We believe that more rental properties should belong to non-profit organizations and that the resulting rent should be about one quarter (1/4) the amount of rent today!
Rent Reducing Places
A Rent-Reducing Place (RRP) could be an apartment complex, a farm, or any place that would benefit from non-profit ownership and has a goal of providing low-cost rentals.
Each property is managed by the tenants or their chosen property manager, but has rules (deed-restrictions) to preserve the place and its long-term affordability. A Rent-Reducing Place applies rents, proceeds from fundraisers, and income from local business advertising to pay the mortgage. Rents are reduced until the mortgage is paid FOREVER. Of course, the rent will never be zero due to property taxes and maintenance!
As people or businesses pay rent to a Rent-Reducing Place (RRP), they earn points that they can use to move to another Rent-Reducing Place.
| Examples of Future Rent Reducing Places | ||
|---|---|---|
| Place Name | Theme or focus | Cities |
| Upgradia | Eclectic, a bit of everything | In Seattle |
| Bavaria | Everything German | Near Seattle |
| RoboFarm | Everything high tech | Near Seattle |
| RoboTown** | Everything high tech | South East Oregon |
Rent-Reducing Places in different towns would have dramatically different costs so it might be possible to find a great place in a more rural setting.
You would earn double points and our gratitude for your purchase.
Vested
Being “Vested” means that you are guaranteed a benefit. To get retirement benefits from Social Security, you must work for 40 quarters (ten years) — at that time you are “Vested” for benefits.
To become vested with LowerTheRent.org (SocialSecurityUpgrade), you could donate time and materials (to our thrift store) or you could become “Vested” by a direct payment. You can also become “Vested” through referrals by telling others about us.
A Vested person would pay the lowest possible rent while living in a Rent-Reducing Space.
A Vested person who is not living in a Rent-Reducing Space receives “Vested Benefit Dollars” paid to them as a benefit of being Vested.
A Non-Vested person living in a Rent-Reducing Place would pay higher rent until they become vested.
| Rent-Reducing Space Description (size in square feet) | Cost to Make (K = 1,000 Dollars) | Vested Benefit Dollars |
| Sheltered Tent (100) | 1 K | 15 |
| Micro House (100) | 10 K | 200 |
| Tiny House 1 (200) | 20 K | 300 |
| Tiny House 2 (400) | 40 K | 400 |
| Apartment (Varies) | Varies | Varies |
| Gypsy Trailer or RV | Varies | Varies |
These amounts can change, depending on situations such as inflation or the location (city and country) of the buildings.
People who pay for their Vested status (not donating) have the expectation of getting their money back and therefore might lose their vested status as they take their money back or if their funds are taken in bankruptcy or other claims.
People who donate to become vested have the added benefit of not worrying about their vested status being taken way through bankruptcy or other claims.
A Vested person can be banned as a tenant at least temporarily if their behavior as a tenant causes them to be not acceptable for typical reasons such as those which would get a person evicted from an apartment or receiving a protective order from a court. Rent-Reducing Places might have a theme such as music, art, computers, and might seek tenants who fit into the theme. Rent-Reducing Places should give priority to elders, disabled, and the very poor.
The rent for one of these places would vary and depend on the location and demand.
Income Card
You can promote Lower The Rent / Social Security Upgrade (SSU) and earn money and/or become Vested sooner by getting an income card that has your income name on it.
| LowerTheRent.org Affordable Housing Please Income Card for: “Your Income Name Here” |
You can print Income Cards and hand them out like a business card or post them as you desire. Income cards are connected to an email address that you provide and confirm. There is no age or country limit on Income Cards.
Income can be as a result of your efforts (active income). For example, if you buy something from our store, you see items are listed with SSU+1, or SSU+4 which means that part of your purchase goes to your SSU Vested Account.
Passive income comes from:
— affiliated (loyal) businesses who pay for a listing (an ad)
— upgrade thrift store donations and sales
— any purchase from our store or activity from Upgrade Resources
A greater part of passive income goes to people who are the least vested. Passive income stops or is reduced when someone becomes fully vested.
Here is a link to our store:
Our main marketing method is Word Of Mouth (WOM) through social marketing. To make things happen faster, this marketing effort is multilevel so people get a little back from so-called downstream sales.
Emergency Mode
People have asked us to offer an “Emergency Mode” due to the troubles they are having. You could share your thoughts on how you could help or benefit from “Emergency Mode Operations”, please send an email to emergency@lowertherent.org.
We added “Emergency Mode” as a purchase option on our store. Your Emergency Mode purchase goes to buy items on our Wish List, such as School Buses, Mobile Kitchens, generators, solar panels, and so on.
Gung Ho means “very enthusiastic or eager to do something“. In this campaign, we post onto social media and spread the word about or progress! Please click on the Gung Ho button, then download the image, and post it on your social media.
Who Owns Rental Properties?
People who rent are buying properties for the people and corporations that “own” the properties.
The following chart shows who might own the apartments in your area.
