I've seen and heard of this in Mexico and Latin America as well.
A lot of US housing styles, such as saltbox and narrow townhouses, are also attempts to game older versions of the tax code
A lot of US housing styles, such as saltbox and narrow townhouses, are also attempts to game older versions of the tax code
The tax code wasn't only reason for unfinished buildings. In poorer communities, which couldn't get access to loans, it was common to just buy supplies and do construction bit by bit as funds and time were available.
Homes might start off with as little as bamboo poles in corners and PVC sheets tied between them. I swear I saw some that didn't even have roofs. When they had enough funds, they would buy some bricks and just stack them as walls, throw some roofing iron on top or even PVC sheet as a roof
When they had enough bricks, they would buy cement and construct a solid brick wall. Then maybe some concrete for the floor.
Even in middle-class neighbourhoods, it was still common to construct floor-by-floor.
Not a lot of people out of our close to 8 billion can afford such a huge expense in one go.
Government regulation has outlawed people building incrementally in most cases, so people who can't afford to buy a house generally have to rent forever.
Building a house is usually more expensive than buying a similar house, due to building codes, permitting costs, and costs of utility build-out.
If you find a house for sale built by the general contractor for themselves, it's probably very well built. In a lot of ways that wouldn't be obvious to the vast majority of people.
People don't have enough money to finish it and they leave it for later which usually never happens. Also they leave the possibility that next generation can add a new floor.
Especially the never happens part.
I've heard California used to base assessments on comparative values so that people don't try and game the system with crummy substandard construction and materials.
Think about it. You spend money and work a lot of hours to refurbish your kitchen and then you're informed you have to pay more because of it. I am surprised people don't rebel against this policy.