London's housing shortage will keep getting worse without massive new private investment, writes @PensionmanUK (via @opinion) https://t.co/rcrIQxkl5D ...

Market Trend & Conversion Overview - Manhattan sees a trend of converting 12.4 million square feet of old offices into housing, equivalent to about four Empire State buildings [2] - New York's office supply has already dropped nearly 2% since 2023, with a potential further decrease of 7% if all proposed projects are realized [3] - This additional 7% represents more than 21 million square feet of office space [4] Location & Driving Factors - Half of the office conversions are happening in Midtown Manhattan [2] - High interest rates and remote work have dragged down Midtown office values, making conversions attractive [2] - Before the pandemic, conversions were primarily downtown due to cheaper buildings and zoning incentives [2] Financials & Incentives - Similar office conversion units in the area project monthly rents ranging from $4,000 for a studio to $20,000 for a 3-bedroom [1] - New York offers tax breaks like 467 million for up to 35 years as incentives for conversions [4] Challenges & Considerations - Building interiors need redesign, including wall removal, window replacement, and plumbing relaying, making conversions complex and costly [5] - Not every building is suitable for conversion into apartments [4]

Funding & Investment - Dwight Securities Management raised funding to originate up to $1 billion in construction loans [1] Market Focus - The funding targets the US housing shortage, which has driven up costs [1]

Group 1 - The current high interest rates are exacerbating housing affordability issues, potentially hindering household formation and wealth accumulation for certain population segments [1] - The housing sector is significantly influenced by monetary policy, with low rates during the pandemic providing crucial support to housing companies [2][3] - Lower borrowing rates for builders are expected to help increase supply, but substantial changes in rates are needed for a significant impact on the housing sector [3] Group 2 - There is a nationwide housing shortage that is not cyclical and cannot be addressed solely by Federal Reserve policies [4] - Forecasting in the current economic climate is particularly challenging, with forecasters expressing uncertainty about their projections [5]

Housing Market & Monetary Policy - Interest rate hikes exacerbate housing affordability issues, potentially hindering household formation and wealth accumulation [1][2] - Lowering interest rates aggressively during the pandemic helped housing companies by providing credit and financing [2] - Rate changes tend to affect mortgage rates, which in turn influence housing demand [2] - Analysts believe significant rate changes are needed to substantially impact the housing sector [3] - Achieving maximum employment and price stability creates a strong economy beneficial for housing [3] Housing Supply & Demand - A nationwide housing shortage exists, particularly around metropolitan areas [4] - Building farther from metropolitan areas increases costs [4] Economic Forecasting - Forecasting is very difficult, especially in uncertain times [5] - Forecasters currently lack great confidence in their projections [5]

Housing Market - Irish universities are facing a severe housing shortage [1] - The housing shortage is impacting Americans studying in Ireland [1]

Welcome back to the exchange. California is one of the most populous and expensive states in the country to live in. It's facing a severe housing shortage.Today in our California economy series, Kate Rogers is back with a look at how the state's construction industry could be impacted to changes in trade and immigration policy. Kate, >> hi John. The construction sector is facing a shortage of workers nationwide.And in California, the industry has one of the highest populations of immigrant workers. Over 60% ...

Canada’s budget watchdog says slower immigration means current homebuilding can ease shortages and lift vacancies https://t.co/pzqfvjWXG7 ...

Housing Market Challenges - Housing market is facing difficulties due to people being locked in their current homes because of high mortgage costs [1] - High interest rates are impacting the housing industry and its customers [2] - There is a national housing shortage [3] Monetary Policy Considerations - The primary goal is to bring inflation down sustainably to 2% and maintain it over a long period [1] - The Federal Reserve's (Fed) tool is for the entire US economy, not just housing [3] - The Fed considers the housing market when addressing interest rates [4] - The Fed focuses on the overall US economy, not any single sector [5] Future Outlook - Normalization in housing is expected as rates come down in the medium term [3]

Group 1 - A crisis in the housing market in Sydney is spreading due to skyrocketing construction costs, leading to hundreds of approved projects being stalled and a surge of unfinished homes entering the market [1][3] - Many homeowners are abandoning their construction or renovation projects, with some homes only partially completed, reflecting the severe impact of rising material prices, labor costs, and the bankruptcy of construction companies [3][5] - Tim Reardon from the Housing Industry Association indicates that many projects approved before the interest rate hikes in 2022 can no longer be delivered within the approved specifications and current costs, resulting in a significant number of stalled projects, particularly in the apartment market [3][5] Group 2 - Reardon notes that developers are choosing to delay or cancel projects before they start, and those that are underway often involve highly customized homes that are now left incomplete, highlighting structural issues within the residential construction industry [5] - The construction commencement rate is expected to remain low for at least the next three years, exacerbating the housing shortage [5] - Unfinished homes are being listed for sale, with examples including properties in Horsley Park and Oyster Bay, indicating a troubling trend in the market [5][8] Group 3 - Scott Cam, a long-time host of a renovation show, points out that homeowners often stop construction due to budget constraints, which is particularly challenging in the current environment of rising material costs [8] - Anne Flaherty from REA Group states that slow price growth in certain areas is contributing to the decline in housing completion rates, with unprecedented construction cost increases since 2021 making some projects unprofitable [8] - The combination of rising construction costs and declining market prices poses significant challenges for the housing market, making it difficult for projects to be profitable [8]