this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2023
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[–] [email protected] 51 points 11 months ago (4 children)

How the fuck does anyone even afford to buy a house now? Billionaires keep buying them all out just to rent them out, to buy more houses. It's almost as bad as me trying to use a hula hoop.

[–] just_change_it 33 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

It's not just billionaires buying up all the housing, it's anyone who can afford the investment. Real estate makes interest in value year over year with minimal upkeep costs AND it generates revenue every year from rentals. If you manage to secure permits to convert it to multifamily you instantly split your house into two parts with nearly the same individual value, almost doubling the value on the spot at the cost of adding a couple of walls and doors and maybe a kitchen.

Real Estate as a source of investment and revenue goes contrary to the idea of accessible housing for everybody. If it's a lucrative investment with greater low risk returns than any other low risk investment type, why would anyone take more risk?

My landlord is 45 and owns 4 properties with a total of about a dozen units. He bought a small business with the income and retired from his job at a defense contractor. His total wealth is under 10m and he started with probably little more than 50k ~25 years ago. Low interest loans have done wonderfully for anyone turning a small amount of cash into a big amount, assuming you bought in the right place with the intent to rent out to middle class workers.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 11 months ago

Not to mention REITs, or real estate investment trusts. Entire corporations dedicated solely to buying up property for share holders.

[–] Blackbeard 13 points 11 months ago* (last edited 1 day ago)
[–] 7u5k3n 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Got a buddy on that exact same path.

  • Military Contractor
  • Started with "very little" money
  • Bought a rental here a rental there. Has like 10 now
  • Now he "works" for himself (read that as plays games on steam all day) and enjoys his passive income.

It's a bunch of shit that he's not taxed to below fiscal feasibility for his multiple single family homes.

[–] just_change_it 3 points 11 months ago

Make it so 50%+ of rent becomes equity and instantly housing becomes accessible to all. Can't rent without giving ownership to your tenants. Banks would get the lion's share of the income (it's their money anyway if you have a mortgage...) and owner occupied properties are still feasible.

No one's "value" would disappear either.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago

Yes. Vicious circle for the plebeians and virtuous circle for the rich. The rich get richer, the poor (I'm including the middle class because it's not like the 60s, 70s, 80s) get poorer.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

I had some lucky timing with an inheritance. Also two software engineer's salaries. Even then, it took a chunk out of our finances. We also got a bit lucky. The house was probably selling a little below its value and we got in right before the Fed really started pumping the brakes with interest rate increases.

[–] givesomefucks 4 points 11 months ago

I got permanently injured in the military, so qualified for a mortgage with no down payment. Just the total amount on the mortgage.

It was still cheaper then renting anything close to a comparable house.

People always talk about interest rates, but down payments are the real barrier to entry