Обсуждение

If we want to make homeownership more attainable in California, we have to start building condos again. Today, we barely do. Here's why that matters — and why I'm working on reforming California's construction defect laws. 🧵

Buffy Wicks

27 июл., 21:15

Condos are one of the most affordable paths into homeownership. They're typically 20–30% less expensive than single-family homes and allow people to own a home close to jobs, transit, and the communities where they already live.

Buffy Wicks

27 июл., 21:15

But over the last two decades, condo construction has fallen off a cliff. When California's current construction defect law took effect in 2003, condos made up about 27% of new housing in major metro areas. Today, it's less than 5%.

Buffy Wicks

27 июл., 21:15

Why? The law was originally intended to encourage builders to fix problems before anyone ended up in court. Instead, over time, it's become a system that often rewards litigation over repair.

Buffy Wicks

27 июл., 21:15

Under today’s system, builders have to pay HOAs and their lawyers for things that “might” cause problems in the future. This flies in the face of every other aspect of law, where plaintiffs can’t get damages unless there is actual damage.

Buffy Wicks

27 июл., 21:15

Additionally, - Claims often lack enough detail to quickly identify and fix problems. - Builders can still be sued even after making repairs. - Homeowners can spend years waiting for litigation instead of getting repairs.

Buffy Wicks

27 июл., 21:15

The result? A complete lose-lose where homeowners don’t get timely fixes for real defects, and because builders lose money on their existing condo projects, they refuse to build new ones.

Buffy Wicks

27 июл., 21:15

That means fewer attainable homeownership opportunities for teachers, nurses, young families, first-time buyers, and older Californians looking to downsize while staying in their communities. www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...

California bureaucracy locks young people out of home ownership. Here’s the fixOPINION: California once built tens of thousands of new condos per year. Today, it builds closer to 3,000. One law is to blame, Oisín Heneghan writes.www.sfchronicle.com

Buffy Wicks

27 июл., 21:15

AB 1903 aims to restore the original balance. The goal is straightforward: ✅ Make it easier to identify legitimate defects ✅ Improve transparency in the claims process ✅ Create a true "right to repair" ✅ Create more certainty so builders are willing to build condos again