Housing study: rents up by 32.5 percent since 2000
July 16, 2012 at 5:38 pm in Grand Forks Herald
Renting in Grand Forks has become less affordable since 2000, according to a housing study initiated by the Grand Forks Housing Authority.
Continue Reading
Rick Berg and Goldmark my apartment was $575 5 years ago its now $655 and they haven’t upgraded 1 thing and refuse to fix the 15 year old kitchen floor which has a few holes the size of quarters in it. If they raised the prices and did repairs and maintenance like they should i wouldn’t complain.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
51 
5
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
11 
27
Depends on the property owner.. I know of several who have had decreases in the last 5 years. Those decreases are never passed on to the tenants like my kids.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
16 
1
The property tax on the place i live went down. The only thing i want is for the shady goldmark management to fix the flooring.
I also went back and looked at my old checks the first 1 i wrote was for 545 not 575
So yea the rent has gone up 110 over 5 years
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
17 
0
Rent in GF is crazy. You can get twice the apartment in Fargo for the same money. The “lower income” places they build in GF are for students who claim no income, but their parents pay the rent. The places downtown are hardwood floors and very nice. But if you have a job and actually make any money trying to pay off your own student loans and live a normal life… you make too much money and can’t live there. How does that work for lower income living? GF is such a scam when it comes to apartments.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
58 
3
But it costs so much more for trucks to get to Grand Forks as opposed to Fargo…. Ooops, my bad… Thats why we pay more for Gas than Fargo.
Seems like Fargo is just all around cheaper.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
32 
1
Someone, Somewhere must have knocked over an Oil display – Gas just went up 10 cents a gallon.
Like or Dislike:
11 
1
“GF is such a scam when it comes to apartments.”
That’s because the city is the biggest slumlord in town and gets to write the rules. They claim they’re not, but the Housing Authority is just a front.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
28 
11
The city has nothing to do with the housing authority, they are funded federally.
The ND legislature are pro-landlord and don’t care what happens to renters. Rent increases of 3% per year is expected. Fargo is just cheaper to build in and bankers know they have a guaranteed return.
Like or Dislike:
13 
1
Sooooo, what youre saying is that the Government touched it and it turned into crapola.
Like or Dislike:
12 
7
As a person who has rented in the past… and at the time I thought rent was high in this town. This just proves that developers and property owners are willfully engaged in a practice of creating a rent structure so ridiculously high, that the average person who is making 20 to 27K in this town, can never get anywhere. A far to large of sum of money is tied up to their rent. They can never save anything. It’s unfortunately a perpetual circle that keeps repeating itself. Rents going up 32% over a 10 year period, and income has not even come within a fraction of that…what are these developers/and or property owners thinking? 1. Do they feel good about themselves? Going out to their lake homes paid for by ridiculously inflated rents. 2. Do they have any sense of %of rent increase over a 10 year span compared to income…doesn’t equate? My guess is no- nor do they care.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
32 
1
People are right to complain about their rent. I live in a city that’s comparable in size to Grand Forks, and even though I have a post-graduate degree and am making good money, if I want to save anything for, God forbid, a new car or a vacation, I’m forced to get a roommate. Luckily we’re friends, but that’s not the point. I could not support a family on the salary I’m making, and the politicians wonder why the economy is so bad.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
26 
4
This is just another example of the rich getting richer while working people can’t get ahead. But don’t ask the millionairs to pay an extra nickle in taxes, even though they are paying the lowest tax rate they have had in decades. The greed just doesn’t stop.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
35 
18
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
12 
28
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
15 
29
Realist, your logic is a little bit off. Increasing taxes on property owners isn’t likely to reduce rental prices. While the tax rates are relatively low right now, effective tax rates (the amount of taxable income and revenue generated per dollar) are at all time highs. Also, when the higher tax rates were in effect virtually everyone paid income taxes, not just 50% of the population. Additionally, the higher income brackets now carry a far greater percentage of the tax burden. You also seem to ignore that effective January 1, 2013 people with income over $250,000 will pay an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all earnings regardless of the source (dividends, interest, and earned income) as part of the new healthcare law; apparently you don’t count that as a tax increase. Your post contains no rationale linking your statement about higher rental costs and increasing taxes. In my mind the American dream is to have the opportunity to succeed, it has never crossed my mind that the answer is to take money from others.
Like or Dislike:
9 
12
Taxes should be paid by everybody. The way it is now, the middle class pays a larger percentage of their income in taxes than do the very wealthy. You can twist your logic all you want but the bottom line is that as a percentage of income, Warren Buffets’ secretary pays more in taxes than Warren Buffet does and that comes directly from his lips. So don’t argue with me about this.
