The Conservative Cave

Current Events => Political Ammunition => Topic started by: Doc on March 25, 2010, 02:53:04 PM

Title: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Doc on March 25, 2010, 02:53:04 PM
Myself and several other CC members were discussion in another thread about the 4% rental income tax increase, plus the other associated cost increases that property owners will incur as a result of passage of the HCR law.

I as well as several others sent out letters to our tenants on Tuesday......I levied a 10% increase in everyone's rent, effective May 1, citing the additional taxes and expenses that I will incur as a result of this law, I specifically stated that this unfortunate increase was unexpected, as the newly elected Democrats in Washington all promised that there would be no increased taxes on middle-class Americans.  I closed with the suggestion that they consider these facts when they go to the polls in November.

Although my rental property is in a largely conservative area, my tenants are mostly young single mothers, or recent divorcees......pretty much typical Obama voters........

Well.......I received my first phone call this morning.......from a 28 year old barista from the local Starbucks, and she proceeded to tearfully tell me how unfair it was that I was increasing the rent, and that I insulted her politics, and the new president.  She further advised me that the money that her rent increase of $800 over the next twelve months was going to pay for her new health care insurance policy, which was not available at Starbucks.  She further iterated that I was taking food out of the mouth of her 18 month old (illegitimate) daughter, and she wanted to move immediately.  However, she added that she didn't want to loose her two-month security deposit, and unfortunately when she called around to other rental agencies, everyone else was increasing their rents as well.

I advised her that I would be happy to release her from her lease, but she would forfeit her deposit, as stated in the terms and conditions of our contract.  This resulted in more tears, and her comments that her Starbuck's manager had advised all employees that as a result of the HCR law, Starbuck's would be reevaluating their staff requirements, and that adjustments in compensation, benefits, and headcount would likely occur over the next few months.  She summarized that she might lose her job as a result of this.......

I was doing my very best not to break out laughing, but maintaining a serious note, she closed her plea with "is there anything that you can do for me"........after a pause, I replied......."yes, I can give you some advice......be very careful what you ask the government for........you just might get it........"

doc






PS:  Oh.....and on the way to the bank with my ill-gotten gains, a cop jumped out of the bushes, and converted me to voting Democrat in the November elections........
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris on March 25, 2010, 02:55:30 PM
Was there a drunken Injun?  If not, I ain't buyin' it. :bouncy:
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 25, 2010, 02:56:33 PM
Hold up Doc...

Are your leases worded in such a way that you can legally raise the rent during the term of the existing lease?

Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 25, 2010, 03:00:31 PM
Hold up Doc...

Are your leases worded in such a way that you can legally raise the rent during the term of the existing lease?



Yep....all have a contingency increase clause......not to exceed 10% over the term....

doc
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 25, 2010, 03:05:10 PM
Was there a drunken Injun?  If not, I ain't buyin' it. :bouncy:

Well......the cop looked more like a Somali illegal than an Injun........does that work?

doc
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 25, 2010, 03:23:45 PM
Yep....all have a contingency increase clause......not to exceed 10% over the term....

doc

Awesome.

That just makes good business sense to me.  I once signed such a lease, but the agreed upon increase was only 5% IIRC.  It was a lifetime ago.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 25, 2010, 03:26:45 PM
AAawwwww... can't help but feel sorry for her. But wouldn't she be getting Medicaid? Probably can still be elgible for food stamps and a bunch of other things at her income level no doubt.

Maybe this will turn on the bulb over some of their heads?

Hey, how are YOU taking food out of their mouths?? This wasn't you, this was the government.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Mike220 on March 25, 2010, 04:49:35 PM
Elections have consequences.

I have to look at my lease. Don't think I have that clause, but I'm not sure.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Carl on March 25, 2010, 05:05:11 PM
Not sure how it sorted out in the final (?) version as far as medicaid funding to states but look for property tax increases to hit as well as more land on the entitlement.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Doc on March 25, 2010, 05:12:32 PM
AAawwwww... can't help but feel sorry for her. But wouldn't she be getting Medicaid? Probably can still be elgible for food stamps and a bunch of other things at her income level no doubt.

Maybe this will turn on the bulb over some of their heads?

Hey, how are YOU taking food out of their mouths?? This wasn't you, this was the government.

