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Comment by StopHammoTime | Hacker News Reader

I have many friends from New Zealand and I am under the impression from them that most housing in places like Auckland is the most expensive in the world for what it is. The prices (apparently) make purchasing housing an unattainable goal.

I think this article is making an (incorrect) assumption that an increase in new builds and land sale drives the prices down which is not necessarily the case.

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If it makes you feel any better, much of the northeast USA is in a similar situation right now. A basic nice house in New York or Massachusetts (other than in the middle of the woods) is generally unaffordable without intergenerational wealth or a high-end tech salary.

I live in Mass and have many friends who work in careers outside of tech who own houses inside of Rt 128 (Boston’s loop/beltway). They can’t afford a swank condo on the river in Boston, but they can afford a basic 3/2 in a city inside the greater Boston area (or a 5/4 in a bedroom suburb, but that’s more towards your “in the woods” which many people prefer).

I laugh in London at my friends in NZ who a) get paid higher wages and b) have cheaper housing while c) having a lower cost of living.

Everyone everywhere thinks they are personally succeeding in the face of the greatest adversity.

Equally, I've got friends from Auckland who moved here to London because 1) the salaries are significantly better, and 2) the houses are often _more affordable_.

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