patrick.net

The solution is simple: BUILD MORE HOUSING WHERE THE JOBS ARE

A lot more.

It makes perfect sense until you realize that property tax payers are opposed to exactly what you describe as the solution

Sure, there is a kind of informal conspiracy of current owners against allowing new owners in. That's what we need to overcome.

ThreeBays says

If California phased out Prop 13 and taxes were marked to market it would put a lot of existing homes on the market

I (and perhaps many other home owners) would personally lead a revolution if that were to happen :-) my long term financial plan counts on the fact that Prob 13 will stay. Property tax revenue that cities collect has been skyrocketing anyway. By the way does anyone know income distribution in bay area. If 110K is middle class with 54% of the population what is the distribution for rich, poor, ultra rich, etc?

Yup. I figure prop 13 savings pays homeowner's dues and insurance on my rat shacks plus some.

I revel in contemplating the Caligulan splendor I could live in if I sold and moved away from the Bay Area to the primitive, unfashionable, uncivilized, ash covered, humid, snowy, barbaric, but cheap, hinterlands and armpits of America.

Maybe even buy a town or hamlet and have gratuitous ass kissing 24/24 from the vassals.

Paging RandyH... Froth finding mission.

alpo says

By the way does anyone know income distribution in bay area. If 110K is middle class with 54% of the population what is the distribution for rich, poor, ultra rich, etc?

city-data has some income info, although it's by city, not county:
http://www.city-data.com/income/income-San-Jose-California.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/San-Jose-California.html

SJ median is about 101k