You guys realize I'm jerking your chain don't you?  The letters I sent out are real enough......the rest is.....shall we say....."embellishment"....DUmmie style.......

Quote
PS:  Oh.....and on the way to the bank with my ill-gotten gains, a cop jumped out of the bushes, and converted me to voting Democrat in the November elections........

My version of a "bouncy"......Chris got it right off the bat........

doc
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 25, 2010, 05:14:18 PM
Elections have consequences.

I have to look at my lease. Don't think I have that clause, but I'm not sure.

You renters should not be allowed to vote.

Leave that to we that have put our own $$ on the line by buying property.

 :evillaugh:

Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 25, 2010, 05:16:05 PM
You guys realize I'm jerking your chain don't you?

My version of a "bouncy"......Chris got it right off the bat........

doc

I figured you might be.  That is why I asked you about your lease agreements.

 :cheersmate:

Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Mike220 on March 25, 2010, 05:17:10 PM
You renters should not be allowed to vote.

Leave that to we that have put our own $$ on the line by buying property.

 :evillaugh:



That's fine... If I get into my surgical tech program and make it through next year, first order of business is to buy a house. That is, if VA loans are still a reality in Obamaland. So I should be able to vote again in 2012. Just in time...

I hate being a student... Renting sucks. :bawl:
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Mike220 on March 25, 2010, 05:18:36 PM
You guys realize I'm jerking your chain don't you?  The letters I sent out are real enough......the rest is.....shall we say....."embellishment"....DUmmie style.......

My version of a "bouncy"......Chris got it right off the bat........

doc

You got me. I actually looked at my lease to see what it said about raising rent. Nothing though, so I guess I'm safe until August 1.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 25, 2010, 05:21:14 PM
I figured you might be.  That is why I asked you about your lease agreements.

 :cheersmate:



That part is true....I sent the letters, but I haven't had any backlash yet......and I really don't expect any.  My houses are the nicest available in the area for rentals, and I have a waiting list for tenants that is 18 months long, so, even though I try to keep the rents fair, I don't hesitate to raise them if my expenses go up......its just business, not politics.....

doc
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Texacon on March 25, 2010, 06:46:53 PM
That part is true....I sent the letters, but I haven't had any backlash yet......and I really don't expect any.  My houses are the nicest available in the area for rentals, and I have a waiting list for tenants that is 18 months long, so, even though I try to keep the rents fair, I don't hesitate to raise them if my expenses go up......its just business, not politics.....

doc

But, but ... taxes are not an expense!  How dare you!!  /dummie

We are going to start going through our leases to see who is on month to month and start our increases there.  Our lease does not allow for increases during the term but that is probably fixing to change.  It is a lease we have used for years and it looks like it is time for some updating.

KC
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: IassaFTots on March 25, 2010, 09:36:04 PM
I was just gonna say you have an awesome post-person, I mean, hells bells, you just sent the letters out yesterday, or maybe the day before.   :-)
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 25, 2010, 09:51:13 PM
We rent and I was NOT expecting something like this.  Our lease says the same thing, that our landlords can raise the rent in the middle of the lease.  I'm not sure of the percentage.  I'd have to look at the lease.

If we had a 10% increase, our rent would go from $867 to about $955.  How sad.

That letter was great and if you were my landlord, I would call and applaud you for being so hones with your letter.  I'd still be upset with the increase in rent, but it's not YOUR fault.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Wineslob on March 26, 2010, 10:27:03 AM
Excellent bouncy!

+10


DUmmies, take notes.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Freeper on March 27, 2010, 12:37:54 PM
Myself and several other CC members were discussion in another thread about the 4% rental income tax increase, plus the other associated cost increases that property owners will incur as a result of passage of the HCR law.

I as well as several others sent out letters to our tenants on Tuesday......I levied a 10% increase in everyone's rent, effective May 1, citing the additional taxes and expenses that I will incur as a result of this law, I specifically stated that this unfortunate increase was unexpected, as the newly elected Democrats in Washington all promised that there would be no increased taxes on middle-class Americans.  I closed with the suggestion that they consider these facts when they go to the polls in November.

Although my rental property is in a largely conservative area, my tenants are mostly young single mothers, or recent divorcees......pretty much typical Obama voters........

