ProSource Media

https://bostonpads.com/?p=16462&preview=true Without a doubt, 2022 will go down in history as one of the worst years for inflation in modern U.S. history. With the Consumer Price Index above 8% since March, we’re seeing the highest inflation levels in 40 years. Thanks to poor fiscal responsibility and highly questionable energy policies, rampant inflation and supply chain bottlenecks are starting to cripple our future supply of new products introduced into the Boston housing market. The cost of building materials is increasing by a much larger margin than CPI. The current PPI for New Nonresidential Building Construction is up by 24% over the past year. That triples the price increase for consumer products (CPI). Housing supply in Boston is already at a critical shortage, and now developers are faced with even more fiscal barriers in creating new housing inventory for Boston’s growing population. We could be entering a new age of unprecedented scarcity of new housing options.

https://bostonpads.com/blog/real-estate-news/newest-luxury-apartment-buildings-in-boston-2022/ Boston’s apartment scarcity has been put back in the spotlight in 2022. The apartment supply shortage took a hiatus during the pandemic, as remote learning and remote work temporarily diminished renter demand. Now that Boston is back in business, rental supply figures are even lower than before COVID. Sadly, we’re seeing historically low apartment availability and as a result, record-high rent prices. It’s time to start talking about how we need to get supply going through a myriad of innovative ways. Adding More Supply is Key In order to combat rising rents, we need the Boston Planning and Development Authority to find new ways to add square footage of living space. And, of course, speed up housing development to meet rising demand. Perhaps thinking of allowing landlords to fully retrofit garden and basement level spaces could quickly open up additional square footage that often remain