LOCAL COLUMN
OPINION: sa国际传媒官网网页入口 policies are pushing the city toward permanent renters
sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 city proper is shifting toward roughly 40% renters, a clear departure from our historical stats and the metro鈥檚 steadier 69% homeownership rate. City policies that prioritize density, tenant protections and multifamily supply have driven much of this change while doing less to create ownership opportunities.
This shift carries real costs for existing homeowners. Renters vote for higher local spending at higher rates because they never receive a property tax bill. The cost stays hidden in rent. Homeowners see the bill directly and are more sensitive to tax increases. As the city becomes more renter-heavy, this fiscal illusion pushes spending higher, raising the effective tax burden on owners who fund police, code enforcement and services. Subsidized rental projects often receive abatements that further dilute the tax base.
The damage runs deeper over time. When families cannot build equity through ownership, they accumulate far less wealth across generations. Homeownership has long served as the primary wealth-building tool for working families. Without it, households face weaker retirement security, less ability to help children with education or homes, reduced economic mobility and dependence on government help. Long-term covenants and rental-heavy models on public land risk turning potential owners into permanent renters, locking in these disadvantages.
Recent examples include long-term affordability covenants on the Fairgrounds redevelopment, multiple Housing Forward ABQ projects and zoning changes that prioritize rentals.
Extended affordability locks may deliver units today, but they limit the fee-simple ownership path that builds lasting family wealth. sa国际传媒官网网页入口 needs policies that expand supply without quietly raising taxes on owners or denying the next generation the chance to build equity.
Mark Raney is a past president of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Appraisal Institute.
