People are leaving Massachusetts in droves. Who are they?

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by Iced_Coffee

Then what is it?

BGJ posted good links. Investment companies buying SFH homes and other housing. particularly in our urban center, is driving up prices extremely by zapping the availability of owner-occupied housing and creating mini-monopolies.

No one has the guts to do anything about it.

[msRB311]

I would say that is the biggest part of it ^^

Another thing that has been discussed is older people not moving out of their homes/downsizing the way they once did and they're living longer.

Look at the way the seaport has been built up...did that make housing prices go down?! lol

To assume that building more = housing costs will go down is naive. It just means there will be more people holding out their money to buy.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by lrfox

We've had this discussion before, but it obviously doesn't have to be either/or. There's a ton of land across the state that isn't either already someone's front yard, or the rainforest from Fern Gully. Vacant (or nearly vacant) malls/strip malls, old industrial or warehouse areas, entire former military bases and small airfields, etc. all exist in fairly large quantities and are ripe for redevelopment. But a combination of restrictive zoning, fierce opposition, lengthy permitting process, staggering construction costs, etc. all prevent redevelopment of those spaces from happening in meaningful quantities. Weymouth NAS is probably the most glaring example. There's no good reason there should only be a couple of blocks developed at this point, but there are plenty of others.

Naw, the Braintree SSP parking lot is the best example

I've been there 80 times. The parking lot is never fully used because so much of it is far from the entrance to the mall. It was supposed to have 500 apartments near a highway interchange, bus service and not too far from the line. Killed by older people who have their homes already.

That's probably 700 working people gone from the state right there. Don't worry; we have 700 migrants coming to a hotel in Braintree near you to make up for it!

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Another thing that has been discussed is older people not moving out of their homes/downsizing the way they once did and they're living longer.

they can't afford to. There are no affordable downsizable homes left. They get turned into expensive McMansions, or there's nothing on the market they are fighting a young family over.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Naw, the Braintree SSP parking lot is the best example

I've been there 80 times. The parking lot is never fully used because so much of it is far from the entrance to the mall. It was supposed to have 500 apartments near a highway interchange, bus service and not too far from the line. Killed by older people who have their homes already.

That's probably 700 working people gone from the state right there. Don't worry; we have 700 migrants coming to a hotel in Braintree near you to make up for it!

I could care less if they built more housing in the SSP parking lot...but I have seen that lot full on many occasions. That area is already a congestive nightmare as well...but sure... build something there. Aren't they building lab space there or something?

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by msRB311

places like this exist in Braintree:

https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/...X6bjOEMPUStIJ_

why arent they all the rage? Why aren't more people dying to live in a place like this ?

Its a 1 bed 1 bath apartment for 450k?

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

they can't afford to. There are no affordable downsizable homes left. They get turned into expensive McMansions, or there's nothing on the market they are fighting a young family over.

yes that's part of it is that there isn't really anything to downsize too. I also think people's standards have changed. Not everyone wants to head off to an old people's condo...especially if it isn't much cheaper than the home they already live in.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I could care less if they built more housing in the SSP parking lot...but I have seen that lot full on many occasions. That area is already a congestive nightmare as well...but sure... build something there. Aren't they building lab space there or something?

"Always full" huh?

Even the side but the dave and busters further away from 93?

Lets take a quick look...

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2203...8192?entry=ttu

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2188...6656?entry=ttu

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2201...8192?entry=ttu

[msRB311]

I already said i dont really care what happens in the SSP parking lot. You found some pictures on days where the mall wasnt busy, what about the times that it is? This city already has very scarce parking...but whatever. I guess this is where we're at. Next it will be cemeteries?

Even if I agreed with you and said, oh yes, we need more housing, who is going to build it? There is a reason it's not being built and that reason isn't me.

[BruinsGirl]

People often downsize into townhouses or one level condo. With the way condo fees are going up it make sense to stay in houses.