The kids have gone to the dogs
August 16, 2017 10:03 AM Subscribe
According to a recent survey, 33% of Americans age 18-36 who purchased their first home did so primarily to accommodate a dog. This exceeds the number purchasing primarily because of a marriage or the birth of a child.
Millennials love their pets; in fact, they are the largest demographic of pet owners. The financial commitment is not lost on them, either: as one millennial-targeting financial planner says, "We have more clients with dog savings accounts than...kid savings accounts and we have more clients with dog savings accounts than housing savings accounts." These multi-species families affect the areas where they live, rent, and buy property, too, as dog parks become a hallmark of gentrification and they lead the growth in urban parks.
Millennials love their pets; in fact, they are the largest demographic of pet owners. The financial commitment is not lost on them, either: as one millennial-targeting financial planner says, "We have more clients with dog savings accounts than...kid savings accounts and we have more clients with dog savings accounts than housing savings accounts." These multi-species families affect the areas where they live, rent, and buy property, too, as dog parks become a hallmark of gentrification and they lead the growth in urban parks.
WTF cat people? Get your shit together.
posted by Artw at 10:07 AM on August 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Artw at 10:07 AM on August 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
Millennials love their pets; in fact, they are the largest demographic of pet owners.
Are they not just the largest demographic at this point?
posted by Artw at 10:08 AM on August 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Are they not just the largest demographic at this point?
posted by Artw at 10:08 AM on August 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
It might be slightly relevant that The Fair Housing Act of 1968 made it illegal for landlords to discriminate against prospective tenants with children under the age of 18. So in some ways, it's more difficult to find a place to live with dogs than with kids.
posted by redsparkler at 10:10 AM on August 16, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by redsparkler at 10:10 AM on August 16, 2017 [50 favorites]
WTF cat people? Get your shit together.
It's vastly easier to find a rental that will allow cats than dogs, especially dogs that are bigger than cats.
posted by restless_nomad at 10:22 AM on August 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
It's vastly easier to find a rental that will allow cats than dogs, especially dogs that are bigger than cats.
posted by restless_nomad at 10:22 AM on August 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
I'm in the opposite situation: I've told my kids that we will not get a dog unless we have a house with a yard.
posted by sleeping bear at 10:23 AM on August 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by sleeping bear at 10:23 AM on August 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
The only time you need a house for cats is if you want more than two. There are plenty of rentals that won't rent with cats, but also plenty that will. Large dogs, though? You're almost certainly going to be lying to the landlord about how many pounds your dog is, and that's not really a position anybody wants to be in long-term. I know two people who've actually been through this. Unfortunately, what it often means is that they're buying houses they can't really afford. Like one friend's sister, who can only afford her house payment as long as she keeps the two other bedrooms rented out. But she has her dog, and I can't really fault her for it.
posted by Sequence at 10:35 AM on August 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Sequence at 10:35 AM on August 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Aah, the ol' "millennial are careless with money" avocado toast framing.
This is a misleading read aimed at making it more newsworthy by SunTrust who administered the survey - the full answer was "better space/yard for dog." This question is really the qualitative version of "more space" which scored #1. I don't understand how they would've differentiated those of us wanting a yard for outdoor enjoyment or barbecuing over those who want yards exclusively for dogs. Plus - how many of us want better space than whatever rental is currently available to us?
Also - the marriage and birth of a child thing irks me. Millenials are buying houses later than ever before due to way more student debt and income stagnation. My wife and I were married three years before we closed on a house (15 days ago!) Couples also live together before marriage these days, in part due to the financial horrors of the rental market for singles out there. So merging two apartments together into a matrimonial home is an antiquated box to check.
My wife and I got a house with more than one bedroom, which considering we do not have a child, has the current state of "guest rooms." At some point, it might be a child's bedroom, but I'd certainly not answer "birth of a child" because we neither have one of those nor are certain we can have one.
I'd have answered this better space, because more is nice but we picked the smallest house we saw, but apparently that makes me a financial doggo.
posted by notorious medium at 10:35 AM on August 16, 2017 [30 favorites]
This is a misleading read aimed at making it more newsworthy by SunTrust who administered the survey - the full answer was "better space/yard for dog." This question is really the qualitative version of "more space" which scored #1. I don't understand how they would've differentiated those of us wanting a yard for outdoor enjoyment or barbecuing over those who want yards exclusively for dogs. Plus - how many of us want better space than whatever rental is currently available to us?
