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Something has really been bothering me. Why is it that, when defending home ownership, renters are pariahs.
Renters are accused of:
1. Not caring about their neighborhoods
2. Not taking care of their homes
3. Being politically inactive
4. Being transient and noncommittal
5. Being bad neighbors
Do people in Manhattan care less about their neighborhood when only 35% of residents own a property?
Do people magically become responsible when they take out a mortgage?
Do people suddenly invite their neighbors to bbqs and create ties to communities once they receive the keys?
Does everyone who gets the title to their home suddenly start showing about city council meetings, community action groups and political forums?
I don't think so. So what's the deal. Why aren't renters portrayed as wel rounded individuals: some are good, some are scrubs, some are involved and some are apathetic.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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The generalization you mention is so ingrained that many condo homeowner's associations forbid renting out to tenants, because it would lower the property values. Naturally not all renters fit the stereotype, but the perception is based on experience, and those tenants who do fit your
1-5 list are a lot more visible than those who don't.
In Manhattan, the buildings are typically co-ops, condo's or apartments. Meaning they are managed by a set of guidelines and there are actually resources assigned to keeping the building to standards. In other, more conventional areas, many people are leasing in a community not managed and some tenants don't display the same commitment to the upkeep and neatness as most of the homeowners. There are exceptions all the way around. I have seen homeowners who did not keep the outside of their properties in any way neat or even maintained. I have seen tenants who had a lot of pride in the homes they were leasing. I have a tenant who is a doctor. He and his wife were not taking good care of the property and I recently warned them that I wasn't likely to renew the lease if specific changes were not made. Things HAVE greatly improved. I feel, as an owner, it is my obligation to the neighbors that my property doesn't downgrade the look of the block. I think its a shame I had to address this problem with these tenants. My other properties in condo & townhouse communities always look nice. But they are managed by the HOA.
I am actually a believer in HOA's. I live in a community with an HOA and we pay a management company. There are many people who lease in our community. But if a property begins to be neglected, our HOA ensures the owners take action.
The generalization you mention is so ingrained that many condo homeowner's associations forbid renting out to tenants, because it would lower the property values. Naturally not all renters fit the stereotype, but the perception is based on experience, and those tenants who do fit your
1-5 list are a lot more visible than those who don't.
Actually, too many renters in a condo can result in the inability to obtain financing or refinancing . That has a serious impact on market values.
There has to be some truth to what you listed or else the stereotypes would not exist in the first place. There are exceptions to most things. You claim you are the exception. Good.
It has been my experience that neighborhoods with large numbers of renters are not as well maintained as neighborhoods with large numbers of owners. That doesn't mean every renter is not keeping up their home. Nor does it mean that every owner is keeping up their home.
It has been my experience that neighborhoods with large numbers of renters are not as well maintained as neighborhoods with large numbers of owners. That doesn't mean every renter is not keeping up their home. Nor does it mean that every owner is keeping up their home.
The above is correct. I am a member of an HOA townhouse board where we have 26 units. About 5 of the 26 are rented out. Most, but not all, of our problems with violations (loud parties late at night, unattended minors in the swimming pool, etc.) are caused by the renters. However, I was a renter for seventeen years straight before buying this townhouse and my level of responsibility and my concern for not bothering neighbors did not change one iota from renter to owner.
The feeling that renters are poor otherwise they would own. But many these days prefer to rent because of the housing markets. And if you move frequently it does not often make sense. But people who move frequently are also pariahs to some.
Something has really been bothering me. Why is it that, when defending home ownership, renters are pariahs.
Renters are accused of:
1. Not caring about their neighborhoods
2. Not taking care of their homes
3. Being politically inactive
4. Being transient and noncommittal
5. Being bad neighbors
Do people in Manhattan care less about their neighborhood when only 35% of residents own a property?
Do people magically become responsible when they take out a mortgage?
Do people suddenly invite their neighbors to bbqs and create ties to communities once they receive the keys?
Does everyone who gets the title to their home suddenly start showing about city council meetings, community action groups and political forums?
I don't think so. So what's the deal. Why aren't renters portrayed as wel rounded individuals: some are good, some are scrubs, some are involved and some are apathetic.
When we have rented, it was temporary (transient) and I didn't go out of my way to take care of the property like I would if I owned it. Not that I was bad about it, but if it is my house I take more precautions and am more proactive than reactive. So, when I have been a renter I wasn't as socially active with my neighbors, didn't really take care of the place, and was transient...I wasn't loud and obnoxious, I was respectful of my neighbors, it is just I never felt tied to the place like I do in a home. So, those stereotypes fit me.
I bought a house and still don't partake in the neighborhood BS.
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