They pass endless zoning rules, safety rules, and anti-discrimination regulations. That's why housing is expensive. It's not because of greedy landlords or homebuilders. It's because of politicians.
AIRBNB: Lots of people love the new home-sharing companies like Roomarama and Airbnb. Airbnb has more than 6 million users. But whenever there's a new idea, control freaks always say "You've gotta stop that!"
GENTRIFICATION: Liberals object to gentrification, and so many other changes that make life better for the poor.
TINY HOMES: Tiny homes like the ones in Washington DC are illegal if someone tries to move in. (My guest does live in one).
HOMELESSNESS: Homelessness is a big problem, but it's solvable, say politicians. Government will provide affordable housing. And free housing for the truly needy. It's not working.
MY TAKE: Affordable housing is a good thing, but politicians who yammer the most about it are often the ones who do the most to keep us from having it. They pass endless zoning rules, safety rules, and anti-discrimination regulations. That's why housing is expensive. It's not because of greedy landlords or homebuilders. It's because of politicians.
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