Like or Dislike:
12 
5
Warren Buffets secretary pays more tax than he does because his money comes from CAPITAL GAINS not WAGES.
There is a difference.
I didnt write the tax laws.
Here is a tax table for you.
http://www.hilliard.com/marketing/Brochures/950_Tax_Tables_CurrentYr.pdf
if you make 35k – 85k you pay $4800 in taxes at a rate of 25% on that over 35k.
if you make 85k – 178k you pay $17,442 in taxes at a rate of 28% on that over 85k.
if you make 178k – 388k you pay $43,000 in taxes at a rate of 33% on that over 178k.
So – Middle class pays between 5k – 18k at a rate no greater than 28%
The “Rich Evil doers” are being taxed 43K at a rate of 33%.
Btw, Warren Buffett claims all his charitable donations off of his WAGES, not his capital gains therefore it drops him into a tax bracket with us middle class folks while his secretary receives a pay over 200k a year and is taxed at the 33% rate since she isnt into donating her paycheck every week.
Try not to be fooled by people hiding facts to meet further their agenda. If Buffett truly cared he would deduct his charitable donations from his massive capital gains portfolio and pay taxes on wages like he should at a rate that would exceed 35%.
Tax Laws benefit the rich, maybe Obama should have worked on that policy.
But as it turns out…..Dems are rich too.
Sorry for arguing with you but you are just flat out wrong. I have given you proof, maybe you could do the same to prove your point.
Like or Dislike:
9 
11
Show me where I said it was against the law? I know what is done is legal, I’m just saying it isn’t fair.
Like or Dislike:
1 
2
So rents have increased in GF at a rate of 2.85% per year. How is that immoral? Look at the rates of increases in food, fuel etc.
Like or Dislike:
19 
10
Even rent for trailer lots goes up. Ours goes up around $10 to $15 per month the first of every year. They used to tell us it was because of repairs or special assessments, but they quit and just keep raising it. It’s cheaper than renting apartments or a full house, and I have my own home away from neighbors above, below, or on the other side of the wall, but it’s still getting a bit high.
When you come right down to it though it is expensive regardless if you rent housing, a lot, or own a home and have to figure in the yearly tax bill. It’s all going up faster than wages……Then again look at west ND where the wages are so high….Everything else is so high that the wages aren’t worth as much after housing and general costs are figured in……It’s basically a scam jam everywhere….
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
25 
0
Couldn’t agree with you more Tundra. I own and still pay around $500 for my lot rent. Thats like renting an apt in town! Still a better deal when you look at it all around but what exactly are we getting for that? Half of my “street” lights don’t even work. Repairs? I don’t think so.
Like or Dislike:
11 
0
Wow! That’s $100 more than mine….I have an idea it might be one of two owned by the same group. I looked there, but glad I found one by the truck stop….Makes it real convienent.
This place it pretty well kept up and they screen people before they move in so generally there few if any problems around here…..At least in my section…
Like or Dislike:
5 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
12 
23
In the 90′s when business was booming for several reasons the unemployment was considered too low at one point and the poor business business people were complaining because they actually had to entice people to work for them by treating them like they counted. Many different business’ were falling over each other with higher wages and better bennies. Then for some reason during the Bush years when everything was being done to increase business since you had the GOP controlling three branches of government……The bottom fell out and it didn’t take long to go fram an employees market to an employers market….And the working class has been paying for it ever since…..S
o if the right has such sure fire plans for making the economy work…Why hasn’t it ever worked as advertized? And before we go on about the left….Practically everything gets shot down or watered down before it can really do anything….The right learned in the 90′s that to let the left try to fix things…There’s a good chance they will….And that’s bad for business….The right’s business….Not business over all…
Like or Dislike:
17 
4
I am a small business owner and NOBODY is taking money from me. This talking point about how the administration is taking money from people, making them pay more taxes is just unsubstantiated carpola. Taxes for the middle class under Obama have declined. Yes, they have declined. Realize that you have been fed a line of hooey by your conservative news sources. They are wrong.
Like or Dislike:
12 
8
Declined my rear!
I have paid more or equal in taxzes every year.
The yhave not declined one iota.
For taxes to decline, cuts would have to be made and there have been exactly ZERO cuts made.
As a matter of fact, there have been items that used to be deductable that no longer are.
I am truly starting to question your credibility.
Like or Dislike:
6 
9
One other thing to consider, Grand Forks is a Moderate size city jam packed full of Service field workers.