Also - the marriage and birth of a child thing irks me. Millenials are buying houses later than ever before due to way more student debt and income stagnation. My wife and I were married three years before we closed on a house (15 days ago!) Couples also live together before marriage these days, in part due to the financial horrors of the rental market for singles out there. So merging two apartments together into a matrimonial home is an antiquated box to check.
My wife and I got a house with more than one bedroom, which considering we do not have a child, has the current state of "guest rooms." At some point, it might be a child's bedroom, but I'd certainly not answer "birth of a child" because we neither have one of those nor are certain we can have one.
I'd have answered this better space, because more is nice but we picked the smallest house we saw, but apparently that makes me a financial doggo.
posted by notorious medium at 10:35 AM on August 16, 2017 [30 favorites]
This sort of thing is why I advise people here not to get dogs until they can buy a house or otherwise don't have to worry about finding rental accommodations with a dog.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:41 AM on August 16, 2017
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:41 AM on August 16, 2017
I'm sure my apartment-bound cats wouldn't mind having more space, but what they really want is more food, and moving won't help that.
(If I moved to a house that had more bugs, that would be fun for them though)
posted by aubilenon at 10:44 AM on August 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
(If I moved to a house that had more bugs, that would be fun for them though)
posted by aubilenon at 10:44 AM on August 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
It might be slightly relevant that The Fair Housing Act of 1968 made it illegal for landlords to discriminate against prospective tenants with children under the age of 18.
Like I get why that law exists and on the whole it's a great thing, but could landlords of over-under duplexes built in the 1900s get an exemption? Because toddler feet sound like the fist of God in my downstairs neighbor situation.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:45 AM on August 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Like I get why that law exists and on the whole it's a great thing, but could landlords of over-under duplexes built in the 1900s get an exemption? Because toddler feet sound like the fist of God in my downstairs neighbor situation.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:45 AM on August 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Millenials are buying houses later than ever before due to way more student debt and income stagnation.
This and having kids, and getting married much much later if at all. So correlation not causation. People are not buying houses for their dogs, they just have/get dogs when they buy houses instead of kids (yet or at all).
posted by French Fry at 10:46 AM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
This and having kids, and getting married much much later if at all. So correlation not causation. People are not buying houses for their dogs, they just have/get dogs when they buy houses instead of kids (yet or at all).
posted by French Fry at 10:46 AM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
My wife and I both had dogs, then we had 2 kids, then we bought a house. I can tell you - 2 adults+2 kids+2 dogs does not fit comfortably in 944 square feet - or minus one dog and increase to 1758 square feet. But now? 2,848 square feet, a cat, and a quarter acre later - There is actually room.
If at all possible, buy the house before the kids. Trust me on this one. Your sanity and space will thank you for it.
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:50 AM on August 16, 2017
If at all possible, buy the house before the kids. Trust me on this one. Your sanity and space will thank you for it.
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:50 AM on August 16, 2017
Why does a dog need a savings account? My dog is 11 - am I missing out on something?
posted by GuyZero at 10:54 AM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by GuyZero at 10:54 AM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
If at all possible, buy the house before the kids. Trust me on this one. Your sanity and space will thank you for it.
Nah, do it all at the same time. Move with a 6 month old. Twice. It's great. A-fucking-mazing.
Trust me on this one.
posted by GuyZero at 10:56 AM on August 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Nah, do it all at the same time. Move with a 6 month old. Twice. It's great. A-fucking-mazing.
Trust me on this one.
posted by GuyZero at 10:56 AM on August 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Why does a dog need a savings account? My dog is 11 - am I missing out on something?
You seen vet bills when a pet gets sick?
posted by Talez at 10:57 AM on August 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
You seen vet bills when a pet gets sick?
posted by Talez at 10:57 AM on August 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Aah, the ol' "millennial are careless with money" avocado toast framing.
I hope the framing of this post didn't come off as critical or negative - it's certainly not meant that way! I'm a dog-obsessed, small-apartment-dwelling millennial myself, so if anything I find this potential pattern interesting because it makes me feel a little less extra for the housing-related choices I'd love to make for my dog's sake (I totally believe that plenty of dogs, mine included, can have VERY happy and healthy lives in apartments, but goddamn if I wouldn't love to just be able to let him out into the yard those nights that I fall 90% asleep on the couch at 10:30 or the weekend mornings when he wants to go out at 8 AM).
