An enemy of restrictive building codes is converted to an ally the moment the ink on the title is dry.
In fact, the person most harmed probably becomes the more ferocious defender of the zoning restrictions. Because they paid the highest prices, they stand to lose the most by voting away the restrictions that contributed to those astronomical prices.
Actually, this may be how policies like the mortgage deduction or prop 13 can get so entrenched. They may be unfair, but the only thing that seems even more unfair to new buyers is that the benefits would be taken away only after they've paid the heavy toll.
Possibly. I think part of it is cultural though. My wife grew up in a little Midwestern town with 2,000 people. It's got this perfect little 10x10 street grid, because the townspeople wanted to be prepared for when it became a bustling metropolis. I think some people see development as a source of pride, and others are more whimsical and see it as losing the character of the community. And I don't think the mix of those attitudes is uniform across the country.
In fact, the person most harmed probably becomes the more ferocious defender of the zoning restrictions. Because they paid the highest prices, they stand to lose the most by voting away the restrictions that contributed to those astronomical prices.
Actually, this may be how policies like the mortgage deduction or prop 13 can get so entrenched. They may be unfair, but the only thing that seems even more unfair to new buyers is that the benefits would be taken away only after they've paid the heavy toll.