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We rent our starter home out because we want to eventually move back in when we retire. We keep the rent affordable and fix anything that breaks. Only rent increases that happen are due to HOA and property tax increases.
My wife and I hope to be in a similar situation in a few years.
I've stopped mentioning it because there was so much negative reaction and I'm tired of explaining. I usually just blurt out whatever is on my mind but this is now among the things I treat as taboo.
What people need to realize is that there are different kinds of people. All kinds of people. There are greedy, corrupt, evil business owners, landlords, politicians, lawyers, cops, etc. But it's not the job that is the problem. It's the people.
The only thing that makes the world better is when better people go into those professions. And the only way that happens is if we appropriately respect the importance of the role.
We aren't interested in price gouging some struggling family that is having trouble making ends meet. We just want to cover maintenance and taxes. If you treat us and our home with respect we will treat you with respect.
I feel like that's how it should be.
I appreciate your story.
If it's not unwelcome, I'd offer, I guess, a bit of an explanation, as I think the lines get kinda blurred in the passion of the moment.
From a leftist perspective, the root of the issue is not personal culpability (as in liberalism's emphasis on the individual), but with the system of organization that creates the "material" conditions. Basically, it's exactly the opposite of what you said:
But it's not the job that is the problem. It's the people.
It's not the people that's the problem, it's the system. There is obviously a spectrum of landlords that make the situation better or worse, but the issue is with the underlying relationship of private ownership itself.
We have to stop seeing rented property as a paternalistic relationship; "this is mine because I paid for it", and more of a coming together of joint interest; "this is ours, because I may have paid for it at first, but you are actually living in it". We let authority be derived from that notion of ownership, and that's the point of concern for those of us being critical of landlords. That we place emphasis on ownership is not anyone's fault (mostly), but it is the thing we need to be able to discuss without alienating others.
I'm truly sorry for making you feel alienated, I hope my explanation is helpful and not adding to your discomfort.
I'm sure others will disagree but I'm fine with this, especially since it sounds like you're being fair, not greedy, and have a reasonable exit strategy.
You aren't hoarding wealth, buying up all the starter homes, making them into unsightly mcmanasions, and then putting them up for rent like a bunch of houses in my neighborhood. Like 7 houses on my block are owned by 2 people.
You can afford to carry two mortgages? Or do you rent out your house and rent something else to live in?
No, first was paid off years ago. We mortgage the second one.
Makes sense