Missing Middle middle finger -- seller insists on SFH restriction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure the next owner can remove that covenant if they want.

Literally.

The builder can buy it, do some "renovations", call it a flip, then sell it to their brother/real estate partner a month later, and the owner has no say whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Missing Middle has nothing to do with the poors. Sorry that you fell for the developer-funded YIMBY marketing.

Yeah, covenants are totally legit and not illegal.

Sincerely,
the Supreme Court

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think the long game of the YIMBYs is that plexes will flood the market with rentals and bring the rent down. I don't think it was ever about homeownership for them. The leader of the YIMBYs in Arlington has said she will rent for life. (There's nothing wrong with renting, but it was packaged up as something to help people reach the American dream of home ownership to sell it more broadly).

This is correct, but the bolded part is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure the next owner can remove that covenant if they want.

Literally.

The builder can buy it, do some "renovations", call it a flip, then sell it to their brother/real estate partner a month later, and the owner has no say whatsoever.

Of course, I’m sure that the owner knows this. Curious, are these “renovations” going to require permits? They’d better be sure that everything is on the up and up, because boy, if they were doing that next door to me the inspectors would get to know that property very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think the long game of the YIMBYs is that plexes will flood the market with rentals and bring the rent down. I don't think it was ever about homeownership for them. The leader of the YIMBYs in Arlington has said she will rent for life. (There's nothing wrong with renting, but it was packaged up as something to help people reach the American dream of home ownership to sell it more broadly).

This is correct, but the bolded part is wrong.

The bolder part is not wrong. I was at a meeting in Arlington sponsored by an ecumenical group, and two members of the Arlington County board spoke. Tenants groups from two low income apartment communities participated. One Council member assured the tenants that Missing Middle would provide homeownership opportunities for them. She even mimicked a shout and call by saying the will be long and hard but we will get you there. She repeated it bongo drums. When builders showed Arlington the numbers they needed to make it work, the backed off and changed the name to Expanded Housing Options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure the next owner can remove that covenant if they want.

Literally.

The builder can buy it, do some "renovations", call it a flip, then sell it to their brother/real estate partner a month later, and the owner has no say whatsoever.

Of course, I’m sure that the owner knows this. Curious, are these “renovations” going to require permits? They’d better be sure that everything is on the up and up, because boy, if they were doing that next door to me the inspectors would get to know that property very well.

The house is under contract to a builder. It is more expensive to renovate than to tear down and build new, bigger, and pricier in a top location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think the long game of the YIMBYs is that plexes will flood the market with rentals and bring the rent down. I don't think it was ever about homeownership for them. The leader of the YIMBYs in Arlington has said she will rent for life. (There's nothing wrong with renting, but it was packaged up as something to help people reach the American dream of home ownership to sell it more broadly).

This is correct, but the bolded part is wrong.

I literally still have the infographic from the county saying "expanded housing options create more opportunities for first-time homebuyers." There were also materials showing the likely price of various units such as duplexes, townhouses, etc. Could you explain what you mean? What you are saying is inconsistent with the county's own materials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure the next owner can remove that covenant if they want.

Literally.

The builder can buy it, do some "renovations", call it a flip, then sell it to their brother/real estate partner a month later, and the owner has no say whatsoever.

Of course, I’m sure that the owner knows this. Curious, are these “renovations” going to require permits? They’d better be sure that everything is on the up and up, because boy, if they were doing that next door to me the inspectors would get to know that property very well.

I think that's why the word renovations was in quotes... as in, they probably don't even need to renovate, if we're being honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The seller wants to keep his neighborhood a wealthy enclave and free of the undesirable middle class. I appreciate the transparency.

It’s not middle class. It’s other wealthy people buying this stuff. They just needed the MC renters to do the developers dirty work. I don’t think a single MM project that was available for purchase is less than $1.2M

Right. I live in Green Valley in Arlington, so maybe the least desirable Arlington neighborhood? lol. These three townhome took the spot of one SFH. And they sold for 1 million.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2136-S-Nelson-St-22204/home/172271124

I believe Green Valley has been excluded from Missing Middle, but that does not mean private developers cannot buy lots and have them rezoned to townhouse zoning.

No neighborhoods were excluded from EHO, which is my problem with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The seller wants to keep his neighborhood a wealthy enclave and free of the undesirable middle class. I appreciate the transparency.

It’s not middle class. It’s other wealthy people buying this stuff. They just needed the MC renters to do the developers dirty work. I don’t think a single MM project that was available for purchase is less than $1.2M

Right. I live in Green Valley in Arlington, so maybe the least desirable Arlington neighborhood? lol. These three townhome took the spot of one SFH. And they sold for 1 million.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2136-S-Nelson-St-22204/home/172271124

I believe Green Valley has been excluded from Missing Middle, but that does not mean private developers cannot buy lots and have them rezoned to townhouse zoning.

No neighborhoods were excluded from EHO, which is my problem with it.

I had also heard that Green Valley and Penrose were excluded from EHO and one of the civic leaders in Halls Hill is trying to exclude that community. I believe there were about 150 properties excluded from EHO in these areas: Columbia Pike Special Revitalization District, the Cherrydale Revitalization Plan, and near the East Falls Church Metro.

I also have information from Arlington County saying that Missing Middle would improve homeownership opportunities for buyers but the implications was it was for "middle class" households who could not afford a $1.3M townhouse which Missing Middle will provide. That's why the name was changed from Missing Middle to Expanded Housing Opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The seller wants to keep his neighborhood a wealthy enclave and free of the undesirable middle class. I appreciate the transparency.

