Bernie's Plan To Fix The Housing Crisis

keenobserver

Worshipped Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Posts
8,550
Media
0
Likes
13,945
Points
433
Location
east coast usa
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Bernie Sanders’s housing-for-all plan, explained

What do you guys think of it?

I don't like the rent the control aspect of it, but I do like the parts about increasing the supply.

I give him props for addressing the issue. Rent control is a giant cluster fuck. It is needed in some areas but it brings more problems. Landlords let property deteriorate, tenants try to game the system unfairly, and it is expensive to police it and enforce it. It will never pass - with rent control. A subsidy plan might work with an expanded supply. In my community developer built houses under a HUD program that people have to rent for seven years then can buy at a below market price and get financing. He filled 60 units and six years later all the original tenants are still there and the units are being kept up because everyone has a stake in it. If there needs to be rent control - and I accept that it is needed in some places, better to keep the administration local and limited.
 

seventiesdemon

Superior Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
May 25, 2019
Posts
4,927
Media
7
Likes
5,609
Points
383
Location
Australia
Sexuality
69% Straight, 31% Gay
Landlords need Tenants, Tenants need Landlords. If the process becomes too restrictive there will be fewer investors in the market, less supply. Driving up the rent.

I believe good tenants should be rewarded with lower rent, good lease agreement and modest increases in rent. Bad tenants who willfully damage property, not care for it while they are the occupant are not given the same right.

Again it's up to the landlord to make his or her property attractive to a prospective tenant. If there is an oversupply, again it would not be worthwhile investing. It is difficult for people with large dogs or animals to find properties to rent. There is a whole market out there for landlords who go the extra yard and place a comfortable and safe dog enclosure in the backyard, plus the owner of the pets would not mind paying a little extra in rent for this little extra benefit.

There's no easy fix to demand and supply or supply and demand....sometimes over regulating something causes more issues...and there will always be someone who will profit from that....of this you can be sure..
 

Perados

Superior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2007
Posts
11,002
Media
9
Likes
2,505
Points
333
Location
Germany
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Rent control doesn't work... either the regulations are too soft and rents keep on increasing, or regulations are too hard and people won't invest.

The best way is a massive investment by the state.
Push the supply until the rents drop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wallyj84

TexanStar

Worshipped Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Posts
10,497
Media
0
Likes
14,970
Points
183
Location
Fort Worth (Texas, United States)
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male

tenor.gif
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,957
Points
333
Location
United States
Rent control doesn't work... either the regulations are too soft and rents keep on increasing, or regulations are too hard and people won't invest.

The best way is a massive investment by the state.
Push the supply until the rents drop.

I completely agree. I think the problem with that solution is that if you drastically increase the supply,it will negatively home prices and that will hurt home owners. So it is good for people looking to buy or rent, but bad for people who already own a home.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Perados

bar4doug

Loved Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Posts
1,555
Media
0
Likes
625
Points
333
Location
United States
Gender
Male
Rent control doesn't work... either the regulations are too soft and rents keep on increasing, or regulations are too hard and people won't invest.

The best way is a massive investment by the state.
Push the supply until the rents drop.

Rent control works for politicians by making sure they have a large voting block. It destroys housing stock, drives those not in controlled units to over-pay for the remaining stock, and results in people staying in units far longer than they normally would if the market were uncontrolled.

The simple fact that public housing in many cities is in poor-ass shape should be the tell that "rent control" doesn't work. If the government can't afford to maintain public housing because it is underfunded, why should government force private landlords to do the same by collecting below-market rates?

Not everyone is going to be able to afford to live in a five-bedroom apartment on Central Park for $1000 per month. People will move to where the housing is affordable. And that means change.

NYCHA proves that he state has no place in being a landlord. I am hoping that some court realizes that rent control violates the takings clause of the Constitution.
 

Industrialsize

Mythical Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Posts
22,237
Media
213
Likes
31,757
Points
618
Location
Kathmandu (Bagmati Province, Nepal)
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Rent control works for politicians by making sure they have a large voting block. It destroys housing stock, drives those not in controlled units to over-pay for the remaining stock, and results in people staying in units far longer than they normally would if the market were uncontrolled.