Plus, it's obviously just a marketing survey. Of course one survey doesn't actually tell us much, nobody is going to accept this into a peer-reviewed journal anytime soon...the sample doesn't include non-home-buyers (so what do we really know about the impetus for home-buying), it's not a longitudinal thing (so what do we really know about millennials in particular), and there are plenty of other patterns one should consider or control for. But if this actually hints at underlying changes, that's an interesting little thing to mull!
posted by R a c h e l at 10:57 AM on August 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
I hope the framing of this post didn't come off as critical or negative - it's certainly not meant that way! I'm a dog-obsessed, small-apartment-dwelling millennial myself, so if anything I find this potential pattern interesting because it makes me feel a little less extra for the housing-related choices I'd love to make for my dog's sake (I totally believe that plenty of dogs, mine included, can have VERY happy and healthy lives in apartments, but goddamn if I wouldn't love to just be able to let him out into the yard those nights that I fall 90% asleep on the couch at 10:30 or the weekend mornings when he wants to go out at 8 AM).
Plus, it's obviously just a marketing survey. Of course one survey doesn't actually tell us much, nobody is going to accept this into a peer-reviewed journal anytime soon...the sample doesn't include non-home-buyers (so what do we really know about the impetus for home-buying), it's not a longitudinal thing (so what do we really know about millennials in particular), and there are plenty of other patterns one should consider or control for. But if this actually hints at underlying changes, that's an interesting little thing to mull!
posted by R a c h e l at 10:57 AM on August 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
It might be slightly relevant that The Fair Housing Act of 1968 made it illegal for landlords to discriminate against prospective tenants with children under the age of 18. So in some ways, it's more difficult to find a place to live with dogs than with kids.
Oh yeah, absolutely! I tried renting with a German Shepherd and had ZERO luck until I went outside of city limits...and then the only place I could find was a 3-story house that was ridiculously oversized (and expensive) for just me and my dog. The city I was living in had breed restrictions for rentals (Pit Bulls, Dobermans, and other big dogs with mean reputations...including German Shepherds). If I'd had horrible rotten kids? No worries. But one perfectly adorable and obedient dog? No way.
posted by Elly Vortex at 10:58 AM on August 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oh yeah, absolutely! I tried renting with a German Shepherd and had ZERO luck until I went outside of city limits...and then the only place I could find was a 3-story house that was ridiculously oversized (and expensive) for just me and my dog. The city I was living in had breed restrictions for rentals (Pit Bulls, Dobermans, and other big dogs with mean reputations...including German Shepherds). If I'd had horrible rotten kids? No worries. But one perfectly adorable and obedient dog? No way.
posted by Elly Vortex at 10:58 AM on August 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Guilty. Totes bought a house to live with dogs.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:02 AM on August 16, 2017
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:02 AM on August 16, 2017
If at all possible, buy the house before the kids. Trust me on this one. Your sanity and space will thank you for it.
Only if you keep the address secret from the kids.
posted by srboisvert at 11:04 AM on August 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
Only if you keep the address secret from the kids.
posted by srboisvert at 11:04 AM on August 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
I guess technically we did this. When we moved for my job to a new town, we couldn't find a rental that would allow 3 pets (1 cat, 2 small dogs). So we bought a house; it's a LCOL area where the mortgage was technically cheaper than the rent on a comparable place. We'd had the pets for years at that point, so it was the best option.
posted by bizzyb at 11:07 AM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bizzyb at 11:07 AM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
The kids snake people are alright.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:10 AM on August 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:10 AM on August 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I know that there will be a lot of tut-tutting, pearl-clutching and "kids these days!"-ing, but I say, if you want a house and can afford it, by all means buy it. I don't think you need a good reason to own a house. If you're buying a house because you want to own a large dog, that's as good a reason as any.
I think that breed restrictions are one reason why people would rather own than rent with dogs. Before I moved into my house, I lived in a condo complex where cats were allowed (I was able to rent with THREE! And I didn't lie to management, either), as well as small dogs, but there were breed and weight restrictions. I think people were able to skirt the weight restrictions, if the yellow lab with the obnoxious owner was any indication, but pit bulls, rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds were hard-core banned. And guess what breeds tend to languish in my local shelters? (And to the neighbors who thought that a Jack Russell was an ideal apartment/condo dog, just fuck you. May you forever live beneath stompy toddlers.)
