blog post Multi-unit Housing Is Becoming More Common, but Has Low Homeownership Rates By Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee Aug 10, 2023 Since 2010, almost half of new housing units built in California have been in multi-unit buildings, a larger share than in previous years. Compared with single-family homes, residences in multi-unit housing are more likely to be rentals and tend not to draw families.
blog post Shrinking Household Size Strains California’s Housing Market By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune Nov 17, 2022 Changing demographic patterns during the pandemic—with Californians “spreading out” across more housing units—has boosted housing demand, while the pace of new construction has not kept up with the number of new households.
Report California’s Housing Element Law: The Issue of Local Noncompliance By Paul Lewis Feb 10, 2003 This report examines which types of California cities tend to be out of compliance with the state's housing element law. It also tests whether that noncompliance can be linked to lower levels of new housing production. Although the results indicate that noncompliant cities tend to match a particular profile, the report finds no strong connection between noncompliance and the underproduction of new housing-even of multifamily housing, which tends to be more affordable than single-family homes. After reviewing the experiences of other states with similar approaches, the author concludes that the time is ripe for policymakers and affected interest groups to seek a more workable, transparent, and straightforward housing policy.
press release Parched Future? California’s Population Growth A Challenge For Water Supply — But Variety Of New Options Could Keep State Afloat Jul 27, 2005
Report Cities Under Pressure: Local Growth Controls and Residential Development Policy By Paul Lewis, Max Neiman Jan 1, 2002 Some critics have argued that local growth controls are a major cause of the state’s housing shortfalls and affordability problems. In Cities Under Pressure: Local Growth Controls and Residential Development Policy, Paul Lewis and Max Neiman probe this argument by examining the residential development policies of California’s cities. Focusing on local efforts to control the amount, type, and location of new housing, the authors use a variety of data sources--including a detailed survey of almost 300 city planning officials in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Central Valley--to investigate which communities adopt growth controls and why. Their findings indicate that most growth management policies are understandable responses to the cross-pressures experienced by city officials.
blog post Interactive: Will Housing Costs Drive Californians Away? By Alyssa Dykman, Sergio Sanchez, Vicki Hsieh Apr 23, 2019 Many Californians are seriously considering moving due to high housing costs. This interactive shows how the interest in moving varies by region, race/ethnicity, household income, and other factors.
blog post The Decline of the Homeowner By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Aug 19, 2014 Never before has the state seen such dramatic declines in the number of owner-occupied houses.
blog post Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In? By Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee Feb 7, 2024 The primary driver of California's population loss over the past few years has been residents moving to other states. We examine the latest demographic data for those moving out of and into our state and discuss factors that underlie these decisions.
blog post California’s Renters By Eric McGhee, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson Feb 27, 2024 California's housing shortage puts particular financial pressure on renters, who account for more than four in ten of the state's households. What do we know about California's renters and how they are faring in the current housing market?
blog post California’s High Housing Costs Have Created a Million “House Rich” Millionaires By Hans Johnson Jul 21, 2022 Rising home prices have led to unprecedented levels of wealth among homeowners, with an estimated 1.2 million households now home-equity millionaires. Who are these house-rich Californians?
