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Perhaps LA should loosen / update some of those zoning laws to allow for more mid and high density constructions in the sprawling suburban single family neighbhorhoods. This is probably the single most effective way to increase housing supply, lower prices, and also create higher density to support things like higher forms of transit.
And to be frank, Toronto has the same zoning issues, in that city council often lacks the will the update outdated zoning laws, which basically result in large SFH neighbhorhoods with low population density (e.g. Rosedale, Summerhill, etc.) occupying prime land literally couple of streets beside downtown.
Probably because of earthquakes and blocking the mountains and Hollywood signs is reason for low and mid density in Los Angeles.
Where in Toronto it is low and high density and no mid density. Lots of high rise apartments next to low density housing.
And US culture of white people moving to the suburbs and non whites moving to the city. And only a handful of hipster moving to the city. Where in Canada white people moving to the city and non whites moving to the suburbs at least in Canada major cities.
Houses have basements but it’s not because of permafrost, as there are actually few significant inhabited places that are in the permafrost area. Perma stands for permanent, the ground is certainly not frozen permanently where Canadians live.
So the reason for basements is the because it gets really cold in Canada? Having a basement will just increase housing cost.
So the reason for basements is the because it gets really cold in Canada? Having a basement will just increase housing cost.
No, that's not the only reason why. The basement is the foundation of the house. If a building's foundation moves up and down as the seasons change it will eventually crumble. To avoid movement, the foundation must be built below the frost line, which lies much deeper in colder climates than in warmer climates. This helps to bring down the housing costs and insurance costs.
Another reason many Canadian houses have basements even in locations where there is no deep frost line is to accomodate the surface water which Canada has more of than any other countries. When there is an extra high seasonal flood or an unexpected freak flood the high ground level flood water has to either bypass the concrete basement walls or else goes into the concrete basement where it can be pumped away by the sump pump which is in the basement floor. The main floor of the house being so much higher up on the foundation above ground level (usually) won't get flooded. Canadian houses built with the main floor right at ground level are all at higher risk of being flooded.
No, that's not the only reason why. The basement is the foundation of the house. If a building's foundation moves up and down as the seasons change it will eventually crumble. To avoid movement, the foundation must be built below the frost line, which lies much deeper in colder climates than in warmer climates. This helps to bring down the housing costs and insurance costs.
Another reason many Canadian houses have basements even in locations where there is no deep frost line is to accomodate the surface water which Canada has more of than any other countries. When there is an extra high seasonal flood or an unexpected freak flood the high ground level flood water has to either bypass the concrete basement walls or else goes into the concrete basement where it can be pumped away by the sump pump which is in the basement floor. The main floor of the house being so much higher up on the foundation above ground level (usually) won't get flooded. Canadian houses built with the main floor right at ground level are all at higher risk of being flooded.
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A deeper basement lowers cost and Canadians live on top of their indoor catch pools?
So the reason for basements is the because it gets really cold in Canada? Having a basement will just increase housing cost.
Zoisite gave you a good explanation but I just want to point out that actual construction cost is a fairly small component of the overall price of a property. In every place in the world where housing is expensive, you mostly pay for the land on which the home was built.
A deeper basement lowers cost and Canadians live on top of their indoor catch pools?
It would have to be a really deep flood that's higher than the top of the basement walls and the main floor level for water to get into the basement. The basement is designed to elevate the house above flood water levels, to hold water out of the basement and for the water to flow around the outside of the house.
If a flood is so high that it surpasses the tops of the basement foundation walls and the basement fills up with water (and if the pump doesn't work) then the homeowners can indulge themselves in Canada's other profitable sideline of breeding and farming exotic mosquitoes and dragonflies in the basement instead of growing pot.
Zoisite gave you a good explanation but I just want to point out that actual construction cost is a fairly small component of the overall price of a property. In every place in the world where housing is expensive, you mostly pay for the land on which the home was built.
Ask any experienced realtor and developer, and they'll agree with this statement. Location, location, location.
The structure can be built, teared down, rebuilt, expanded, renovated, again and again over the decades. A good location is invaluable and the land will always retain its value, regardless of what you build on top of it.
What this trend relates to in our area is; any bedroom community (70kms) of Toronto will have real estate agents phoning and doing door knocks to elicit you,most specifically seniors, listing your home with them to realize an immediate hundreds of thousands gain over your 1970's purchase price.
But that is what I mean? Like the other poster said prices are high every where in Canada.
By US standards and world standards you got Toronto mentro 6 million people, Montreal 4 million, Vancouver 2.4 million, Calgary 1.3 million, Ottawa 1.3 million, Edmonton 1.3 million, Quebec 800,000 and other cities under 800,000
In reality to the world and the US Canada only has three major cities and three smaller cities with lots and lots free land for growth for those three smaller cities.
Those cities in the US with million people are cheap and population 500,000 or under are really cheap.
This is nothing.
Russia, Canada and the US have major land compared to the world. So yes those three countries should be cheaper to compared to the world.
With the US that should be 9 times more costly than Canada because the US having 9 times more people than Canada.
Bro, you don't understand economics, supply, and demand. Aspen, Colorado is a small town but still has very expensive real estate, more expensive than many major cities.
But, one reason why real estate in Toronto is more expensive than real estate in Chicago is because inner city Toronto is a much safer and overall more desirable place than inner city Chicago. Crime rates tend to be much higher in American inner cities than in Canadian inner cities.
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