Day 21: We made an exception

[Stan-and-Jan0]

This is about a young lady who needed a safe place to land after something happened in her life that would cause her to start over in a new city. She left friends and family behind to make a new life.

She needed a place to stay for a month or more.  She was traveling with her emotional support pup named Sophie. We have a policy of no pets but we met her a the local coffee shop to talk with her and to meet her pup.  We decided to make an exception and let her stay at our place until she found a more permanent place to live. We were happy to help this young lady out and give her a safe place to land while she "figured it out".  While she was here, she found a more permanent place to live and is now on her merry way. 

It's nice to know played a small part in helping her get settled in a new place.

[Cathie19]

🙌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💐🎄 @Stan-and-Jan0 .

[Stan-and-Jan0]

@Cathie19 
Thanks!
Happy New Year!

Stan

[Miloud0]

Salute @Stan-and-Jan0, 

I hope that you could tell us the other stories in future. Thank you so much for you too 

Thanks, 

Miloud

[Stan-and-Jan0]

@Maloud0

Would love to share more stories as time allows.  Cheers!

[Robin4]

@Stan-and-Jan0 

Our gut tells us a lot in life I think!

I can't tell you the number of times I have taken a risk when hosting a 'cleanskin' with no past record, or someone who has a hard luck story.

But I have only really been let down once. I have loved the fact that I have been able to get a few guests Airbnb career off to a good start. 

The ones I have had an issue with are those who have learned how to 'game' the system.....and I am getting better at picking them!

You trusted your gut Jan, you helped someone in need, and it paid off.....good on you.

Cheers......Rob

[Stan-and-Jan0]

@Robin4- Thank you for sharing. We've been doing this for a long time and so far we have only had a few bad situations. It's important to recognize red flags and listen to your gut for sure.

Happy New Year and Cheers!

Stan

[Ann489]

@Stan-and-Jan0   That's a wonderful story!  Given the terrible lack of affordable housing here in Boise, she got extremely lucky to have found a place!

[Stan-and-Jan0]

@Ann489  - Thank you for the kind comments. Glad to hear from a fellow Boisean. We love Boise, Idaho.

I could write an entire chapter on the issue of the lack of "affordable housing" but this short summary will have to suffice.

It's a fact that affordable housing is in short supply in virtually ALL high demand cities like Boise. With regards to home prices, it is PARTLY a supply and demand issue. Not enough supply the prices go up. But there is one other thing that is driving up housing prices. Is is the idea that with so many people coming in from other states and cities where real estate is outrageously expensive, there are many, many buyers coming into the market with plenty of cash. Since a cash buyer is far less likely to need a lender there's no need for any type comparative market analysis. Real estate values (comps) are skewed when cash transactions are included in the selling price samples. Cash transactions should be excluded from the comparable used to valuate real estate for selling purposes. When a cash buyer finds a home they want, they simply offer whatever price the seller is asking. 

I think one way to get ahead of this affordability issue is for private and public entities to team up and build where there are a mix of apartments, town homes, and single family homes all priced meet various levels of income. Construction should go full steam ahead at a faster rate until the market goes from a "sellers market" to a "neutral market" so that supply is balanced with demand.

Have a great new year!
Stan

[Yadira22]

@Stan-and-Jan0 This is so lovely of you! Thank you for sharing and happy holidays 💓

[Stan-and-Jan0]

@Yadira22- Thank you for the kind comments!

Have a wonderful new year!

Stan