Well.......I received my first phone call this morning.......from a 28 year old barista from the local Starbucks, and she proceeded to tearfully tell me how unfair it was that I was increasing the rent, and that I insulted her politics, and the new president.  She further advised me that the money that her rent increase of $800 over the next twelve months was going to pay for her new health care insurance policy, which was not available at Starbucks.  She further iterated that I was taking food out of the mouth of her 18 month old (illegitimate) daughter, and she wanted to move immediately.  However, she added that she didn't want to loose her two-month security deposit, and unfortunately when she called around to other rental agencies, everyone else was increasing their rents as well.

I advised her that I would be happy to release her from her lease, but she would forfeit her deposit, as stated in the terms and conditions of our contract.  This resulted in more tears, and her comments that her Starbuck's manager had advised all employees that as a result of the HCR law, Starbuck's would be reevaluating their staff requirements, and that adjustments in compensation, benefits, and headcount would likely occur over the next few months.  She summarized that she might lose her job as a result of this.......

I was doing my very best not to break out laughing, but maintaining a serious note, she closed her plea with "is there anything that you can do for me"........after a pause, I replied......."yes, I can give you some advice......be very careful what you ask the government for........you just might get it........"

doc






PS:  Oh.....and on the way to the bank with my ill-gotten gains, a cop jumped out of the bushes, and converted me to voting Democrat in the November elections........

Best bouncy I have seen in years. My hat is off to you sir.  :-)
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Lacarnut on March 27, 2010, 12:42:13 PM
An awesome bouncy.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Texacon on March 27, 2010, 01:41:43 PM
We rent and I was NOT expecting something like this.  Our lease says the same thing, that our landlords can raise the rent in the middle of the lease.  I'm not sure of the percentage.  I'd have to look at the lease.

If we had a 10% increase, our rent would go from $867 to about $955.  How sad.

That letter was great and if you were my landlord, I would call and applaud you for being so hones with your letter.  I'd still be upset with the increase in rent, but it's not YOUR fault.


Actually EC, and I hate to tell you this, your rent of $867.00/month would go to $963.00/month on a 10% increase.  I know it isn't a whole lot of difference but for some that extra $8.00 could make a difference.  Overall you would have a $96.00/month difference and that is HUGE to a lot of renters.

KC
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 27, 2010, 01:45:26 PM

Actually EC, and I hate to tell you this, your rent of $867.00/month would go to $963.00/month on a 10% increase.  I know it isn't a whole lot of difference but for some that extra $8.00 could make a difference.  Overall you would have a $96.00/month difference and that is HUGE to a lot of renters.

especially to renters scrambling to purchase their mandated health insurance and seeing their checks dwindle as the "long term care" ($150-$240 a month) tax hits them hard.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 27, 2010, 04:50:11 PM
Yeah, it would be higher then that though.  Our complex does water as "divided" throughout the complex.  We have about 600 units.  So they send out a water bill divided amongst all of the units.  Our water bill varies every month (at a high rate) even when we barely use it.  Most months our water bill is $40.  In the summer, it's up to almost $80.  Nobody conserves water because everyone else is paying for it.  I hate it... but this is one of the more affordable and nicer places in this area. 

We would have to move immediately if we receive a letter that says our rent would be raised by 10%.  We would be writing out a $1,000+ check every month with the water bill included.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 27, 2010, 04:55:49 PM
We would have to move immediately if we receive a letter that says our rent would be raised by 10%.  We would be writing out a $1,000+ check every month with the water bill included.

Move where? All investment rental properties are going to have to pay the tax, I guess if you can find an old woman who lives in a big house willing to live above the garage and rent you the house "under the table", then you can avoid it.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 27, 2010, 05:05:58 PM
Yeah, it would be higher then that though.  Our complex does water as "divided" throughout the complex.  We have about 600 units.  So they send out a water bill divided amongst all of the units.  Our water bill varies every month (at a high rate) even when we barely use it.  Most months our water bill is $40.  In the summer, it's up to almost $80.  Nobody conserves water because everyone else is paying for it.  I hate it... but this is one of the more affordable and nicer places in this area. 

We would have to move immediately if we receive a letter that says our rent would be raised by 10%.  We would be writing out a $1,000+ check every month with the water bill included.

