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The rise of the forever renters

wsj.com

11–20 of 79 posts

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#11
post #7
post #3

Renting is underrated, especially in the US I feel where people are constantly encouraged to buy a house. https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/renting-is-not-a-waste...

[flagged]

Could you be more specific about which parts you disagreed with and why?

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#12
post #3

Renting is underrated, especially in the US I feel where people are constantly encouraged to buy a house. https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/renting-is-not-a-waste...

Okay, would you say the same thing about renting your car? Your computer? Your bed? Your toothbrush?

Where do you draw the limit? Because you could justify being a forever renter about anything with your logic.

Being a forever renter is being dependent on the whim of those who lend you "your" stuff. It's only natural that many people do not want that kind of lifestyle.

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#14

Are they happy?

I don’t understand how people are happy even when buying. The vast majority of homes I see being built around here have pretty much zero yards. How can anyone be happy when your neighbors are nearly close enough to reach out the window and touch on every side?

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#15
post #3

Renting is underrated, especially in the US I feel where people are constantly encouraged to buy a house. https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/renting-is-not-a-waste...

The decision is really surprisingly multi-dimensional and, no, most people don't even scratch the surface of it. I thought this calculator was brilliant a decade ago, and my opinions hasn't changed.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/buy-rent-cal...

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#16
This is exactly what they turn us into: subscribers. They want us to keep paying them month after month, year after year a portion of our earnings forever. It’s the exact definition of indentured servant. It’s insidious and evil.

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#17
post #3

Renting is underrated, especially in the US I feel where people are constantly encouraged to buy a house. https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/renting-is-not-a-waste...

Having possibility to get a 30-years fixed rate mortgage with low interest rate with option to refinance at any moment - renting could not be underrated vs owning.

Buying a place to live is ridiculously affordable in US comparing to other developed nations.

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#18
post #3

Renting is underrated, especially in the US I feel where people are constantly encouraged to buy a house. https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/renting-is-not-a-waste...

er, ok? if the US has strict rules about not being evicted, and proper enforced rights to pets and making changes to rental properties, and some sort of mortgage affordability checking that takes into account rent you've paid for, that sounds excellent.

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#19

This is exactly what they turn us into: subscribers. They want us to keep paying them month after month, year after year a portion of our earnings forever. It’s the exact definition of indentured servant. It’s insidious and evil.

What do you think homeownership entails? No maintenance, carefree profits from ever increasing land rents only? No property taxes?

Who is "they" here, beyond the typical business person?

Re: The rise of the forever renters

#20
post #5
post #2

I’m not wealthy by the standards discussed in the article but I’m a forever renter (a different kind than those in the article). I like living in dense cities, I dislike large living spaces, and I dislike being responsible for anything or doing any maintenance. Renting a small cheap apartment is something that fits my lifestyle and lets me do quite well financially.

> I dislike being responsible for anything or doing any maintenance Unfortunately so do a lot of property owners who rent out the spaces.

I’ve been renting cheap places in medium/large cities for 20+ years. So far it hasn’t been my experience. But my standards are probably lower than most people’s.
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