Look at the stores and resteraunts and hotels in this area, its crazy when compared to actual Businesses.
If the Canadiens were not allowed across the border and the base shut down completely how many hotels, restaraunts and stores would close their doors? My guess would be a boatload of them.
These industries do not pay well, everyone knows that. When people rely on jobs in these fields they will always have a hard time finding affordable housing.
No one can control the cost of rent except the landlord and from what i can tell from above he is at his lake house. The only thing people can control is their own place in the big picture.
Learn a skill, take a class, leave the low level stockboy and waitress jobs to High school and College students and those who have retired but need a bit of spending cash after all, thats all those jobs will ever amount to.
I know im likely going to get blasted for this but the bottom line is: Seize control over the ONLY thing you can control. Yourself. Improve yourself, Market yourself.
And i do not intend this in a way of talking down to anyone, i only say it because i believe anyone can do it if they so choose.
Unlike our Leaders in Govt, i dont believe people need the Govt to care for them, i believe people have the power in themselves to achieve success on their own.
AND STOP FIXATING ON OTHERS.
Lets be honest, who would turn down a 500k a year job if it were offered?
I wouldnt, so i dont begrudge those who get it.
Hot debate. What do you think?
26 
17
Truer words have not been spoken. Well said, Captain.
I didn’t like the direction Grand Forks was headed in with regards to cost of living so I moved to Florida and now, I pay less rent than I would in Grand Forks for a much larger and nicer townhouse in a gated community. I’m on the hunt for a house here and my property taxes, with the HOA fees added, will be less than it would be in GF as well. Not to mention that groceries are cheaper, gas is cheaper, no tax on clothing, no state income tax, etc. I have no crime in my neighborhood whatsoever and the weather is awesome to boot! The trade-off is not seeing family and friends as often as I’d like and Christmas doesn’t feel right down here, but all-in-all, I made the change I needed.
If life is not working out where you are, make a change. It’s that simple.
Like or Dislike:
15 
4
I should say that the no tax on clothing thing is only during a small window in the fall. Just full disclosure!
Like or Dislike:
3 
3
FL….No thanks…I prefer to breath air instead of swallow it. Funny people from FL to LA haven’t grown gills to breath in all that humidity…Even in the winter…….Have at it…
Like or Dislike:
6 
2
I actually stayed here because i love the people and safe community to raise kids.
I miss family back home too but the trade off has been well worth it.
Just wish the crime would slow down, seems to really be picking up lately, seems like the winters havent been cold enough lately to push the riff raff back south.
Like or Dislike:
6 
8
Addiction knows no boundaries. Meth heads & OxyContin. It will only get worse. Addicts break in your house & drunks kill you on the road. Weather won’t cure that
Like or Dislike:
11 
2
Agreed.
The only way to stop the addicts and habitual Drunk drivers etc is to lock them away from Law abiding citizens.
Like or Dislike:
4 
4
Cap….Look at your comments up above about cutting spending and how your taxes are too high…..Do you realize just how expensive it is to lock people up? There’s prevention and treatment programs that are actually much cheaper in the long run, but then people like you would be yelling that’s throwing money away on weak people…..The only other alternative is to kill them rather than jail them, treat them, or try prevention programs…..you can’t have lower taxes and huge prisons….
Like or Dislike:
3 
1
How many of you that are complaining about high taxes voted against measure 2?
If you did then shut up!
Like or Dislike:
12 
12
Why? Because people rejected a bill that wasn’t good? People want the issue dealt with, but that wasn’t the right solution. If sombody comes up with one that’s logical…People might vote it in…
Like or Dislike:
12 
7
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
2 
12
The property taxes were goingto be replaced with Oil revenues.
Oil revenues will not last forever, what happens then?
Property taxes come back.
Now, imagine you have spent 10 years setting your budget based on no property tax and then all of a sudden….WHAM!!!
You are now responsible for a 3500 – 5000 a year bill.
The hardship that would cause across the state is not worth the few years of relief.
Reform is needed, but not total abandonment.
Like or Dislike:
8 
1
Lowering property taxes will not mean lower rents. It will just mean more profit for the landlord. I have a duplex in Forks that I rent. After the flood of 97, the owner of the apartment house next door stopped by as I was working. He asked what I charged for rent. He said he would have asked $250 more per month per apartment. I probably am underpriced, but I’m not losing money…and people who know they’re getting a good deal generally have fewer complaints.
Last summer I placed an ad on Craigslist for one apartment. Twenty minutes after posting it I got an email from the person who rented it after viewing it. I received about 20 emails within 24 hours. Some were willing to send the deposit and the first month’s rent without even seeing the place. I feel sorry for anyone looking for reasonably priced apartments in Grand Forks.