I now have four cats and own a house. I did not get a house so that I could have multiple cats, but the fact that my number of cats is limited by what I can afford and how many ears I can scratch at once, and not a landlord, is a definite bonus.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 11:11 AM on August 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
I think that breed restrictions are one reason why people would rather own than rent with dogs. Before I moved into my house, I lived in a condo complex where cats were allowed (I was able to rent with THREE! And I didn't lie to management, either), as well as small dogs, but there were breed and weight restrictions. I think people were able to skirt the weight restrictions, if the yellow lab with the obnoxious owner was any indication, but pit bulls, rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds were hard-core banned. And guess what breeds tend to languish in my local shelters? (And to the neighbors who thought that a Jack Russell was an ideal apartment/condo dog, just fuck you. May you forever live beneath stompy toddlers.)
I now have four cats and own a house. I did not get a house so that I could have multiple cats, but the fact that my number of cats is limited by what I can afford and how many ears I can scratch at once, and not a landlord, is a definite bonus.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 11:11 AM on August 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Cats don't need as much space, although I probably would not have adopted a third cat if we'd still lived in an apartment.
We bought our house when we moved from an absurdly expensive housing market to a very reasonable one where buying would ultimately be cheaper than renting. Also, I wanted to plant daffodils in my very own yard.
posted by tully_monster at 11:13 AM on August 16, 2017
We bought our house when we moved from an absurdly expensive housing market to a very reasonable one where buying would ultimately be cheaper than renting. Also, I wanted to plant daffodils in my very own yard.
posted by tully_monster at 11:13 AM on August 16, 2017
Everyone knows that my partner and I and not having children, so even though we bought a multi bedroom house, no one really asked about that. However, plenty of my friends seem actually put out that we are not getting a dog either!
"But you have a fenced-in yard!" "You're close to the park!" "You'll be so happy once you get one!" "Ugh, why is there not a cute animal in my lap right now!?"
It's like before my parents accepted that I am going to stay child free. So weird.
posted by MsDaniB at 11:21 AM on August 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
"But you have a fenced-in yard!" "You're close to the park!" "You'll be so happy once you get one!" "Ugh, why is there not a cute animal in my lap right now!?"
It's like before my parents accepted that I am going to stay child free. So weird.
posted by MsDaniB at 11:21 AM on August 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
(If I moved to a house that had more bugs, that would be fun for them though)
I don't recommend it. We moved to a house which has bugs, and the cats are not good at killing the bugs. They are even more useless at killing rats. At work we had a "presentation skills" class recently and I gave a presentation "how to kill rats" which was essentially a thinly veiled excuse to show pictures of my cats and talk about how they were useless at killing rats, but I keep them because they are pretty.
posted by madcaptenor at 11:24 AM on August 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
I don't recommend it. We moved to a house which has bugs, and the cats are not good at killing the bugs. They are even more useless at killing rats. At work we had a "presentation skills" class recently and I gave a presentation "how to kill rats" which was essentially a thinly veiled excuse to show pictures of my cats and talk about how they were useless at killing rats, but I keep them because they are pretty.
posted by madcaptenor at 11:24 AM on August 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
I have a friend whose stated reason for buying their house was so that he and his wife could have separate bedrooms and bathrooms. Without that, they were convinced the marriage would not last. The four kids came after they moved. The dog they had and was not a factor in the house decision.
posted by AugustWest at 11:24 AM on August 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by AugustWest at 11:24 AM on August 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Kids are easier than dogs. Way easier.
posted by Keith Talent at 11:27 AM on August 16, 2017
posted by Keith Talent at 11:27 AM on August 16, 2017
I absolutely bought my first house primarily so I could have a dog. Two dogs. Nobody is going to rent to you and your Great Dane. But I'm not a millennial. Where's the survey for Gen X?
posted by thejanna at 11:35 AM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by thejanna at 11:35 AM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
WTF cat people? Get your shit together.
Cats are happy with a box. Why spend money on a yard?
I don't recommend it. We moved to a house which has bugs, and the cats are not good at killing the bugs. They are even more useless at killing rats. At work we had a "presentation skills" class recently and I gave a presentation "how to kill rats" which was essentially a thinly veiled excuse to show pictures of my cats and talk about how they were useless at killing rats, but I keep them because they are pretty.
Forget rats. My fuzzy, lazy ass, non-rent paying roommate can't even hack mice.
posted by Samizdata at 11:38 AM on August 16, 2017
Cats are happy with a box. Why spend money on a yard?
