Can someone please translate the trader jargon out of this article?
To avoid being affected by something external (like house price fluctuations), it makes sense to own a property (or invest in property-related stocks). But only enough to cover your needs.
If you buy a too-big house, or several houses, you'll be in the situation of hoping for house prices rises - meaning that you'll benefit if prices rise - beyond the additional cost that you'll face in the current property markets.
The surprising point of the article is that it is natural to assume that no property = no exposure. But that's not true in the case of housing.
-- suggests public policy should be to <decrease> housing prices. yest many government's seek to <increase> or "support" them. we should all ask why??
“You are naturally short housing.” = “If the price of housing goes down, you will be naturally be better off.”
At first I took "shorting" literally, and thought it meant I borrowed a house, sold it, and now I need to buy it back at some point. It probably just means "in need of", with a bit of financial connotation?
"Define short"
7. low in amount; scanty: short rations.
9. below the standard in extent, quantity, duration, etc.: short measure.
10. having a scanty or insufficient amount of (often followed by `in or `on ): He was short in experience.