Welcome to communism.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 27, 2010, 05:10:02 PM

Actually EC, and I hate to tell you this, your rent of $867.00/month would go to $963.00/month on a 10% increase.  I know it isn't a whole lot of difference but for some that extra $8.00 could make a difference.  Overall you would have a $96.00/month difference and that is HUGE to a lot of renters.

KC

Damn...  I know I haven't taken a math class in a while.  But 10% of 867.00 is $86.70.  Do I need to go back to 8th grade for a refresher course?

Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 27, 2010, 05:14:00 PM
Damn...  I know I haven't taken a math class in a while.  But 10% of 867.00 is $86.70.  Do I need to go back to 8th grade for a refresher course?

 :rotf:
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 27, 2010, 05:29:59 PM
Move where? All investment rental properties are going to have to pay the tax, I guess if you can find an old woman who lives in a big house willing to live above the garage and rent you the house "under the table", then you can avoid it.


We would have to move to an even cheaper place.  Or possibly back to live with one of our families in Wisconsin/Illinois.  :(
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 27, 2010, 05:47:18 PM
:rotf:

Now now...

It's not nice to laugh at we under educated rubes.

 :tongue:
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 27, 2010, 05:54:35 PM
Now now...

It's not nice to laugh at we under educated rubes.

 :tongue:


New Math says 10% can mean anything we want it to mean, so I am paying 10% of 10% of 10% of 10%.... if it was good enough for Roscoe P Coletrain....
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 27, 2010, 05:59:15 PM
New Math says 10% can mean anything we want it to mean, so I am paying 10% of 10% of 10% of 10%.... if it was good enough for Roscoe P Coletrain....

ROFLMAO.

I loved that show.

 :cheersmate:
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Texacon on March 27, 2010, 06:20:39 PM
Damn...  I know I haven't taken a math class in a while.  But 10% of 867.00 is $86.70.  Do I need to go back to 8th grade for a refresher course?



Rich, when you are trying to reclaim a percentage that is going to be taken from you, you don't multiply the base about by .1 you divide the base amount by .9  (if we are talking about 10%)  If you add 10% to 867.00 then take 10% out of that you won't be whole.  You will be less than.

If you do it the other way you are adding in the 10% that will be removed from you. 

Make sense?

KC
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 27, 2010, 06:24:58 PM
I don't follow but I'm good with it.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Texacon on March 27, 2010, 06:32:36 PM
I don't follow but I'm good with it.

FGL.  Add $86.70 to $867.00.  Now take 10% off that and tell me what your total is.

Now DIVIDE $867.00 by .9.  Take THAT total and take 10% off of it and tell me what your total is.

I'm sure you have a calculator close to hand ... have a cell phone?

KC
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 27, 2010, 06:35:58 PM
FGL.  Add $86.70 to $867.00.  Now take 10% off that and tell me what your total is.

Now DIVIDE $867.00 by .9.  Take THAT total and take 10% off of it and tell me what your total is.

I'm sure you have a calculator close to hand ... have a cell phone?

Dang Windows should come with built in calculators! lol

OK, ok... I'll do it
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Texacon on March 27, 2010, 06:42:28 PM
Dang Windows should come with built in calculators! lol

OK, ok... I'll do it


LOL!  I thought about that after I posted it!   :thatsright:

KC
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 27, 2010, 06:48:07 PM
FGL.  Add $86.70 to $867.00.  Now take 10% off that and tell me what your total is.

Now DIVIDE $867.00 by .9.  Take THAT total and take 10% off of it and tell me what your total is.


867 divided by 10 is 86.7
867 divided by 0.9 is 963.33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

As God is my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly!

I'm telling MS that my calculator function is busted!
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 27, 2010, 06:54:36 PM
Rich, when you are trying to reclaim a percentage that is going to be taken from you, you don't multiply the base about by .1 you divide the base amount by .9  (if we are talking about 10%)  If you add 10% to 867.00 then take 10% out of that you won't be whole.  You will be less than.

If you do it the other way you are adding in the 10% that will be removed from you. 

Make sense?

KC

Looks like I do indeed need to go back and retake 8th grade math.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Texacon on March 27, 2010, 06:55:36 PM
867 divided by 10 is 86.7
867 divided by 0.9 is 963.33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

As God is my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly!

