Free Exchange agrees with Ben Bernanke (and me that stopping the housing bubble was more of regulatory issue than a monetary policy issue.
the Fed didn’t act because there is something institutionally the matter with it, which prevented effective regulatory action. Perhaps the Fed is too independent, and can be directed by its chairman to ignore clear warning signs. Or perhaps it isn’t independent enough, and is led by Congress or Wall Street to keep the party going, despite the risks. Maybe there are intellectual gaps or communication problems.
I added the emphasis, because I think that was the problem. Go back to 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, and ask yourself “What would Barney do?”
Was Barney Frank ever willing to contemplate tighter credit in housing? Even today, what Congress wants are mortgage modification programs and subsidies for home purchase.
Karen Pence, who runs the Federal Reserve’s household and real estate finance research group, argues at the American Economic Association’s meetings this week that homes are actually a terrible investment.
Read the whole thing, which lists the reasons.
Suppose that we got rid of every government policy that promotes home ownership, from the mortgage interest deduction to government school districts. What alternative housing contracts might emerge? I can think of two.
1. Rental agreements with termination bonuses/penalties. As a renter, I get a bonus if I stay for a long time (saving the owner the cost of finding a new tenant) and/or I leave the property in improved condition. If I do the opposite, then I pay a penalty.
2. Franchises with furnished apartments that would allow one to pay rent to a single franchise but live in two or three cities over the course of a year. Different franchises would specialize in different clusters of amenities. One franchise might always offer a large, well-appointed kitchen. Another franchise might always offer a minimal kitchen.
The only people who should own homes are people who are inclined to make expensive, idiosyncratic investments in amenities. If I want to grow exotic plants or maintain large model railroads, then I need my own house. If my hobbies are less unusual or impose fewer requirements on how the property is shaped, then I can find rental units that will be accomodating.
READER COMMENTS
ajb
Jan 5 2010 at 12:07pm
Given the importance of schooling in housing choice, there is another role of housing. It is difficult to create zoning restrictions that discriminate against people with the “wrong” social or economic background. Restricting housing in certain areas to large homes that are more expensive (in multiple ways) to buy than rent helps restrict who will live there. It is a very imperfect mechanism, but I believe it is an important component of much suburban housing.
Ryan Vann
Jan 5 2010 at 12:23pm
As a guy whose significant other is completing an MA and has Phd aspirations (I’ll probably do an MS after she is done), I’d really like to see a business model based on the second idea. We simply move too often to justify owning a place, but the costs of moving are pretty dpressing.
Dan Weber
Jan 5 2010 at 2:47pm
While we shouldn’t overstate the benefits of homeownership, we shouldn’t underestimate them either. A homeowner faces different risks than a renter.
Ak Mike
Jan 5 2010 at 5:14pm
I agree with Dan Weber. The reason for all the governmental advantages of homeownership is that most people want to own their homes, and the politicians are catering to them – before all those advantages were in place, most people who could afford to did purchase.
Owning your home is great for long term stability, and for making changes in the building and grounds as you desire. I think you’ve overshot with your restriction to those wanting “expensive, idiosyncratic” amenities.
Ryan Vann
Jan 5 2010 at 7:33pm
I agree with Dan Weber, but ultimately his criticism is irrelevant. Right now the political policy is essentially that home ownership is always better than renting, and all tax incentives favor ownership. Moving to the opposite direction would help arrive at the middle, balanced, position he would promote. In that regard, highly exaggerated criticism is more effective.
I don’t think that having expensive or idiosyncratic amenities isn’t one of the major reason people tend to want houses over renting, holding tax incentives equal. Of course, there are other reason for ownership too, and I don’t think there is absolutely no financial value in a home.
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