> Renting in some place for a long time doesn't give you any leverage against another potential renters. I disagree. I also disagree that living somewhere give

> Renting in some place for a long time doesn't give you any leverage against another potential renters. I disagree. I also disagree that living somewhere gives you a special-citizen's pass. It's somewhere in between. You want to give room for the market, but you also want to consider cities are a function of their neighbourhoods, their communities, the networks, the people, the bonds, shared history, local culture etc. You can't just break up an existing community for money. You need to find middle ground, let the market operate while trying to work to keep the community intact. I mean, I know it's really easy (and cheesy) to say these words. Finding that balance is really hard, and at some point there is a trade-off between government intervention in the market or letting (sometimes vulnerable) people fend for themselves. And that isn't easy. That having been said, $300 a month for a $60k apartment isn't little by European standards. That's a 6% rental yield, it isn't low.