Comments on Next Week in the Legislature

It's about affordable home ownership. I posit the lack of comments on Josh's post over the last couple days indicates that there aren't teeming masses of renters who feel threatened by condo conversions. Perhaps they are aware that condo conversions keep costs for owning a home lower by increasing the supply of units available on the market. Perhaps they are happy with the idea that they, too, may some day be able to own a piece of real estate in Seattle. Perhaps Jamie Pedersen is helping his constituents--the residents of the 43rd--by making the prospects of homeownership in Seattle brighter.

I rent; should this building convert, I'll move or buy. I and every other renter know this the day we move in.

This article ignores how these costs would be reflected in rent. Landlords paying move-out fees, stuck with poorly-occupied properties they can't convert, or dealing with arbitrary conversion schedules still need to make a profit.

And you know what? I don't need to pay higher monthly rent so that I can be coddled at move-out time. We're smart enough to realize that our apartments will last until we or the landlord finds a better deal, whether from a conversion or another renter. No surprises here.