Politicians in both parties are racing to freeze or cut property taxes for seniors, which is bad for young families, renters, and anyone trying to buy a first home.

• Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed wants to freeze property taxes for seniors who paid off their homes, funded by taxing billionaires and federal money for schools.
• Freezing taxes kills the reason for older owners to ever sell, so homes stay locked up and never pass to the next generation.
• California already did this with Prop 13, and it is a big reason homes there are so expensive and rarely change hands.
• Florida is moving to scrap property tax entirely, so counties plan to cut parks and services and add gas taxes, park fees, and tolls to fill the gap.
• The idea is wildly popular because seniors vote, there are more of them, and young people are fewer and vote less.

Outlook: Expect more states to freeze or cut property taxes for seniors, likely across half the country within a few years, pushing home prices higher for everyone else.