The simple fact that public housing in many cities is in poor-ass shape should be the tell that "rent control" doesn't work. If the government can't afford to maintain public housing because it is underfunded, why should government force private landlords to do the same by collecting below-market rates?

Not everyone is going to be able to afford to live in a five-bedroom apartment on Central Park for $1000 per month. People will move to where the housing is affordable. And that means change.

NYCHA proves that he state has no place in being a landlord. I am hoping that some court realizes that rent control violates the takings clause of the Constitution.
Rent control and underfunded public housing are 2 completely different issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: keenobserver

bar4doug

Loved Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Posts
1,555
Media
0
Likes
625
Points
333
Location
United States
Gender
Male
Rent control and underfunded public housing are 2 completely different issues.

I disagree. The failure of underfunded public housing indicates that the "rents" charged are not sufficient, and that the state must spend more out-of-pocket to maintain the housing stock. Rent Control does the same, except that it replaces the state with a private land-lord.

Housing, especially in more popular cities, isn't cheap to maintain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thikn2velvet1

Industrialsize

Mythical Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Posts
22,237
Media
213
Likes
31,757
Points
618
Location
Kathmandu (Bagmati Province, Nepal)
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
I disagree. The failure of underfunded public housing indicates that the "rents" charged are not sufficient, and that the state must spend more out-of-pocket to maintain the housing stock. Rent Control does the same, except that it replaces the state with a private land-lord.

Housing, especially in more popular cities, isn't cheap to maintain.
You're funny. You don't understand the concept of subsidized, public housing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: keenobserver

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,957
Points
333
Location
United States
Rent control works for politicians by making sure they have a large voting block. It destroys housing stock, drives those not in controlled units to over-pay for the remaining stock, and results in people staying in units far longer than they normally would if the market were uncontrolled.

The simple fact that public housing in many cities is in poor-ass shape should be the tell that "rent control" doesn't work. If the government can't afford to maintain public housing because it is underfunded, why should government force private landlords to do the same by collecting below-market rates?

Not everyone is going to be able to afford to live in a five-bedroom apartment on Central Park for $1000 per month. People will move to where the housing is affordable. And that means change.

NYCHA proves that he state has no place in being a landlord. I am hoping that some court realizes that rent control violates the takings clause of the Constitution.

Public housing works in other countries. Our approach to public housing is wrong, not the idea itself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: keenobserver

bar4doug

Loved Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Posts
1,555
Media
0
Likes
625
Points
333
Location
United States
Gender
Male
You're funny. You don't understand the concept of subsidized, public housing.

Nope. I understand it completely.
Housing costs SOMEBODY a certain amount of money. The only difference is who bears that cost.

Subsidized, Public Housing implies that the government subsidizes the true cost, absorbing some, and charging tenants less than what their (tenant's) cost would be if they were renting in the private sector or were financing the purchase of the home. The government gets these subsidies from taxes paid by others (private sector), since the housing authority itself doesn't pay property / school taxes. The subsidies are funded through a budget line-item.

In theory, there should be enough tax revenue to maintain the public housing at a decent standard of living. In NYC, at least, this is far from the truth. There isn't adequate funds to maintain what are now 50 year old buildings / infrastructure. The debate of if this is due to waste, corruption, real high cost, or not enough tax revenue can be debated. (Same can be said for roads, bridges, mass transit, etc.) I don't think we need to debate the concept.

Am I off the mark?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thikn2velvet1

bar4doug

Loved Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Posts
1,555
Media
0
Likes
625
Points
333
Location
United States
Gender
Male
Public housing works in other countries. Our approach to public housing is wrong, not the idea itself.

I have no issue with public housing, per se. My issue with it, if you can call it an issue, is that it costs WAY much more than people think, so it gets run-down. To "fix" it, implies that money has to be redirected from somewhere else to pay for it, and that means either taxes are raised, or services are cut. Very unpopular choices for those seeking re-election.
 

bar4doug

Loved Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Posts
1,555
Media
0
Likes
625
Points
333
Location
United States
Gender
Male
No one else has any thoughts on this?

What are your opinions on how to fix the housing issue or public housing in general?