I don't recommend it. We moved to a house which has bugs, and the cats are not good at killing the bugs. They are even more useless at killing rats. At work we had a "presentation skills" class recently and I gave a presentation "how to kill rats" which was essentially a thinly veiled excuse to show pictures of my cats and talk about how they were useless at killing rats, but I keep them because they are pretty.
Forget rats. My fuzzy, lazy ass, non-rent paying roommate can't even hack mice.
posted by Samizdata at 11:38 AM on August 16, 2017
If I had a house my cat would have so much exercise running from window to window to check on things. Meanwhile in my apartment she has killed some bugs and she is terrified of outside so I don't have to worry about her running away. Buying a house could upset this delicate balance.
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:49 AM on August 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:49 AM on August 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
My fuzzy, lazy ass, non-rent paying roommate can't even hack mice.
My cats can't handle bugs or rats. Thankfully I haven't had a chance to try them out on mice but the odds aren't good.
posted by madcaptenor at 12:12 PM on August 16, 2017
My cats can't handle bugs or rats. Thankfully I haven't had a chance to try them out on mice but the odds aren't good.
posted by madcaptenor at 12:12 PM on August 16, 2017
Not to like, fit the stereotype or whatever, but this sounds like what my 26-32 year old friend group would be doing right now if we could afford to buy houses in our area (Seattle). Lots of us are adopting dogs anyway in lieu of not being able to afford to have houses, and are willing to deal with the frustration of less and less rentals that accept pets.
Many of my friends are brooding with the strong desire to have kids, but don't feel they can responsibly afford to care for them, so they're acquiring puppers or doggos instead of babies. Dogs are our generation's consolation prize, I guess?
posted by Snacks at 12:23 PM on August 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Many of my friends are brooding with the strong desire to have kids, but don't feel they can responsibly afford to care for them, so they're acquiring puppers or doggos instead of babies. Dogs are our generation's consolation prize, I guess?
posted by Snacks at 12:23 PM on August 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary shared this pic on fb the other day, and it rekindled my desire to get a house solely for multiple dog ownership.
If a room full of beautiful fur friends is a consolation prize, than hooooly shit I'm glad I'm not winning.
posted by phunniemee at 12:34 PM on August 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
If a room full of beautiful fur friends is a consolation prize, than hooooly shit I'm glad I'm not winning.
posted by phunniemee at 12:34 PM on August 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I've been putting off having a dog for a very long time, and "ooh boy this house has a fenced in back yard and I can put a dog door in the patio door and finally feel comfortable having one!" was definitely a factor in my putting in an offer immediately on what is now my house.
posted by flaterik at 1:20 PM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by flaterik at 1:20 PM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm a millennial, albeit among the oldest possible, and I just bought my first house this year (Boston area). I worked for years in consulting to save up for it, and don't know anyone who owns a home my age and in this area that wasn't a consultant or a programmer, even my lawyer/doctor friends who make perhaps the most are still working off their massive student debt.
I have 2 human kids who have lived in many rentals but this house I own is the first place I've lived since I was 16 that I could have any size of dog. Having a dog in a rental was just not on the table.
posted by French Fry at 1:22 PM on August 16, 2017
I have 2 human kids who have lived in many rentals but this house I own is the first place I've lived since I was 16 that I could have any size of dog. Having a dog in a rental was just not on the table.
posted by French Fry at 1:22 PM on August 16, 2017
In my experience of the English rental market, the day that you were allowed to keep a pet in your house would be the same day that hell froze over.
posted by The River Ivel at 2:20 PM on August 16, 2017
posted by The River Ivel at 2:20 PM on August 16, 2017
We had a (small) dog before owning a house, but moved from a rental that was basically the same size and layout. Just need a bigger housefor more dogs. (Will Graham in Hannibal had my ideal dog farm.) I've set the maximum number of dogs at (sq ft - 500)/500.
posted by supercres at 2:29 PM on August 16, 2017
posted by supercres at 2:29 PM on August 16, 2017
The buying a house because of a dog thing totally makes sense to me. Where I am (Toronto, Ontario) there are laws on the books preventing no-pet provisions in leases. This sounds good until you realize that this only really applies to rental apartment buildings (which hasn't seen any new construction in the last 25 years) or houses. Most people who are renting are renting units in condominiums and if the condominium has a no-pet rule then that'll trump tenancy law.
