Renters can rejoice that they were not caught up in this decade's real estate bubble.
A report in Reuters this week noted that 80% of homes across the country lost value during the past 12 months. The report, by the real estate tracking website Zillow, indicated that home values are expected to continue to decline.
You can read the full report by following this link:
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN1339409420090514?ref=patrick.net
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
ATA To Launch Nationwide Membership Drive
Scottsdale, AZ, May 11, 2009. The American Tenants Association (ATA), the voice of the country’s 95 million residential renters, said today it is mobilizing the thousands of local tenant organizations scattered throughout the United States in order to strengthen common efforts on behalf of residential tenants.
The ATA said it is developing a comprehensive database of tenants rights advocates and groups to increase the political, economic and cultural clout of tenants at the local, state and national levels.
“For too long, residential renters have been the nation’s political step children,” the ATA’s Executive Director William M. Deegan, said. “Renters are either routinely treated with benign neglect or trampled on by politicians more interested in serving the needs of the nation’s property owners. If we are not ignored in shaping public policy we are discriminated against. If we are not denied the right to basic human decency we are taxed to further the political agenda of the ruling class. The ATA is stepping up to say that these days are over. We are mobilizing and organizing tenants throughout the land to stop this blatant discrimination”, Mr. Deegan added.
Stan Dale, the ATA’s Director of Public Policy, said that the group is reaching out to similar organizations and tenant advocates with the objective of building political strength.
“Tenants tend to be poor, young families, minorities and senior citizens. Their collective participation in the political process is historically much lower than the privileged class. We will increase our political muscle by working with like-minded tenant advocates and groups throughout the country to get tenants into the voting booths. The ATA is leading the revolution in the way renters think about themselves and the way America views renters”, Mr. Dale said.
The ATA is serving as an umbrella group for all tenants associations by providing technical and consulting services through its growing list of supporters.
The American Tenants Association is the country’s only nationwide, grassroots organization representing America’s renters. Membership is free and is open to all residential renters and advocates of tenant rights.
The ATA said it is developing a comprehensive database of tenants rights advocates and groups to increase the political, economic and cultural clout of tenants at the local, state and national levels.
“For too long, residential renters have been the nation’s political step children,” the ATA’s Executive Director William M. Deegan, said. “Renters are either routinely treated with benign neglect or trampled on by politicians more interested in serving the needs of the nation’s property owners. If we are not ignored in shaping public policy we are discriminated against. If we are not denied the right to basic human decency we are taxed to further the political agenda of the ruling class. The ATA is stepping up to say that these days are over. We are mobilizing and organizing tenants throughout the land to stop this blatant discrimination”, Mr. Deegan added.
Stan Dale, the ATA’s Director of Public Policy, said that the group is reaching out to similar organizations and tenant advocates with the objective of building political strength.
“Tenants tend to be poor, young families, minorities and senior citizens. Their collective participation in the political process is historically much lower than the privileged class. We will increase our political muscle by working with like-minded tenant advocates and groups throughout the country to get tenants into the voting booths. The ATA is leading the revolution in the way renters think about themselves and the way America views renters”, Mr. Dale said.
The ATA is serving as an umbrella group for all tenants associations by providing technical and consulting services through its growing list of supporters.
The American Tenants Association is the country’s only nationwide, grassroots organization representing America’s renters. Membership is free and is open to all residential renters and advocates of tenant rights.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Listen to Jon Lansner's Podcast!
Bill Deegan and Stan Dale of the American Tenants Association were recent guests of Jon Lansner on his real estate blog podcast. Mr. Lansner is the Orange County Register's real estate blogger and has a nationwide audience.
You can listen to the broadcast by following this link:
http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/tag/american-tenants-association/
You can listen to the broadcast by following this link:
http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/tag/american-tenants-association/
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Think Green!
The Australian Alternative Technology Association has published a 16 page booklet entitled the Renters Guide to Sustainable Living. The booklet details how tenants can make positive changes to their home home to make it more comfortable, save money and reduce their environmental impact. The booklet offers tips for the whole house, showing room-to-room ideas on how to cut greenhouse gas emissions and is helpful for anyone looking to lighten their carbon footprint.
You can download the booklet for free by following this link:
http://www.ata.org.au/wp-content/sustainability/ata_renters_guide_sustainability.pdf
You can download the booklet for free by following this link:
http://www.ata.org.au/wp-content/sustainability/ata_renters_guide_sustainability.pdf
Saturday, May 2, 2009
ATA Fights Tucson Sales Tax on Rents
Scottsdale, Arizona, May 2, 2009. The American Tenants Association, the country’s only nationwide, grassroots advocate for the rights of residential renters, came out in support today of Tucson tenants fighting a proposed 2% sales tax on rents.
Calling the tax “regressive and discriminatory”, William M. Deegan, the ATA’s Executive Director, said that the tax falls too heavily on the poor, the elderly living on fixed incomes and young families. “This tax singles out those least able to afford it. At a time when everyone is being asked to cut back, it’s unfair for the city to load another financial burden on the backs of residential renters”, he noted.
Mr. Deegan indicated that the proposed rent tax is discriminatory because it is not assessed against property owners. “Renters pay for city services just as owners do. Our rents include payments for property taxes, garbage pick-up and water and sewer fees. To exclude property owners from the equation goes against every known concept of fairness”, he added.
The ATA says it has written to the Mayor and all members of the Tucson City Council to express its views. The City has until June 9 to adopt a final budget.
Noting that the rent tax is endemic in Arizona, Stan Dale, the ATA’s Director of Public Policy, said that the organization will launch an effort to eliminate discriminatory rent taxes throughout Arizona. “More than 25 Arizona cities have enacted a rent tax. This is blatant, institutionalized discrimination. The ATA will work to see that these taxes are eliminated”, Mr. Dale concluded.
Based in Scottsdale, the American Tenants Association serves as the voice for the more than 95 million Americans who rent their homes. Membership in the ATA is free and is open to all residential renters and advocates of tenants’ rights.
Calling the tax “regressive and discriminatory”, William M. Deegan, the ATA’s Executive Director, said that the tax falls too heavily on the poor, the elderly living on fixed incomes and young families. “This tax singles out those least able to afford it. At a time when everyone is being asked to cut back, it’s unfair for the city to load another financial burden on the backs of residential renters”, he noted.
Mr. Deegan indicated that the proposed rent tax is discriminatory because it is not assessed against property owners. “Renters pay for city services just as owners do. Our rents include payments for property taxes, garbage pick-up and water and sewer fees. To exclude property owners from the equation goes against every known concept of fairness”, he added.
The ATA says it has written to the Mayor and all members of the Tucson City Council to express its views. The City has until June 9 to adopt a final budget.
Noting that the rent tax is endemic in Arizona, Stan Dale, the ATA’s Director of Public Policy, said that the organization will launch an effort to eliminate discriminatory rent taxes throughout Arizona. “More than 25 Arizona cities have enacted a rent tax. This is blatant, institutionalized discrimination. The ATA will work to see that these taxes are eliminated”, Mr. Dale concluded.
Based in Scottsdale, the American Tenants Association serves as the voice for the more than 95 million Americans who rent their homes. Membership in the ATA is free and is open to all residential renters and advocates of tenants’ rights.
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