Look Who's Against A Free Market In Housing

The Boston Globe reports:

FEW DECISIONS facing the next governor will rival housing policy in their impact, but the importance of housing is surpassed only by its contentiousness. The problem is that four powerful constituencies, each representing a different set of values, face off in the debate over new construction. All four have laudable goals, albeit ones that conflict mightily. The new governor will need to find the way between them.

Homeowners form the largest interest group. For them, unaffordable housing is not a problem; it increases the value of their portfolio. Moreover, since any new development brings some inconvenience, most homeowners prefer new construction in any community but their own. Antigrowth homeowners get ideological cover from environmentalists who do not care if housing is cheap or expensive as long as new homes don't eliminate green space. They don't much like cars, either.

On the opposite side, affordable housing advocates, who represent the poorest, count their victories in the number of inexpensive units brought to market, especially those that are subsidized. These friends of affordability have made a strange alliance with the friends of growth, a group that includes employers, builders, and the occasional cranky economist. The growth crowd wants the state to be able to attract new workers without paying a fortune to compensate them for extravagantly expensive housing.

The coalition for artificially high home prices is driving away people from Massachusetts.Too bad many people don't believe in free markets and property rights.