So you can raise kids in your condo that you're renting. You can keep cats on the sly because they just stay in your unit and don't make much noise but if you keep a dog it'll get noticed and you run a very good chance of either having to give up the dog or getting evicted. So when you win the lottery and buy your house (or move to Oshawa, Hamilton or Barrie) then the motivating factor is the dog because the kids and cats were already doable in your rental condo.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:40 PM on August 16, 2017
So you can raise kids in your condo that you're renting. You can keep cats on the sly because they just stay in your unit and don't make much noise but if you keep a dog it'll get noticed and you run a very good chance of either having to give up the dog or getting evicted. So when you win the lottery and buy your house (or move to Oshawa, Hamilton or Barrie) then the motivating factor is the dog because the kids and cats were already doable in your rental condo.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:40 PM on August 16, 2017
Conversely, I'm wondering whether or not dog ownership is one way of demonstrating that one is a homeowner, and not some wretched tenant due to be centrifuged further out in the next cycle of gentrification. In London, as areas gentrify, as grease shops and pound shops are replaced with artisanal bakeries and boutiques, sets of studio flats are knocked back together to make larger homes, pubs usually put up “DOG FRIENDLY” logos and bowls of water, at about the same time as bringing in a posher menu. Perhaps one of the benefits of having a dog (and especially a pedigree breed*) is that one can take it to the pub and use it as a status symbol, demonstrating that one can not only afford a pedigree dog and the resources to care for one, but, more importantly, owns one's own property, and is secure in the knowledge that they will not need to get it rehomed should the landlord push them out and they fail to find a suitable lease.
* pugs are, of course, huge in Hackney. Vets there who specialise in respiratory problems must have no problems finding business.
posted by acb at 3:16 PM on August 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
* pugs are, of course, huge in Hackney. Vets there who specialise in respiratory problems must have no problems finding business.
posted by acb at 3:16 PM on August 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Weirdly, the DC rental market is actually quite dog-friendly. Not all units allow dogs, of course, but I'd estimate at least 30-40% of the rental housing stock allows dogs under at least some conditions (breed/size/number restrictions, plentiful fees) and even renting with a more-restricted breed like a pit bull is not unheard of (though it's much harder). The managed complexes, in particular, are mostly pet-friendly. I wonder if that has something to do with a place where affluent people are still likely to rent vs. a market where anyone affluent owns a place.
posted by R a c h e l at 3:29 PM on August 16, 2017
posted by R a c h e l at 3:29 PM on August 16, 2017
notorious medium - I read the answer to the question as:
Better space for dog / Yard for dog
However I can definitely see that people would diagram the sentence a little differently (Family Feud style?) and end up with an "or".
I guess it goes to show that one needs to put a lot of thought into survey questions and answers (or that they can be crafted to show pretty much any result that they want).
posted by montag2k at 3:30 PM on August 16, 2017
Better space for dog / Yard for dog
However I can definitely see that people would diagram the sentence a little differently (Family Feud style?) and end up with an "or".
I guess it goes to show that one needs to put a lot of thought into survey questions and answers (or that they can be crafted to show pretty much any result that they want).
posted by montag2k at 3:30 PM on August 16, 2017
Yup. Old millennial here. Even once I had a cat and owned a condo, I would tell people my life plan was "get a boyfriend, move in with boyfriend (house implied), get a dog." It was all about the dog -- I was a pretty happy single gal. Now I'm in a house with a fenced in yard, a fiance, a cat, and a dog. We're getting married in a month and kids are in the plan, but I feel like I could probably die today and be pretty happy with how my life turned out.
Most of my friends (even the ones younger than me who are firmly millennial) own their own homes (we're a very privileged group, to be sure), but I don't think most did it for dogs. That being said, I can think of only one home that has no kids, cats, or dogs, and even they have a neighborhood cat who hangs out with them. All but 3 of the families have at least a cat or a dog.
posted by natabat at 3:34 PM on August 16, 2017
Most of my friends (even the ones younger than me who are firmly millennial) own their own homes (we're a very privileged group, to be sure), but I don't think most did it for dogs. That being said, I can think of only one home that has no kids, cats, or dogs, and even they have a neighborhood cat who hangs out with them. All but 3 of the families have at least a cat or a dog.
posted by natabat at 3:34 PM on August 16, 2017
Kids are easier than dogs. Way easier.
