Inequality would not matter if we built enough housing

That is profoundly wrong. Inequality is driving the growth of high end residential investment and the marked reduction in entry level housing. Housing availability and pricing is not simply a single order supply and demand equation.

And so when does affordability matter? You are saying prices would come down if there is simply more housing? In a market where the minimum wage is the federal $7.25 that’s a huge issue.

Yes, 100% prices would come down if there were sufficient housing The fed MW should be increased, but nearly everywhere has a higher one locally

No one here in Colorado believes me when I tell them nearly a fifth of America pays $7.25/hr minimum wage. Many of these states also were slave states that prevented black people from acquiring property to pass on, so they are always trying to catch up. Staggering to witness it on a map.

16% of America does not. 5 states have not adopted a state minimum wage: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. 3 states, Georgia, Oklahoma and Wyoming, have a minimum wage below $7.25/hr. In all eight of these states, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 generally applies.

OK I am struggling to see how "nearly everywhere" is in any way in conflict with "84% of America"

If you were in that 16% for 27 years you might feel differently.

Yes, if I were in the the most impoverished segment of America I'm sure that would suck. I will loudly and proudly advocate for those people to make a living wage. But "16% of America lives in a place with a terrible MW" has nothing to do with the effect of housing supply on prices

It has a huge effect on housing affordability in Mount pleasant, SC which is where this entire comment thread started! We were lucky to be able to leave, most are not so lucky. And it’s gerrymandered to stay that way, there are many people fighting and advocating and it doesn’t matter.

That almost 1/5 of America. That’s not nearly everywhere. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Words have meaning. 84% is indeed nearly everywhere

Seems very dismissive, but okay. Screw the 16%, they don’t matter. Everything is fine. Whatever you say.

Yeah that's precisely what I said, "screw the 16%, they don't matter, everything is fine". Why are you talking to me like this? I am literally arguing for policy changes to improve people's lives

Because you are being dismissive about 16% of Americans. We should all fight for a better federal minimum wage and it absolutely impacts the ability for people to buy houses when the housing market has gone insane. You can’t buy a house when you make peanuts.