Writing about the Help to Buy scheme made me realize how complicated housing policy actually is.
Every policy has trade-offs. First-home buyer grants might help some people but push up prices for everyone. Negative gearing incentivizes investment but makes it harder for owner-occupiers. Supply solutions run into infrastructure and planning constraints.
No silver bullets. Every solution creates new problems.
And whose interests matter most? First-home buyers? Existing owners? Renters? Investors? Governments? Everyone has legitimate stakes that don't always align.
The frustration is how short-term politics dominates. Real housing reform needs sustained effort over years. But elections pressure governments toward quick fixes over structural change.
Learning that perfect shouldn't be the enemy of good. The Help to Buy scheme has limitations but might still help some people. That counts for something.