The "Housing Issue" is really several issues. They all can't be solved without creating problems elsewhere.

Which problem shall we attack first?

1. Affordable housing in popular big cities?
2. Run-down public housing in popular big cities?
3. Vacant housing in areas where jobs are not plentiful?
4. Jobs which will lead to people no longer needing public housing in popular big cities?
5. Affordable mobility for those who need public assistance? (Which dictates where they eventually live / work).

I am sure there are other sub-issues.
 

keenobserver

Worshipped Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Posts
8,550
Media
0
Likes
13,945
Points
433
Location
east coast usa
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
The "Housing Issue" is really several issues. They all can't be solved without creating problems elsewhere.

Which problem shall we attack first?

1. Affordable housing in popular big cities?
2. Run-down public housing in popular big cities?
3. Vacant housing in areas where jobs are not plentiful?
4. Jobs which will lead to people no longer needing public housing in popular big cities?
5. Affordable mobility for those who need public assistance? (Which dictates where they eventually live / work).

I am sure there are other sub-issues.

You hit quite a few of the issues that come up with public housing - all of which need to be addressed. I put myself through college and worked afterward selling real estate in the DC area. It was quite an education. Presently I live in my original hometown, a rut belt city in a rural area with declining and aging populations. Tax base is weak, the economy is geared towards tourism - which is weak in and of itself, and an aging, retired population. For the mailman the worst day of the week is when the AARP magazine comes out - a heavy load to carry.

The experience here with public housing has been good. During the boom years when we were heavily industrialized the city built three separate public housing projects to clear slums. It worked well, of the three projects two are still open and active in excellent condition because they are publicly owned and the city maintains them with city paid staff. The funding comes from rents (33% of the household income per unit) and grants from the state and Federal government. There are no line items on the city budget for housing - it is covered off the city budget - but of course the state and Fed money comes from taxes. In addition, the third project was razed and rebuilt as a town house project - again with subsidized rents. It was a public project. We have three senior projects - apartments that are all public and operate and are funded as the others are funded. All are well maintained and fully occupied. The tenants in all the projects maintain a tenants association to keep in touch and resolve issues with project management. Lately we have also built several private projects that work because of tax breaks built into the design on the projects. Two of them are rent to own housing, that leases for seven years and then converts to a mortgage. They are six years old and seem to be working well. The other two are apartments that adjust the rent on a sliding scale for seniors. Nice buildings, privately owned, no public money to build, just tax credits for lower income residents.

As a city we have a lot of old housing that needs to be torn down - some of it is still solid but no one wants to buy it. One house is a brick and stone rambler, 2br. one bath that is being sold completely furnished - with nice furniture, no less for 25,000. USD. Yes, you can buy a habitable house here for 25K. And yet we still fill public housing.

My point is it can work well, but it takes on going work. When I saw projects in the city and suburbs of DC the biggest problem is the projects are neglected because governments do not want to put the money into upkeep, or they contracted it out to private contractors who are profit oriented but not results oriented. The biggest problem with these and other programs is that once launched, politicians stamp the problem solved and then neglect it to its death. The stories of how Trump robbed his projects by creating his own maintenance companies and subcontractors to over bill are not unique to him.

Well maintained and run we see that these projects fill a need effectively and are not breeding grounds for crime and drugs as they are often seen to be in other places. I went to school with and have known many people who were former project people who got out because they had a save place to live while their parents worked under middle income jobs or were disabled or unemployed altogether. The idea we need to eliminate is that government cannot address these issues - properly staffed and funded, it can and does.
 

Thikn2velvet1

Loved Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Posts
2,715
Media
0
Likes
748
Points
148
Bernie,” Free stuff for everyone!” Free housing, free college, free healthcare, free food, freedom from debt, free, free, free! And somebody else will
pay for it!

If that isn’t his message, what is his message?
 

keenobserver

Worshipped Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Posts
8,550
Media
0
Likes
13,945
Points
433
Location
east coast usa
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Bernie,” Free stuff for everyone!” Free housing, free college, free healthcare, free food, freedom from debt, free, free, free! And somebody else will
pay for it!

If that isn’t his message, what is his message?

Isn't is close to the time when you start your shift under a bridge somewhere?