patrick.net

Wow. They're all about lending money, helping landlords sell to other landlords, or weird Eurocrap Communal Living.

What I want to see is "Ha! Our proprietary legal trick to build UP despite Landlord Oligarch density laws!"

Seriously, the startups aren't about actually creating new housing.

TwoScoopsMcGee says

Wow. They're all about lending money, helping landlords sell to other landlords, or weird Eurocrap Communal Living.

What I want to see is "Ha! Our proprietary legal trick to build UP despite Landlord Oligarch density laws!"

Seriously, the startups aren't about actually creating new housing.

Making it easier for one person to buy a home only makes it harder for someone else to buy that home.
The only way to help everyone buy a home is to build more homes. There are lots of home builders only too eager to build homes. Just allow them to build.

TwoScoopsMcGee says

Seriously, the startups aren't about actually creating new housing.

The article does state:
Some are launching startups focused on creating new housing units.

Starcity is creating new housing by buying and renovating abandoned buildings and converting them into long-term rental units.The San Francisco-based startup buys defunct hotels, vacant commercial buildings and other unused properties, renovates them, obtains the proper city permits, and turns them into community housing, where residents have their own rooms but share common spaces. So far, the company has moved renters into two buildings in San Francisco and has another six under construction, including one expected to open in Oakland early next year.

Granted, razing those places and building high rises instead would be way better, but unless someone gives them a bunch of money, I don't see that happening.

zzyzzx says

unless someone gives them a bunch of money, I don't see that happening.

That's what SV giants should be doing IMO.