>> Barbara Lickness writes: >> I would be interested in an honest discussion about >> the true vacancy rate, average rent prices, costs of >> providing rental units etc. and the things >> contributing to the problems of high vacancy rates and >> rent prices.
I suspect that there are a number of factors that have caused the rental market to go upside down. One such factor, I suspect, is the increased access to home purchases. We've seen a consistently strong private home ownership market over the past several years. Mortgages are much more available and much less expensive. Initial costs (e.g. down payment, closing costs, etc) have declined with a variety of low-cost (sometimes "no-cost") programs available. Less expensive "starter homes" (and make sure you include townhomes in this category) have been available as their owners have decided to move up to larger homes. During the past several years when the economy was hurting, residential real estate kept chugging along. Rick Mons Shoreview REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
