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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j4g02ig wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in RI Real Estate by DIMINISHED_VALUE

Ok but these United Van Lines statistics have been discussed here before and ultimately determined to be useless numbers.

For Rhode Island to have magically jumped from 32nd to third since 2021 (when the trends show retiring Baby Boomers and wfh folks moving south and southwest), I doubt it.

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[deleted] t1_j4hnbft wrote

You’re ignoring all the businesses in and around Boston in health care, where WFH isn’t an option. You’re also ignoring the continued influx of people into greater Boston, which our entire state is basically part of now.

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j4hod4u wrote

And the next census may prove that but this data from United Van Lines is not a reliable source.

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[deleted] t1_j4hpj6e wrote

Again, it is a reliable source. Most projections are made from data of market participants, and unless you’re arguing that UVL is committing financial fraud, their trends data is valid.

The only way your narrative would make sense is if UVL is an outlier and every other hauling line has seen a collapse of 90% or more, which is highly unlikely.

The data is also substantiated by looking all around us. Regions that are in severe decline like Detroit, Toledo or Cleveland don’t have $500K 1,200 sq foot houses, new condo projects going up, demand for more building permits, construction of new schools, gentrification of old neighborhoods in decline, etc.

Our version of Toledo, Pawtucket, is booming.

One of the charming and annoying things about this state is its inability to accept change, and this data shows clear changes in the trajectory of the state.

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Unique-Public-8594 t1_j4hqcud wrote

And maybe you are right.

Money Magazine sees it differently:

https://money.com/cities-with-the-most-new-homes/

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[deleted] t1_j4hqou1 wrote

I just saw the headline and chuckled, because RI has almost no new homes, part of the thing driving up prices.

But the same is true of Chicago and Cleveland, and yet plenty of affordable housing exists in those places.

Why? Because people are moving here in droves, but not to Chicago or Cleveland.

RI definitely needs to build more homes. Providence mayor Smiley made that a centerpiece of his campaign. The reason we need more homes built? Demand. The reason there’s demand? People want to live here.

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