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As the real estate market changes from a regional, local market to a more widespread area is probably one of the more subtle yet more important shift in the real estate market in recent years. In the previous years of the real estate profession the Agent would have a territory that he/she specialized their skills in. They would have an extreme knowledge in that area but would not venture outside that area (comfort zone). Since then there has been a gradual shift in the needs of the consumer. there are times that the consumer has a particular area in mind but for the most part the area that the consumer wants is actually a much larger region that the Agent is used to handling. Agent 2.0 has no limitations of region but services the county that they are based in and the immediate surrounding counties. This is of great value to the consumer because their knowledge of the product improves and therefore their service improves.

The consumer of today has to be considered as a corporation which is obtaining an asset to add to the overall wealth and health of that corporation. The new consumer is very well educated in the market and conditions of an area that they are interested in BEFORE they even contact Agent 2.0. The consumer of yesterday would find a home and fall in love with the home creating an emotional bond with it. Today that is not the case for the most part. Today the consumer views the transaction as a business deal so it is helpful that the agent can discuss the transaction in business terms and also connect on a emotional level because, lets face it, we still want to love the home that we live in. 

As I am reading this article by Catherine E. Schoichet and John Martin I am suprised and  sadly at the same time not suprised at the miss-communication that there seems to be between the communities that we serve, the clients that we are in partnership with and the public in general on this subject.

To briefly summarized the article, "There is a decrease in the Tampa Bay Region in the number of single family homes with a homestead exemption which evidences the likely rise in nonresident owners in the communities which they are in. It tells of resident owners in these communities becoming more frustrated with the tenant residents in these communities to the point of a desire to evict ones neighbors. It tells of community association meetings fraught with turmoil over the issue of tenants and the desire to have the home left vacant. "

I can understand the frustration of the residents of the communities with neighbors that do not take care of their homes, cause disruptions, and endanger the general health of the community.

HOWEVER

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents of legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability).

To blame a single class of people for the decline of a neighborhood seems a little extreme to me and unacceptable. I believe that if we look at this a little differently we can communicate better. This not a whom to blame question it is a let us do better challenge.

First let's start with the question of tenancy in a neighborhood and the benefit to the community in general.

 The community benefits from the increase in residents from different and diverse cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds. this adds strength to a community just as it does to any market. Tenants may be looking for a place to buy a home but decided to rent to see if the community was right for them, they may have just moved from a different area and need a place to live while they decide on where to live, they may be going through some life changing experience and are looking for some peace for a while and there are many more reasons for tenancy none newer than the credit difficulties getting loans to buy homes. There are, from time to time, tenants who are for some reason "bad" tenants. They let the home fall into disrepair, pay rent late or not at all and are disrespectful to their neighbors and the community in general. These are relatively few in numbers but they are the ones you read and hear about.

Secondly the owner of the home being rented.

The typical owner of the home that is rented had usually tried to sell the home so that they will be rid of the mortgage of the home. This is especially true if the homeowner resides in a different area or a different home within the community. The home typically has been on the market for an extended period of time with few offers and no offers that closed. They decide to rent the home to defer at least most of the mortgage payment, lease the home with an option of purchase at a future date or lease the home with a contract to purchase at a future date. These are all legitimate uses of the home and property and is guaranteed by their deed under the section dealing with the "quiet enjoyment" of their property.

Good tenants

Enough said. You never hear enough great things about them. They are an asset to the community.

Bad tenants.

The horror stories go on forever. Late on the rent when they do deign to pay it, destroy the home and allow it to fall into disrepair and the list is endless.

HOWEVER

Tenants, good and bad, have rights in the state of Florida there are too many to list and so please refer to the Landlord/Tenant Law (Chapter 83, Part II).  Removing a tenant is a long and expensive process and can result in significant damage to the residence so many do not evict for that reason alone and just wait for the lease to terminate.

The homeowner renting their home is usually a measure to guard against repossession of their home buy the bank (see my blog on short sales). And usually cannot screen potential candidates thoroughly but in their defense there are numerous apartment complexes, and other rental communities that spent a lot of money screening their applicants and find their fair share of bad tenants.

Leaving the home vacant.

Seriously?? Are you joking?? Do you fully expect that the owner, who is within his rights, not to rent their home if they can. If the community wishes for the home to be left vacant until which time it can be sold then they can lease it from the homeowner and take over the care and maintenance of the property until a suitable buyer can be found. This solves the alleged problem that the community is having and relieves the homeowner of his burden. If the homeowner has a bad tenant see how the association can help their neighbor in the removal of the bad tenant, in other words COMMUNICATE with your neighbor or community member. Stop blaming and start helping.

There are problems within communities everywhere but to blame a single class of people (renters) is short sighted and wrong. There are remedied provided for in the landlord/tenant act link above and instead of making the tenants feel outcast embrace them into your community, make them feel like they are at home and most of them will act like it.