Subject: Re: Berkshire and Tariffs
* US government policy to drive housing demand, primarily through interest subsidies and running the mortgage market. The US has the most socialist housing finance system of any developed country.

The fact that US home owners can deduct the their mortgate interest is often cited as a big impact on housing prices; but the statistics don't support this. Roughly 85% of the population uses the standard deduction, and doesn't itemize (which is where the impact would be felt).

Also: Demand for housing is not really impacted by government policy; demand for home ownership can be however.

tecmo
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