Re:Rent Control Creates Higher Rents in SF
by erroneousfunk on Tuesday March 17, 2015 @10:29AM
(#9218138)
Homeowners are buying into houses that have inflated market rates because of the surrounding rent controlled units (same segment of the population fighting over inflated homes/apartments). Yes, it's difficult to move if you own a home -- you need to arrange buying and selling and transferring assets and all of that. However, you actually have more freedom to move to an area that does not have rent control (cheaper average home prices, all other factors considered), or move to a similarly priced home in the same general area.
You're trapped for logistical reasons that are surmountable with a little work. You're not trapped in the sense that you absolutely can't afford to move anywhere else in your city, because of overinflated residence costs.
I appreciate rent control because I value so much the little free time I have from work, given to me by more stable cost of living (I live in Berlin). And I know I couldn't handle the constant necessity to fight for pay increases to cover dramatic increases in rent and insurance over time. Other people are more skilled at this nuanced life but my point is for some it works, and others not. I think having a Government that tries to keep large costs at steady is much better than them paying for subsidies which may just wind up inflating the prices.