Category: Affordable Housing

Middle Class Struggling to Afford Housing Amid Surging Prices and Inflation

As the affordable housing crisis deepens, it’s now threatening the ability of middle class Americans to keep a roof over their families’ heads. Home and rental prices continue to surge nationwide and 49 percent of Americans consider housing costs a significant problem in their area, according to a Pew research study. Roughly seven out of 10 Americans…


Mortgage Applications Drop Amid High Interest Rates and Affordability Concerns

Mortgage applications in the week ending May 27 declined to their lowest level in more than three years, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, fell by 2.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the May 27 week compared to the week prior,…


Laguna Hills Opposes California Bill Forcing Cities to Build More Housing in Commercial Zones

The Laguna Hills City Council unanimously voted on May 24 to oppose California’s Assembly Bill 2011, which would allow affordable housing units to be built on properties zoned for office, retail, or parking use. The bill, introduced by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks in February, would require the city to approve affordable housing projects regardless of inconsistencies…


Out of State Buyers Fuel Surge in Housing Costs, Shortages in Tennessee

Housing woes continue to plague American homebuyers this year after purchase prices and rents hit unprecedented levels in 2021. Meanwhile, locals in Tennessee have found themselves between a rock and a hard place due to inflated prices resulting from people moving in from other states. Many out-of-state buyers arrive from areas with more expensive housing markets…


California Looks to Turn Some Golf Courses Into Affordable Housing Sites

Some California publicly-owned golf courses may soon be turned into affordable housing sites under a proposed state assembly bill. Assembly Bill 1910—proposed by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) in February—passed in the Assembly Local Government Committee on April 28 after a 5–2 vote. “Dense urban communities like mine have very few feasible spaces left to…


Laguna Beach Looks to Use Short-Term Rental Tax for Affordable Housing

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.—The City of Laguna Beach is considering using some of the city’s tax revenue from short-term rental operations to create more affordable housing. City councilors unanimously agreed at the April 26 council meeting to continue exploring the idea of reallocating 12 percent of the city’s Transient Occupancy Tax collected from short-term rental units…


Laguna Hills Sued for Failure to Meet State Housing Element Deadline

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif.—A nonprofit housing group sponsored by the California Association of Realtors filed lawsuits against the City of Laguna Hills and five other Southern California cities that failed to meet state housing planning requirements. Californians for Homeownership, a nonprofit organization calling for public interest groups to “fight local anti-housing policies,” according to its website….


Why People Are Moving out of California | Wendell Cox

Over the past several years, California’s population growth has been slowing down. And for the first time in the history of our state, California lost a congressional seat. My guest is Wendell Cox, an urban policy analyst. He explains why Californians are leaving the state.   Follow Epoch TV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV…


Inclusionary Housing Policy a ‘California Fairy Tale’: Newport

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—Newport Beach failed to move forward with its plan to create a citywide inclusionary housing ordinance because the number of units required by the state is too “mind-boggling” to be practical for the city. Inclusionary housing is a type of housing program that requires developers to make a certain portion of units within…


Can California Become Affordable? | Dr. Arthur B. Laffer

The cost of living in California is about 50 percent more than the national average, and it’s still going up. My guest is Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, a world-renowned economist who also served as a member of President Ronald Reagan’s advisory board. He explains why the cost of living is so high and how we…