California’s housing crisis reflects a collapse in attainable homeownership driven by the absence of viable presale financing. This structural barrier prevents developers from securing buyer commitments required for private or federal construction loans. Consequently, building large scale condominiums and missing middle housing becomes nearly impossible.
Muhammad Alameldin, Senior Policy Advisor for California YIMBY, will be sharing findings from his latest report exploring the possibilities of new home pre-sales in the California market, including a discussion about AB 1406 (Ward) co-sponsored by SPUR and other practical concepts as well based on findings from his comparative analysis.
Modernizing 50 year-old regulations to permit presales would allow buyers to lock in prices while giving lenders the certainty to fund projects. Robust consumer protections like escrow safeguards and mandatory refund provisions ensure buyer safety. This shift reduces reliance on expensive equity and stabilizes the market.
Reforming these laws will accelerate construction, empower first time buyers, and restore a functional pathway to middle class wealth building through expanded ownership opportunities across the state.