Steve Spiro’s Blog

California lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 584, a bill that would impose a 15% tax on short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo in order to fund affordable housing and provide help to alleviate the homeless crisis. The bill is headed to the Assembly after the Senate voted 27-11 in favor of it and, if approved,…

In July 2019, Long Beach opened a new City Hall as part of its 22-acre, $520 million Civic Center campus. This new downtown centerpiece is home to the city's one-stop Development Permit Center, which has been designed to make it easier for applicants to fill out forms and meet with city representatives. In the past…

California lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 584 by Sen. Monique Limón, which would impose a 15% tax on short-term rentals to generate an estimated $150 million annually to build or rehabilitate low- and middle-income housing. Airbnb has rallied its hosts to oppose the bill, while Gov. Gavin Newsom is apprehensive about increasing taxes. The bill…

The real estate market in Arizona has cooled down, with the median home price in Phoenix being $410,500. For those who want to enter the market, there is an option of borrowing against their 401(k) funds with no penalties for purchasing a primary residence. However, this type of loan must be repaid and individuals should…

The housing affordability in California rose to its highest level in a year during Q1 2023. The revised forecast for the 2023 housing market projects 280K units sold. It also shows a statewide median price of $777K. The 2023 housing market forecast predicts ↓ single-family home sales. Housing affordability will remain a challenge due to…

Here’s a list of the most expensive states for median home prices: Hawaii: $849K California: $761K Washington: $596K Colorado: $560K Massachusetts: $559K Utah: $545K Oregon: $502K New Jersey: $442K

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 10 proposes to enshrine housing as a fundamental right in California's state constitution. The amendment aims to address the housing crisis by providing a legal tool and ongoing obligation for the state. It is to ensure access to permanent, stable homes for all individuals. Public opinion supports affordable housing as a community…

The California State Senate passed a bill this week that would permit the construction of affordable housing units on land owned by faith-based institutions and nonprofit colleges, even if local zoning ordinances and laws would normally prevent construction. This bill, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, is designed to reduce barriers faced by religious organizations for…