I'm telling MS that my calculator function is busted!


Yeah, but what happens when you take 10% off of the $963.00?   :lmao:

KC
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 27, 2010, 07:04:18 PM
Yeah, but what happens when you take 10% off of the $963.00?   :lmao:

KC

Trying to divide by less than 1 brings up the world of unpredictable quantum mathematics
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 27, 2010, 07:13:36 PM
Trying to divide by less than 1 brings up the world of unpredictable quantum mathematics

Not so long as the divisor is greater than "zero"....

doc
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 27, 2010, 07:15:12 PM
Not so long as the divisor is greater than "zero"....

doc

You scientists think you know it all.


LOL.

Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Texacon on March 27, 2010, 07:38:29 PM
Looks like I do indeed need to go back and retake 8th grade math.

Hey, the only reason I know how to do that is because it is how I make my living!  When I mess up it comes off my bottom line.  I HATE cheating myself.  The government does enough of it for me.

KC
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: rich_t on March 27, 2010, 07:48:38 PM
Hey, the only reason I know how to do that is because it is how I make my living!  When I mess up it comes off my bottom line.  I HATE cheating myself.  The government does enough of it for me.

KC

Hey.. No worries.

I knew I had forgotten a few basic math rules along the way.

 :cheersmate:
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: docstew on March 28, 2010, 04:19:22 AM

We would have to move to an even cheaper place.  Or possibly back to live with one of our families in Wisconsin/Illinois.  :(

If you wouldn't mind living in Rockford, I might be able to set you up with a nice condo.  You'd have to buy though, we can't rent it out according to the condo agreement...

should probably run that idea past the wife first though... me->  :hammer: <- wife  :-)
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 28, 2010, 04:27:21 PM
If you wouldn't mind living in Rockford, I might be able to set you up with a nice condo.  You'd have to buy though, we can't rent it out according to the condo agreement...

should probably run that idea past the wife first though... me->  :hammer: <- wife  :-)

Rockford is 30 minutes south of my hometown. 

That's silly though.  If you own it, and have a mortgage on it, why can't you rent it?

But hey, at least it's an option if something unfortunate would happen to our jobs in Las Vegas.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: NHSparky on March 28, 2010, 04:35:04 PM
Rockford is 30 minutes south of my hometown. 

That's silly though.  If you own it, and have a mortgage on it, why can't you rent it?

But hey, at least it's an option if something unfortunate would happen to our jobs in Las Vegas.

Probably in the HOA rules.  HOA's are the creation of Satan.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: Chris_ on March 28, 2010, 05:34:36 PM
Probably in the HOA rules.  HOA's are the creation of Satan.

HOA's are a bunch of commies.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: The Village Idiot on March 28, 2010, 05:35:25 PM
HOA's are evil!
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: docstew on March 29, 2010, 02:25:18 AM
Probably in the HOA rules.  HOA's are the creation of Satan.

Ding Ding, we have a winnah!

and it is a stupid rule...
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: SSG Snuggle Bunny on March 29, 2010, 07:39:32 AM
One of the officers I work with had to evict some tenants not long ago and he asked if I thought he was doing the right thing.

I asked him if he had a mortgage on the property. He acknowledged that he did.

"Case closed," I said. "The tenant has an obligation to you because you have an obligation to the bank and the bank has an obligation to its depositors because its really their money that was used as the basis of the loan for your mortgage.

"The tenant isn't screwing you over, he's screwing over the little ol' lady whose life savings is in that bank."

...

The officer then remarked I don't think like normal people.
Title: Re: Received My First Call From a Tenant About Their HCR Rent Increase
Post by: docstew on March 29, 2010, 09:51:36 AM
One of the officers I work with had to evict some tenants not long ago and he asked if I thought he was doing the right thing.

I asked him if he had a mortgage on the property. He acknowledged that he did.

"Case closed," I said. "The tenant has an obligation to you because you have an obligation to the bank and the bank has an obligation to its depositors because its really their money that was used as the basis of the loan for your mortgage.

"The tenant isn't screwing you over, he's screwing over the little ol' lady whose life savings is in that bank."

...

The officer then remarked I don't think like normal people.

At least he got something right...