It’s not middle class. It’s other wealthy people buying this stuff. They just needed the MC renters to do the developers dirty work. I don’t think a single MM project that was available for purchase is less than $1.2M

Right. I live in Green Valley in Arlington, so maybe the least desirable Arlington neighborhood? lol. These three townhome took the spot of one SFH. And they sold for 1 million.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2136-S-Nelson-St-22204/home/172271124

I believe Green Valley has been excluded from Missing Middle, but that does not mean private developers cannot buy lots and have them rezoned to townhouse zoning.

No neighborhoods were excluded from EHO, which is my problem with it.

I had also heard that Green Valley and Penrose were excluded from EHO and one of the civic leaders in Halls Hill is trying to exclude that community. I believe there were about 150 properties excluded from EHO in these areas: Columbia Pike Special Revitalization District, the Cherrydale Revitalization Plan, and near the East Falls Church Metro.

I also have information from Arlington County saying that Missing Middle would improve homeownership opportunities for buyers but the implications was it was for "middle class" households who could not afford a $1.3M townhouse which Missing Middle will provide. That's why the name was changed from Missing Middle to Expanded Housing Opportunities.

I have no idea why the poster upthread said it wasn't marketed as a way to provide home ownership opportunities at lower price points. It absolutely was. I have multiple emails from the county spanning several years stating this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The seller wants to keep his neighborhood a wealthy enclave and free of the undesirable middle class. I appreciate the transparency.

It’s not middle class. It’s other wealthy people buying this stuff. They just needed the MC renters to do the developers dirty work. I don’t think a single MM project that was available for purchase is less than $1.2M

Right. I live in Green Valley in Arlington, so maybe the least desirable Arlington neighborhood? lol. These three townhome took the spot of one SFH. And they sold for 1 million.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2136-S-Nelson-St-22204/home/172271124

I believe Green Valley has been excluded from Missing Middle, but that does not mean private developers cannot buy lots and have them rezoned to townhouse zoning.

No neighborhoods were excluded from EHO, which is my problem with it.

I had also heard that Green Valley and Penrose were excluded from EHO and one of the civic leaders in Halls Hill is trying to exclude that community. I believe there were about 150 properties excluded from EHO in these areas: Columbia Pike Special Revitalization District, the Cherrydale Revitalization Plan, and near the East Falls Church Metro.

I also have information from Arlington County saying that Missing Middle would improve homeownership opportunities for buyers but the implications was it was for "middle class" households who could not afford a $1.3M townhouse which Missing Middle will provide. That's why the name was changed from Missing Middle to Expanded Housing Opportunities.

I have no idea why the poster upthread said it wasn't marketed as a way to provide home ownership opportunities at lower price points. It absolutely was. I have multiple emails from the county spanning several years stating this point.

The problem is that the anti-MM contingent spun the objectively true observation that smaller multifamily units would be less expensive -- or "more affordable"-- than larger SFHs into a claim that MM was intended as "affordable housing," in the urban planning sense of the term. And then, having lied about it, they proceeded to be all GOTCHA! about something that no one was claiming except the people who didn't want MM in the first place.

The only $1.3M SFHs out there are being bought for the lot and razed to make room for a $3M 7BR 6BA house. If that's what you want in your neighborhoods, keep contributing to the lawsuit fund so your taxes can continue to fight back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The seller wants to keep his neighborhood a wealthy enclave and free of the undesirable middle class. I appreciate the transparency.

It’s not middle class. It’s other wealthy people buying this stuff. They just needed the MC renters to do the developers dirty work. I don’t think a single MM project that was available for purchase is less than $1.2M

Right. I live in Green Valley in Arlington, so maybe the least desirable Arlington neighborhood? lol. These three townhome took the spot of one SFH. And they sold for 1 million.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2136-S-Nelson-St-22204/home/172271124

I believe Green Valley has been excluded from Missing Middle, but that does not mean private developers cannot buy lots and have them rezoned to townhouse zoning.

No neighborhoods were excluded from EHO, which is my problem with it.

I had also heard that Green Valley and Penrose were excluded from EHO and one of the civic leaders in Halls Hill is trying to exclude that community. I believe there were about 150 properties excluded from EHO in these areas: Columbia Pike Special Revitalization District, the Cherrydale Revitalization Plan, and near the East Falls Church Metro.

I also have information from Arlington County saying that Missing Middle would improve homeownership opportunities for buyers but the implications was it was for "middle class" households who could not afford a $1.3M townhouse which Missing Middle will provide. That's why the name was changed from Missing Middle to Expanded Housing Opportunities.

I have no idea why the poster upthread said it wasn't marketed as a way to provide home ownership opportunities at lower price points. It absolutely was. I have multiple emails from the county spanning several years stating this point.

The problem is that the anti-MM contingent spun the objectively true observation that smaller multifamily units would be less expensive -- or "more affordable"-- than larger SFHs into a claim that MM was intended as "affordable housing," in the urban planning sense of the term. And then, having lied about it, they proceeded to be all GOTCHA! about something that no one was claiming except the people who didn't want MM in the first place.

The only $1.3M SFHs out there are being bought for the lot and razed to make room for a $3M 7BR 6BA house. If that's what you want in your neighborhoods, keep contributing to the lawsuit fund so your taxes can continue to fight back.

I think the extremists on both sides of the issue spun things to their benefit. If you're a NIMBY or a YIMBY, you're a liar.

[Anonymous]

Holy moly! That much for that tiny, dated house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy moly! That much for that tiny, dated house?

It's a building lot in the most expensive neighborhood per square foot in Arlington. They did pay for the house itself.