Most Germans don’t buy their homes, they rent • Hacker News Board

Re: Most Germans don’t buy their homes, they rent

#411

Post by infinite8s » Sat, Oct 29, 2016, 3:17 PM UTC

dasmoth wrote: post #185

cm2187 wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Namely, it is very difficult to raise a family of four in a mutual fund. It is difficult to ski without skis. But most people don't buy skis, they rent them. Renting skis do not mean that no skis will be manufactured. There is a need for house, houses will be constructed, irrespective of whether people will over-bid on them or not. > A paid off home is a social safety net against homelessness Stocks and savings are…

> > A paid off home is a social safety net against homelessness > Stocks and savings are equally a safety net against loss of primary income. Landlords and letting agencies can be kind-of funny beasts, they're not necessarily happy to have an unemployed guy as a tenant even if he owns a pile of shares.

How would they know you are unemployed if you are still paying rent? It might be harder to rent in tge first place without an income, but every landlord I've dealt with has asked for a wage statement or a documentation of assets showing that you could afford to live there.

Re: Most Germans don’t buy their homes, they rent

#412

Post by riprowan » Wed, Nov 02, 2016, 6:53 PM UTC

yorwba wrote: post #348

riprowan wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is no reason to favor individuals investing into an unproductive investment (property) over productive investments (stocks and bonds). I beg to differ. I think that real estate, like farming, has critical societal benefits that are worthwhile to develop and maintain. Namely, it is very difficult to raise a family of four in a mutual fund. Investing in a home may is absolutely "productive." See, there are sign…

> 1. A paid off home is a social safety net against homelessness for an entire family and many of their social circles. Even if all of them are unemployed, all of them have a roof over their heads. The state provides this safety net in Germany. When both my parents were unemployed, we didn't have to move out of our apartment. The unemployment benefits were enough to pay the rent. > 2. A paid-off home frees up cash fl…

You said a lot but I had a hard time getting past the first sentence:

>> 1. A paid off home is a social safety net against homelessness for an entire family and many of their social circles. Even if all of them are unemployed, all of them have a roof over their heads.

> The state provides this safety net in Germany.

Why do you think it's a bad thing for people to be empowered to not need a state safety net to provide them with jobs?

If "most everyone" owned homes outright, then "most everyone" could be easily insulated from such a significant state burden.

Re: Most Germans don’t buy their homes, they rent

#413

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Nov 06, 2016, 5:07 PM UTC

yorwba wrote: post #348

riprowan wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is no reason to favor individuals investing into an unproductive investment (property) over productive investments (stocks and bonds). I beg to differ. I think that real estate, like farming, has critical societal benefits that are worthwhile to develop and maintain. Namely, it is very difficult to raise a family of four in a mutual fund. Investing in a home may is absolutely "productive." See, there are sign…

> 1. A paid off home is a social safety net against homelessness for an entire family and many of their social circles. Even if all of them are unemployed, all of them have a roof over their heads. The state provides this safety net in Germany. When both my parents were unemployed, we didn't have to move out of our apartment. The unemployment benefits were enough to pay the rent. > 2. A paid-off home frees up cash fl…

[deleted]