I would like to see the receipts on that
posted by Automocar at 3:36 PM on August 16, 2017
I would like to see the receipts on that
posted by Automocar at 3:36 PM on August 16, 2017
"Marriage, garage, better parking" is a single response category? I'm not entirely convinced SunTrust Mortgage is carrying out a thoughtful and well-designed survey.
posted by eotvos at 3:49 PM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by eotvos at 3:49 PM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I bought my house so I could get cats (two). I have a long commute to the city each day, I'm the sole breadwinner. Some days I feel like a 50s husband except that when I get home there's no 'honey, you're home!' it's all "MEOW MEOW MEOW where the fuck have you been, hooman?"
posted by kitten magic at 3:52 PM on August 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by kitten magic at 3:52 PM on August 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Gen X here. Lived most of my life in rentals. My dogs were my only family. One was a Great Dane mix, the other a Rottweiler. Many times I faced being homeless (though it never actually happened) because of the difficulty finding a place that would allow my dog. The slums I lived in, in order to keep my dogs with me... Wow, good times!
I bought my first house at age 41, the number one reason was that it was a better place for my 16 year old dog. Her legs were losing function, and I had to put her in a harness to help her down the stairs in our apartment. Her bladder was failing so the harnessing thing happened a lot! But finally I was able to aford a house! Then, after 16 years of faithful companioship, my dog died 3 months after we moved in to the new house. Still, I am happy knowing that, at the end, she loved going out in the yard and basking, all stretched out in the sun. She deserved so much more, but at least she had that.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 3:53 PM on August 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
I bought my first house at age 41, the number one reason was that it was a better place for my 16 year old dog. Her legs were losing function, and I had to put her in a harness to help her down the stairs in our apartment. Her bladder was failing so the harnessing thing happened a lot! But finally I was able to aford a house! Then, after 16 years of faithful companioship, my dog died 3 months after we moved in to the new house. Still, I am happy knowing that, at the end, she loved going out in the yard and basking, all stretched out in the sun. She deserved so much more, but at least she had that.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 3:53 PM on August 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Millennial here, bought my first house about a month ago.
The impetus for buying a house was that I wanted a washer and dryer in my dwelling. No, seriously. I just didn't want to go outside to do laundry anymore.
Having been in my last apartment for about six years, I got the idea in my head that I should move to an apartment with a washer and dryer in the unit, or at least with hookups for the same. I looked around extensively but the rent for the cheapest apartment I could find in the area with in-unit laundry was about double what I was already paying, and also considerably more expensive than the combination (mortgage + tax + insurance) payment on a 3-bedroom house in the same area.
There was no rent control involved in any of this; it's just the market situation here. It seems really strange to me, but there you have it.
Also, my cats do enjoy the extra room in which to run around, the drop ceiling to climb into and destroy, and so on and so forth...
posted by Juffo-Wup at 5:02 PM on August 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
The impetus for buying a house was that I wanted a washer and dryer in my dwelling. No, seriously. I just didn't want to go outside to do laundry anymore.
Having been in my last apartment for about six years, I got the idea in my head that I should move to an apartment with a washer and dryer in the unit, or at least with hookups for the same. I looked around extensively but the rent for the cheapest apartment I could find in the area with in-unit laundry was about double what I was already paying, and also considerably more expensive than the combination (mortgage + tax + insurance) payment on a 3-bedroom house in the same area.
There was no rent control involved in any of this; it's just the market situation here. It seems really strange to me, but there you have it.
Also, my cats do enjoy the extra room in which to run around, the drop ceiling to climb into and destroy, and so on and so forth...
posted by Juffo-Wup at 5:02 PM on August 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Millennials are killing the non-refundable pet deposit industry
posted by wcfields at 5:19 PM on August 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by wcfields at 5:19 PM on August 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Millennials are killing the non-refundable pet deposit industry
At least my last landlord had the honesty(?) to call it "pet rent" instead of a "non-refundable deposit", heh.
posted by Juffo-Wup at 5:22 PM on August 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
At least my last landlord had the honesty(?) to call it "pet rent" instead of a "non-refundable deposit", heh.
posted by Juffo-Wup at 5:22 PM on August 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think the difference is that per rent recurs and the "deposit" hits once.
I've only put thought into the difference because my former landlord charged BOTH.
But they forgot to actually put the one-time charge on my account teehee
posted by R a c h e l at 6:03 PM on August 16, 2017
I've only put thought into the difference because my former landlord charged BOTH.
