Last night on FB, I had this post come up in my feed, and I can't quit thinking about it. This is probably the question of the year in Great Falls.

"making 3x the rent isn't really a requirement anymore right"

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Current post on Great Falls Rentals

And this post wasn't far behind

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For rent ad on FB

I'd like you to note a couple of things here:

$250 pet deposit PER PET and $50/$25 a month rent for your pet ON TOP of the $3,000 a month price tag.

Next, a monthly income 3 times rent.  How many people do you know in Great Falls, that pull down $9,000 a month/ $108,000 a year?  The average income in Great Falls is $29,909.  Using the 1/3 of your income rule, that's about $700 a month for housing.

I'm not saying being a landlord is easy, or that all tenants love your property the way you love your property.  I'm saying that you all are forgetting where you live, who the renters are and what they can afford.  An empty house won't make your house payment for you.

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I've also noticed an uptick in future renters laughing on high priced rental posts and being bold in their statements to landlords in general.  Then, last week this group came up on my feed.

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Private landlord support group

Last week, this wasn't a private group.  The day I saw it, the moderator was arguing with potential renters about prices and the reason for this group.  The moderator swore up and down it wasn't to out those laughing at prices or to bad mouth renters.  Now, it's private.  Not really backing the "share information" argument being given last week.  If the things going on in this group were above board, it would be a benefit for everyone to have this be a public group.

Here are a couple of posts I found that make me thankful for my decent landlords every single day.  If they raised my rent, I'd be FORCED to move, and I honestly don't think I'd find anywhere to live.  Just like these neighbors in our little Montana city.

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Desperate for a rental

And this

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Seeking a rental

How is it that a 15 year old having a job now factors into rent?  Despicable.  

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Searching for a rental

I could have added another 20 or so posts for good renters that have been priced out of housing in their home town.  And if you notice, they don't ALL have pets. And even if they did, the deposit at the price of a months rent along with your property insurance should cover any damage.  And you all know it.

I don't have any kind of statement or idea that's going to fix this situation except to vote.  We must get the people in Great Falls with this entitlement mindset out of office.  Montana doesn't have any kind of rent control on the books.  However, the entitlement mindset is encouraged and cheered at the local level.  I could start pontificating on all the things Elite Great Falls does to "keep out the riff raff", but I won't. It's really depressing and disappointing.  I'll just leave it at vote the entitled outThey don't speak for you.  They speak for the private landlord group.

 

 

 

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