I don’t disagree with the zoning and permitting process needing reforms, but I have a tough time believing that it’s responsible for more than 10-20% of the price. Have you read any analysis anywhere to suggest otherwise?
> Houses literally have had appliances and HVAC systems for a hundred years, and largely modern ones for at least half that long
Just so we’re on the same page 100 years ago is 1923.
The first AC unit was installed in 1914. The first room AC was in 1931 for the “affordable” price of $10k-50k. There was not mass adoption of HVAC systems until much much later and homes weren’t design for central air until like the 50s or maybe even after that.
Same goes for fridges and washing machines. 1950s was when that stuff became a bit more common place. But the first fridges started trickling out in 1913. Freon came in the 1920s and fridges became more common place by the 1930s. Freezers came later in the 1940s but before that it was ice boxes if you were on the wealthier side. Same goes for dishwashers and laundry. It hasn’t been a hundred years yet and those innovations really became commonplace only after WWII because America became super wealthy (only major power not massively impacted by WWII) and was heavily industrialized for the war effort and those factories and manufacturing expertise could be repurposed for non war production making goods like this cheap.
> I don’t disagree with the zoning and permitting process needing reforms, but I have a tough time believing that it’s responsible for more than 10-20% of the price. Have you read any analysis anywhere to suggest otherwise?
Not really, but 10-20% of the price is not small.
> The first AC unit was installed in 1914. The first room AC was in 1931 for the “affordable” price of $10k-50k. There was not mass adoption of HVAC systems until much much later and homes weren’t design for central air until like the 50s or maybe even after that.
The air conditioning part of HVAC isn't a necessary part of housing construction even today. There are plenty of new homes sold in the colder parts of the country without central air.
Some kind of furnace or heating stove has been a common part of home construction since long before 1923.
> Freon came in the 1920s and fridges became more common place by the 1930s.
Does it really matter if it was 1923 or 1933 if the rise in construction costs wasn't until decades later than either of them?
> Houses literally have had appliances and HVAC systems for a hundred years, and largely modern ones for at least half that long
Just so we’re on the same page 100 years ago is 1923.
The first AC unit was installed in 1914. The first room AC was in 1931 for the “affordable” price of $10k-50k. There was not mass adoption of HVAC systems until much much later and homes weren’t design for central air until like the 50s or maybe even after that.
Same goes for fridges and washing machines. 1950s was when that stuff became a bit more common place. But the first fridges started trickling out in 1913. Freon came in the 1920s and fridges became more common place by the 1930s. Freezers came later in the 1940s but before that it was ice boxes if you were on the wealthier side. Same goes for dishwashers and laundry. It hasn’t been a hundred years yet and those innovations really became commonplace only after WWII because America became super wealthy (only major power not massively impacted by WWII) and was heavily industrialized for the war effort and those factories and manufacturing expertise could be repurposed for non war production making goods like this cheap.