Scott Perry on Housing Costs: Government Overreach and Affordability Solutions

The Rising Cost of Housing

• 🏠 Housing costs have "exploded" due to government mandates and regulations, according to Rep. Scott Perry.
• 💡 Perry contrasts his mother's early homeownership experience, which lacked modern amenities like electricity and running water, with today's housing market.

Government Regulation and the International Construction Code

• 📈 The International Construction Code has grown exponentially in size, with additions often driven by lobbying and special interests.
• ⚠️ Mandates like residential sprinklers, while well-intentioned, significantly increase the cost of new home construction.
• 💰 Perry shares a personal anecdote about the estimated cost of a fire suppression system for his own home, highlighting the financial burden of such regulations.

Proposed Solutions and Alternatives

• 💬 Perry criticizes the common governmental approach of either giving money to people to afford housing or banning certain practices.
• 🔑 He suggests exploring alternative models like fractional ownership, where renters can build equity while contributing to home ownership.
• 🚫 Instead of heavy-handed government intervention, Perry advocates for policies that support real estate ownership as a wealth-building tool.
• 📊 He proposes removing tax credits for investors to level the playing field for first-time homebuyers, rather than banning investors altogether.