eli5: If some California properties are cheaper to rent than own, how are these properties at all profitable for owners?

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Just learned that when accounting for property tax and maintenance expenses for some properties in HCOL areas (namely CA), the age old truth that it is “cheaper to own than rent” is not true in this example.

But if renting is cheaper, how is the owner not operating at a loss and not closing shop / raising rent?

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6 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Raising the rent might not be an option, either people not willing to pay more or legal issues around how much can be charged. Once the person has bought the property with the intention of renting it out to generate income, they don’t have many options, they can potentially sell the property, but depending on the housing market they may not get back what they paid for it. The other option is to sit on their hands collect what rent they can and hope for a better future.

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