No Rent Control in Portland?

[freemkt]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

The number of foreclosures is the driving force behind rent increase, with taxes coming in second. Somebody has to pay those taxes, and those who lose their homes need someplace to live.

Those foreclosed homes need occupants.

[Ms_Christina]

Since the OP posted in 2007 I assume they have already moved.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by oregonwana_b

........... I live in Cali in a rent controlled building for eight years. Thank God because I would not have been able to afford the rents here if I didn't have RC............

And Californians leave California because they can't stand what it has become and then they immediately (and sometimes even before moving) try to change Oregon into California. Then they wonder and complain because the Oregonians don't like them.

[JonathanLB]

HAHA no kidding! Rent control is a communist idea and it ends up hurting the people who it's supposed to help. It tends to reinforce the same demographics as have always lived there. Look at SF, what minorities or lesser privileged people can afford the rents there now? Sure, if you have been there for 30 years, maybe you are lucky to be locked in to some ridiculously low rent, but as a result, there's this wonderful capitalist idea -- you know, we ARE a capitalist country! -- where supply and demand dictate pricing. And guess what? It works perfectly most of the time, especially with rents.

There are hundreds and hundreds and usually thousands of different apartment buildings, houses with multiple rooms, houses for rent, condos for rent, etc. that mean it's 100% impossible for rent in any non-rent-controlled city to be "overpriced." It can certainly be overpriced for your OPINION, but it will correctly match supply to demand. The market forces mean that if a place can get $2,000 for a one bedroom, they will. If they can't, they won't. Really it's pretty simple.

I own a portion of a NW 23rd area high-rise apartment building and, yes, rents rise, but that's because the demand is there. At 97% occupancy, rents will continue to rise as long as the market will bear it. Let's not pretend the apartment companies are evil, though, this particular building has underwent millions of dollars in upgrades from the lobby and elevators to other common areas including a BBQ and lounge area for residents and individual units are all being upgraded as well. It's expensive to do these things! The rents aren't just for no reason.

[Woof]

Originally Posted by oregonwana_b

I just read on this thread that there is no rent control in Portland... Ouch!!
I am moving there soon. I live in Cali in a rent controlled building for eight
years. Thank God because I would not have been able to afford the rents
here if I didn't have RC.
My question is : Is there really no rent control laws there?.
And for those of you who live in a non-rent control building, how often
does your landlord raise your rent? And how much each time?.
Any answers would be helpful.

Though the OP has long gone to that great Blogosphere in the Cloud,
it might be worthwhile to note again for the current crew that rent control is not the same thing as public housing projects for the low-income folks, nor is it Section 8 vouchers which help defray the cost of private housing.

[Port Pitt Ash]

Originally Posted by oregonwana_b

I just read on this thread that there is no rent control in Portland... Ouch!!
I am moving there soon. I live in Cali in a rent controlled building for eight
years. Thank God because I would not have been able to afford the rents
here if I didn't have RC.
My question is : Is there really no rent control laws there?.
And for those of you who live in a non-rent control building, how often
does your landlord raise your rent? And how much each time?.
Any answers would be helpful.

Not sure if this counts, but there are a few buildings that charge rent based on a percentage of your income. However, it takes forever to make it to the head of the wait list.

There are a few seniors only building that I think are less crazy with raising rent, but I'm not 100% on that one.

Portland's booming right now. I figure before all is said and done the prices will be similar to Seattle's prices. The character of the city will probably be unrecognizable in another 10 years.

[freemkt]

Originally Posted by JonathanLB

HAHA no kidding! Rent control is a communist idea and it ends up hurting the people who it's supposed to help. It tends to reinforce the same demographics as have always lived there. Look at SF, what minorities or lesser privileged people can afford the rents there now? Sure, if you have been there for 30 years, maybe you are lucky to be locked in to some ridiculously low rent, but as a result, there's this wonderful capitalist idea -- you know, we ARE a capitalist country! -- where supply and demand dictate pricing. And guess what? It works perfectly most of the time, especially with rents.

There are hundreds and hundreds and usually thousands of different apartment buildings, houses with multiple rooms, houses for rent, condos for rent, etc. that mean it's 100% impossible for rent in any non-rent-controlled city to be "overpriced." It can certainly be overpriced for your OPINION, but it will correctly match supply to demand. The market forces mean that if a place can get $2,000 for a one bedroom, they will. If they can't, they won't. Really it's pretty simple.

I own a portion of a NW 23rd area high-rise apartment building and, yes, rents rise, but that's because the demand is there. At 97% occupancy, rents will continue to rise as long as the market will bear it. Let's not pretend the apartment companies are evil, though, this particular building has underwent millions of dollars in upgrades from the lobby and elevators to other common areas including a BBQ and lounge area for residents and individual units are all being upgraded as well. It's expensive to do these things! The rents aren't just for no reason.

Rent control = price control = protectionism for incumbent renters

Zoning = supply control = protectionism for incumbent homeowners

If rent control is a communist idea, so is zoning

In a free housing market, a property owner could build four tiny homes on a lot and sell them affordably, but not in most regulated markets. Zoning gets in the way of affordable low-income ownership, which keeps them captive in the rental market.

The rents are there because outsiders with money move in, not to mention illegal aliens, not because the locals are affluent.