But there’s many theories about why prices have been rising for as long as they have — including a lack of supply, years of low interest rates, population growth, the build out of suburbs and exurbs and so on.
This week, as part of a special series for first time homebuyers, Down to Business takes a look at what’s happened in the residential real estate market over the last 50 years and asks whether buying a house or condo is a good investment. Guests include Paul Kershaw, a professor at the University of British Columbia where he founded Generation Squeeze, a research lab dedicated that advocates for policies to make life more for affordable for young people; and Todd Sinai, chair of the Real Estate Department at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.Article content