Comments on: Rent or Own? Zillow has the answers…sort of

By: anna

anna — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:22:21 +0000

Always Buy: your advice is irresponsible to today’s buyer in SF who needs to be careful indeed before jumping in. There is no blanket assurance a home will be worth more when we want to sell it, especially if we can’t wait out the time required to appreciate a profit.

By: ah boom

ah boom — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:13:54 +0000

“I feel sorry for people who were tricked into renting for the past 5 years while SF prices continue to go up.”

Wow, thanks for that little bit of smuggery. You inspired an entire post on my blog. Enjoy your creation:

http://submedian.blogspot.com/2008/04/whats-diff-spring-2008.html

By: AlwaysBuy

AlwaysBuy — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:51:41 +0000

Finally, the rental stock is ALWAYS inferior to the for sale stock. I feel bad for the people who in rent controlled apartments for the past 10 years. What an irony to miss out on so much, and yet live in the same place you did 10 years ago.

By: AlwaysBuy

AlwaysBuy — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:50:01 +0000

I think in general, this question does not pertain to most people in SF. Very few people have the option to buy or rent, generally just the option to rent. Most people who have the option to buy, just buy because they don’t want to flush the money away, they have a big tax bill, and they know in the long run they’ll come out ahead. So, this question is a slap in the face to the 70%+ people in SF who rent.

I know one guy who started renting when he was 23, had a chance to buy at 28, and is now a 40 year old renter! To cope with spending $400,000 in after tax money on rent over the past 17 years, and missing out on the real estate explosion, he created a blog Renters are generally more pessimistic, less wealthy, less educated, and transient people with commitment issues. Anybody with 10 years of work experience and still renting is definiely behind the ball.

I feel sorry for people who were tricked into renting for the past 5 years while SF prices continue to go up.

By: thefrontsteps

thefrontsteps — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:44:25 +0000

We like the simplification of the dilemma! We thought it was a good post, which is why we linked to it.

By: Diane Tuman

Diane Tuman — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:34:50 +0000

Hey Alexander: I do simply think that once it’s established that you have enough money to buy a home, it’s a matter of lifestyle and location. Maybe I was simplifying it too much, but that’s my takeaway. Suprisingly, there are many people who have the means, but they don’t want to be tied down. Could be the big C — commitment issues. Thanks for the mention on your blog. Also, love the big “Z” for Zephyr Real Estate.