🗳️ Election Buzz: What’s Happening in Tucson?
🌍 Local Housing Market Insights You Can't Miss! 🗳️ Upcoming Elections: What You Need to Know
Based on the 11/1/24 Buckmaster Show on KVOI-1030AM.
🧠 Mindmap of today’s show
🙊 Notable quotes from the show
David Godleski: "The gap between existing and new homes has reached a record level, making new home construction more attractive."
Tim Steller: "The lengthy campaign season is 'broken' compared to more streamlined approaches in other countries."
Steller on early ballot shut-down: "This move could have a significant impact, potentially affecting the turnout of up to 1,000 voters."
⏮️ ICYMI: From the Last Show…
🚨 Alarming FDA Shakeup Looms Under Possible Trump Comeback, Warns Former AZ Health Chief
Based on the 10/31/24 Buckmaster Show on KVOI-1030AM.
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
Today, some important people talked about houses and voting in Tucson. 🏡💬 They said that building new homes is getting easier, but many people still can’t afford them. 💔🏘️ They also discussed how long elections take, which makes some people unhappy. 🗳️😠 They want to make sure everyone can vote easily! ✅
🗝️ Takeaways
🏠 High costs of land and materials challenge housing affordability.
🗳️ Voter frustration with lengthy campaigns highlights needed reforms.
📉 Rising interest rates impact home-buying decisions significantly.
💡 Opportunities for “missing middle” housing could address affordability.
⚖️ Temporary shutdown of early ballot requests may affect voter turnout.
📻 What They Discussed
This episode of the Buckmaster Show, a long-running radio program in Tucson, Arizona, aired on Friday, November 1, 2024.
The host, Bill Buckmaster, welcomed several guests onto the show, including Tim Steller, an award-winning columnist from the Arizona Daily Star, and David Godleski, the head of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association.
The conversation touched on various topics, from the state of the local housing market to the upcoming elections.
🏠 The Housing Market
David Godleski, the head of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association, provided a comprehensive update on the state of the local housing market. He noted that the gap between the cost of existing and new homes has reached a record level, now around $55,000. This has helped make new home construction more attractive, as the "new home price premium" has decreased substantially.
Godleski explained that this price difference allows consumers to "really see themselves in that new home" and take advantage of the benefits, such as customization and improved energy efficiency. He said builders are responding to this dynamic by maximizing the use of available land through denser developments and smaller lot sizes.
However, Godleski acknowledged that housing affordability remains a significant challenge, with high land, material, and infrastructure costs driving up prices. He emphasized the need for a "market-based approach" rather than mandates, noting that builders already incorporate water-saving and energy-efficient features to meet buyer demand.
The availability of state land was highlighted as a critical factor in the region's ability to continue supplying the market with needed homes. Godleski expressed optimism about recent legislation to facilitate the development of "missing middle" housing, such as townhomes and duplexes, which could help address affordability concerns.
Godleski also discussed the impact of rising interest rates, which he said remain elevated at around 7% for a 30-year mortgage. He explained that while the Federal Reserve's actions affect mortgage rates, there is no direct correlation, as those rates are more closely tied to the 10-year treasury yield.
🗳️ The Upcoming Elections
Tim Steller, an award-winning columnist from the Arizona Daily Star, shared his insights on the upcoming elections at the local and statewide levels. He noted that many voters are eager for the process to be over, suggesting that the United States' lengthy campaign season is "broken" compared to more streamlined approaches in other countries.
Steller highlighted several local races, including the Pima County Sheriff's race, where incumbent Chris Nanos is facing a challenge from Heather Lappin. He suggested that a Lappin victory would be a significant surprise, given Nanos' Democratic affiliation in a county that has trended increasingly blue.
Regarding the Pima County Board of Supervisors, Steller expected the current Democratic majority to remain intact, with the lone Republican largely, Steve Christy, likely retaining his seat. He discussed the open seat in District 3, where Jen Allen, a Democrat, is running against Republican J.L. Wittenbraker, who previously ran for mayor and lost to Mayor Romero.
One of the more contentious issues Steller addressed was the Pima County Recorder's decision to temporarily shut down an online portal for requesting early ballots. He suggested this move could have a significant impact, potentially affecting the turnout of up to 1,000 voters. Steller noted that this decision could open the door to legal challenges, as it "put obstacles in the path to vote."
Steller also shared insights from a recent poll by a respected Arizona pollster, Mike Noble. The poll found that the abortion rights measure and the border security proposition were both passing by about 60%, while the open primaries proposition was "marginally" not passing.
Overall, the Buckmaster Show provided a comprehensive look at the local housing market and the upcoming elections, offering valuable perspectives from the program's well-informed guests.
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👯 People Mentioned
Bill Buckmaster: Host of the Buckmaster Show.
Quote: "It’s crucial to cover local issues that matter."
Tom Fairbanks: Engineer and producer of the Buckmaster Show.
Tim Steller: Award-winning columnist from the Arizona Daily Star.
Quote: "Voters are eager for this process to be over."
David Godleski: Head of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association.
Quote: "We need a market-based approach to solve the housing affordability problem."
Irene Coppola: President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving southern Arizona.
Leslie Lois: Representative from 101.7 The Drive.