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I feel passionate about this issue. People should feel secure in their living situation. Young people becoming newly independent should feel confident that they

I feel passionate about this issue. People should feel secure in their living situation. Young people becoming newly independent should feel confident that they can find an adequate living situation regardless of the salary they're able to command, and that is absolutely not the case in much of North America at the moment. At the same time, my dad has made quite a bit of money from savvy real estate investing, and I stand to inherit much of that. He also pushed me to invest in real estate and my properties have appreciated an unbelievable amount in the last few years. I feel guilty having profited so much off of something I now perceive as somewhat immoral, but I also feel completely powerless. How can someone like me influence politics enough to steer this ship back towards affordable housing?

tjr225 6y ago
My parents in law are well off due to property investment. It’s basically scalping but you’re scalping homes people could live in. I had a chance to take on their business and was eager with dollar signs in my eyes but my wife couldn’t stomach the ethical implications so we didn’t. Maybe we will receive some inheritance; maybe we won’t but I’m proud of her resolve.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
animal_spirits 6y ago
Research issues in your community and contact your local representatives about your ideas and opinions on it. Then, the more you understand about these issues, try to get involved in local organizations that provide housing for lower income residents. There's great work to be done! Don't be afraid to roll up your sleeves :)
musingsole 6y ago
> I now perceive as somewhat immoral, but I also feel completely powerless You already have and stand to inherit resources a good chunk of the country dreams of...and you feel powerless? You own those things. You control them. If you want something to be different, do something different. > How can someone like me influence politics enough to steer this ship back towards affordable housing? Small steps. Do what you can with your resources. Your existence and how you live your life is the biggest political move an individual can make. The article is about expanding the scope of problems to solve them, but that logic is for institutions. As an individual, think individually. You defeat yourself by growing the problem scope into something requiring state action. Specifically since you own and will own real estate: convert your properties into section 8 housing. It has a bad stigma and everyone worries about terrible renters, but I've had worse luck with non-section 8 tenants than friends have had with them.
Proven 6y ago
> I feel passionate about this issue Are you saying you're subletting at below market price to low income tenants? Or just that you'd like to use other people's money to improve the world?
ed25519FUUU 6y ago
> Young people becoming newly independent should feel confident that they can find an adequate living situation regardless of the salary they're able to command, and that is absolutely not the case in much of North America at the moment. Strong coastal city bias in your post. Most places outside major cities have very affordable housing, especially given today’s interest rates. What you mean is that people should live wherever they want and others should foot the bill for them living in desirable areas.
- ngngngng 6y ago
  The only places I've lived as an adult are rural Utah and rural Illinois. The affordability issue in Illinois is soaring property taxes pricing people out. Valuations in Utah are growing at an insane rate at the moment. I bought a duplex just a couple years ago for $270k. I could sell it today for just about double that. https://www.sltrib.com/homeprices/ https://www.sltrib.com/homeprices/
heavyset_go 6y ago
> I feel guilty having profited so much off of something I now perceive as somewhat immoral, but I also feel completely powerless. Well, no is forcing you to do it and it's your choice whether to continue or not. > How can someone like me influence politics enough to steer this ship back towards affordable housing? There are national nonprofits that acquire, manage and develop property for affordable housing[1]: > Mercy Housing is one of the nation’s largest affordable housing organizations. We participate in the development, preservation, management and/or financing of affordable, program-enriched housing across the country. We acquire and renovate existing housing, as well as develop new affordable rental properties. Here's who they help[2]. Perhaps you can donate or sell property to them. [1] https://www.mercyhousing.org/ https://www.mercyhousing.org/ [2] https://www.mercyhousing.org/about/who-we-serve/ https://www.mercyhousing.org/about/who-we-serve/
aww_dang 6y ago
Buy land. Develop cheap housing. Gain an understanding of the regulations driving up costs.
closeparen 6y ago
>People should feel secure in their living situation. Interestingly, this is common ground with NIMBYs. They just interpret the conditions surrounding their home as part of the living situation they need to secure.

tjr225 6y ago

My parents in law are well off due to property investment. It’s basically scalping but you’re scalping homes people could live in. I had a chance to take on their business and was eager with dollar signs in my eyes but my wife couldn’t stomach the ethical implications so we didn’t. Maybe we will receive some inheritance; maybe we won’t but I’m proud of her resolve.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

animal_spirits 6y ago

Research issues in your community and contact your local representatives about your ideas and opinions on it. Then, the more you understand about these issues, try to get involved in local organizations that provide housing for lower income residents. There's great work to be done! Don't be afraid to roll up your sleeves :)

musingsole 6y ago

> I now perceive as somewhat immoral, but I also feel completely powerless You already have and stand to inherit resources a good chunk of the country dreams of...and you feel powerless? You own those things. You control them. If you want something to be different, do something different. > How can someone like me influence politics enough to steer this ship back towards affordable housing? Small steps. Do what you can with your resources. Your existence and how you live your life is the biggest political move an individual can make. The article is about expanding the scope of problems to solve them, but that logic is for institutions. As an individual, think individually. You defeat yourself by growing the problem scope into something requiring state action. Specifically since you own and will own real estate: convert your properties into section 8 housing. It has a bad stigma and everyone worries about terrible renters, but I've had worse luck with non-section 8 tenants than friends have had with them.

Proven 6y ago

> I feel passionate about this issue Are you saying you're subletting at below market price to low income tenants? Or just that you'd like to use other people's money to improve the world?

ed25519FUUU 6y ago

> Young people becoming newly independent should feel confident that they can find an adequate living situation regardless of the salary they're able to command, and that is absolutely not the case in much of North America at the moment. Strong coastal city bias in your post. Most places outside major cities have very affordable housing, especially given today’s interest rates. What you mean is that people should live wherever they want and others should foot the bill for them living in desirable areas.

ngngngng 6y ago
The only places I've lived as an adult are rural Utah and rural Illinois. The affordability issue in Illinois is soaring property taxes pricing people out. Valuations in Utah are growing at an insane rate at the moment. I bought a duplex just a couple years ago for $270k. I could sell it today for just about double that. https://www.sltrib.com/homeprices/ https://www.sltrib.com/homeprices/

heavyset_go 6y ago

> I feel guilty having profited so much off of something I now perceive as somewhat immoral, but I also feel completely powerless. Well, no is forcing you to do it and it's your choice whether to continue or not. > How can someone like me influence politics enough to steer this ship back towards affordable housing? There are national nonprofits that acquire, manage and develop property for affordable housing[1]: > Mercy Housing is one of the nation’s largest affordable housing organizations. We participate in the development, preservation, management and/or financing of affordable, program-enriched housing across the country. We acquire and renovate existing housing, as well as develop new affordable rental properties. Here's who they help[2]. Perhaps you can donate or sell property to them. [1] https://www.mercyhousing.org/ https://www.mercyhousing.org/ [2] https://www.mercyhousing.org/about/who-we-serve/ https://www.mercyhousing.org/about/who-we-serve/

aww_dang 6y ago

Buy land. Develop cheap housing. Gain an understanding of the regulations driving up costs.

closeparen 6y ago

>People should feel secure in their living situation. Interestingly, this is common ground with NIMBYs. They just interpret the conditions surrounding their home as part of the living situation they need to secure.