Like or Dislike:
14 
0
This finally made news? These land lords have been robbing residents for decades.
Like or Dislike:
13 
1
Part of the artificially propped up market. I was happy to see 200 more units going up. The question will be how affordable are they
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
Realist, the Buffet secretary story has been proven inaccurate. Even so, Buffet is a anomaly; he doesn’t represent the 1% he represents the .00000001%. Even so, the taxes which Buffet’s secretary supposedly pays are primarily Social Security and Medicare, both of which are returned to her and, in the case of Medicare the average person will receive more than $250,000 more in benefits than they pay in. To say she pays a greater percentage of income to taxes completely ignores the fact that most of those will be return in direct benefits. Also, you are aware that it wasn’t a republican president that lowered the capital gains tax; it was President Clinton in 1997. You may also want to note that Clinton reduced federal spending as a percentage of gnp; our current president has increased spending to the highest historical levels of gnp. Your assumption that I am a republican is wrong. In fact, I think Clinton did many things correctly; you are just mistaken if you think he did it with higher taxes and increased spending.
Like or Dislike:
8 
5
Didn’t say that, Joe. Boy this really gets under your skin!
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
I’ve been telling you about grand forks for months now.. grand forks is a land of the sucking noise coming from your wallet and bank account.. You can blame your city leaders for that.. In my wildest dreams.. I can’t imagine who in their right mind would live there..
Like or Dislike:
7 
4
Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be.
Like or Dislike:
3 
2
I still believe that anyone who can’t afford the rent there is nothing but a “Civil Slave” to make you do their bidding..
Nothing good for the less to do people who will never get a real city to live in.. I’m really glad most of you took notice..
Like or Dislike:
2 
2
What do you consider a “Real” City?
I think you expect too much for so little.
Like or Dislike:
2 
4
The solution is simple, buy a house or move to Manvel, Thompson, Larimore, or Crookston. They all have cheaper rents. The rent will always be as high as people are willing to pay. If people stop renting the occupancy rates will go down and soon rental prices will follow. The main reason for the increase in rates is people will pay it. there has been a steady increase in the number of college kids and they primarily rent not own increasing competition for available units.
Like or Dislike:
7 
3
Rent is rising faster than income in GF–don’t worry, I read another Walmart may be opening.
Like or Dislike:
5 
3
Rents rising faster than income is a nationwide phenomena (With a few exceptions, like where I lived in AZ. There, it was so overbuilt I was living in a 2 year old 3/2 for what I pay for an apartment here). We do not need more laws, we need more construction.
As I have said repeatedly, something in our system is prohibiting/discouraging builders from building. We need to find out what it is and remove it.
My guess is special assessments and a populace that thinks each subdivision should pay for its own infrastructure. The word shortsighted does not begin to describe that stupidity.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Mark, your comments make too much sense…please take them to another topic of discussion…this one seems to be the whining section. Look folks, I think of many of these issues in this way…you think things are bad now? Cry and moan loud enough to get the govt involved, then you’ll REALLY have a problem. Rent prices are high up here because of demand. The rent is high out west, because of demand. Its called, supply and demand. Every last one of the folks complaining about the rent would charge the same high rent prices if they were in the landlords shoes…because they would be in a position to make money. So lets not all act like victims because we’re not the ones with the property at the moment.
Like or Dislike:
3 
2
Wow.. Reading everything about this topic is true.. Just wait for the next election and everything I said in the past will come true.. I have been telling everyone about the civil slavery syndrome in grand forks for months now.. Now everyone is feeling the pain.. No one who has money really cares about all of you in the first place.. Don’t expect a turn down in the future.. The city of grand forks does not care about you in any way.. All they want you to do is shut your mouth and except what got dished to you.. I saw that the mayor got re-elected.. You all just will get another round of Civil Slavery.. Blame your city leaders.
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
“I have been telling everyone about the civil slavery syndrome in grand forks for months now.”
Please elaborate.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The entire grand forks housing market is messed up. Everyone focused on renting in this board but the article also stated for the first time the average price of a home purchase was over 150000 dollars in grand forks! This is rediculous go look at the houses being offered at 125 to 15000 dollars in grand forks than compare to houses in surrounding communities you can purchase a home for half the price if you are willing to make a 15 to 20 mile commute. Please explain to me why grand forks is so great that I need to purchase my home for twice the price! Hell I could buy a nice home in the minneapolis suburbs for the same price.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1