Comment by crazygringo

Comment by crazygringo 3 days ago

3 replies

> But if 27% is pure corporate investment pushing up the prices - yes, it's bad.

But it's not "pure corporate". Quite the opposite. From the article:

> mom-and-pop investors, or those who own between 1 and 5 homes, account for 85% of all investor-owned residential properties, while those with between 6 and 10 properties account for another 5%.

I really don't see anything wrong with mom and pop buying a second or third home to rent out for extra income.

And I don't see anything inherently wrong with 27% either. If there aren't enough rental homes, then an increase in the share of investors is exactly what you need to achieve the "reasonable balance" you're talking about. And then there's nothing bad about it -- it's exactly what's best.

jfengel 3 days ago

Having investment money inherently raises the price of rentals. There is a gap between how much the renters could conceivably pay and the minimum for which the house could be built and maintained. The actual price will be somewhere between the two. But if they are competing against investors, putting more money into the demand side, the price that renters actually pay is pushed towards their potential limit.

That is not what's best; it just concentrates more money in the hands of the investors.

  • Manuel_D 3 days ago

    > There is a gap between how much the renters could conceivably pay and the minimum for which the house could be built and maintained. The actual price will be somewhere between the two.

    No, not necessarily. If there's enough competition for renters, then the homeowner may have to rent at a loss. Renting at a loss is still preferable to no collecting rent at all. Getting $90 on a $100 investment is bad, but better than getting $0 on a $100 investment.

  • crazygringo 3 days ago

    > Having investment money inherently raises the price of rentals.

    It's literally the opposite. More rental properties means more rental supply which means lower rental prices.

    > But if they are competing against investors, putting more money into the demand side, the price that renters actually pay is pushed towards their potential limit.

    You're confusing buy demand with rental demand.