Many believe the only reason people rent multifamily apartments is because of housing affordability, meaning; people only rent because they cannot afford to be home owners. This is simply not true. There are a myriad of reasons why people rent apartments. Following are just a few of those reasons.
Convenience. Apartments homes can provide varying types of convenience; close to work; easy commute to the city center, proximity to parks, etc. People define convenience in many ways. Convenience can be as simple as having the ability to make only a short-term commitment (one year lease versus owning forever). Convenience can be keeping one's options open to other opportunities by being mobile.
When traveling by myself I have a preference for full service hotels. When traveling with my family I prefer extended stay hotels. Each offers a certain type of "convenience" With full service I can order in and keep working. At extended stay if the kids want popcorn with the late night movie the microwave is right there next to the frig. Each type of property offers certain conveniences depending on my needs. The same argument can apply to renting versus owning.
Location. What's in an address? Do you live in Laguna Niguel or Anaheim? Queens or in the City? Oakland or Palo Alto? Regardless of where we call work, many people are willing to commute to live in a place that meets their desired standard of living. Schools come in to play, crime rates, public places, sure. But in the mix is finding a place that makes them feel good about themselves, their accomplishments, where they find themselves in life and comfort.
Lifestyle. Your perception is your reality. And with apartment homes these perceptions create a persona that generates differentiation based on amenities, size, style. In luxury properties it is not uncommon to see fresh flowers in the lobby every day. Do people place fresh flowers in their home each day? Some do but most do not. Yet a lifestyle property provides this amenity as part of your rental experience. We come to expect it and note it's absence. Lifestyle.
Price. There can be significant differentials between the price of renting versus buying in a certain place. Yet if we were to eliminate price we would still have people that prefer to rent rather than own. Why? Some recognize the costs of ownership is a commitment beyond the purchase price. Taxes can increase. Things break. Thus, price is only one of many reasons why a family may choose to rent rather than own the roof over their head.
Financial flexibility. In every price range there are home owners that have a mortgage with a balance higher than the property value. And sometimes prices go down (gasp- really?). So whereas home ownership, historically, was a great inflation hedge and potentially sound financial investment most people are now firmly aware that equity is a gift and not a right (we are using the word gift very loosely).
Look at this short list without your "business brain" for just minute. Notice that three of the five reasons people rent housing rather than buy housing is non-financial. Sure, I could have skewed this to be all about the numbers (costs per square foot, rental rates per square foot, etc). Consider that individuals and family's rent for reasons other than dollars and cents and fold this thinking into your leasing/marketing plans.
Please comment on the following questions:
Question: What are some additional reasons why people rent?
Question: What do you think is the single biggest reason people rent versus own?
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