But they forgot to actually put the one-time charge on my account teehee
posted by R a c h e l at 6:03 PM on August 16, 2017
I'm an old gen xer who totally bought a house for her dogs at the ripe young age of 45. Most of my peers, btw, got their first houses in their 40s. I have even contemplated selling my house and buying a new one because the house I bought when the dogs were young is no longer so great for now old dogs (too many stairs.) I raised my kids in mostly rented houses but the dogs? Nah, they need a dog door and a big fenced yard. Priorities!
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:20 PM on August 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:20 PM on August 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm purchasing my next home (and first garage) for my motorcycle. Suck it dog folks.
posted by bendy at 10:06 PM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bendy at 10:06 PM on August 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
so if millennials would rather buy avocado toast than a house, yet buy houses for dogs but not children, then that means we value dog > avocado toast > house > child? tbh it me
posted by Emily's Fist at 10:38 PM on August 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Emily's Fist at 10:38 PM on August 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
The only time you need a house for cats is if you want the landlord find out you have more than two.
Sometimes you can get away with a, uh, flexible number of cats if you tell your landlord you have cats without specifying the number. My friend has told me this works provided you keep the place clean. My friend has also tried swinging this by saying "threeeeEEEEEE" and sort of putting in the uptalk at the end of the word so it's more like a question and you have a excuse for your guilty conscience when you end up with three fosters on top of your three cats.
I had a neighbor who got away with having three cats instead of two because they were all black and looked identical. Provided one was hiding or sleeping or out of sight when the landlord popped in then nobody was the wiser.
posted by Anonymous at 3:05 AM on August 17, 2017
Sometimes you can get away with a, uh, flexible number of cats if you tell your landlord you have cats without specifying the number. My friend has told me this works provided you keep the place clean. My friend has also tried swinging this by saying "threeeeEEEEEE" and sort of putting in the uptalk at the end of the word so it's more like a question and you have a excuse for your guilty conscience when you end up with three fosters on top of your three cats.
I had a neighbor who got away with having three cats instead of two because they were all black and looked identical. Provided one was hiding or sleeping or out of sight when the landlord popped in then nobody was the wiser.
posted by Anonymous at 3:05 AM on August 17, 2017
I will say though, in the search for roommates I have found disclosing the quantity of cats I own has revealed that 99% of so-called cat lovers are in fact filthy casuals.
posted by Anonymous at 3:11 AM on August 17, 2017
posted by Anonymous at 3:11 AM on August 17, 2017
The only time you need a house for cats is if you want the landlord find out you have more than two.
When I lived in Melbourne, I had to get rid of my cat because the landlord objected. (My sister ended up taking him in, but still.)
posted by acb at 5:03 AM on August 17, 2017
When I lived in Melbourne, I had to get rid of my cat because the landlord objected. (My sister ended up taking him in, but still.)
posted by acb at 5:03 AM on August 17, 2017
Tbh one of the main reasons I want a house is because I want my bathroom doors to have those "vacant" and "in use" signs like porta potties do when you move the lock. I just don't want to invest in that (money + work) for my landlord's property that I'll leave someday. I don't think my views would have shown up in their survey.
posted by Emmy Rae at 7:14 AM on August 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Emmy Rae at 7:14 AM on August 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I will say though, in the search for roommates I have found disclosing the quantity of cats I own has revealed that 99% of so-called cat lovers are in fact filthy casuals
posted by schroedinger.
Epony-ironic?
posted by Emmy Rae at 7:16 AM on August 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by schroedinger.
Epony-ironic?
posted by Emmy Rae at 7:16 AM on August 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile, I bought my house for my books.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 7:31 AM on August 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 7:31 AM on August 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Why does a dog need a savings account? My dog is 11 - am I missing out on something?
posted by GuyZero at 1:54 PM on August 16 [1 favorite +] [!]
Long term planning for expensive EOL vet care sort of like a do it yourself insurance thing.
posted by edbles at 9:05 AM on August 17, 2017
posted by GuyZero at 1:54 PM on August 16 [1 favorite +] [!]
Long term planning for expensive EOL vet care sort of like a do it yourself insurance thing.
posted by edbles at 9:05 AM on August 17, 2017
Provided one was hiding or sleeping or out of sight when the landlord popped in then nobody was the wiser.
Last year, I was living with four other people in a three-bedroom apartment with seven cats--all of us now having moved on--and our standing arrangement was that SOMEONE had to be home when maintenance came to herd said cats. And it actually went fine. No idea what the maintenance people thought of there being five litter boxes. But, being honest, what they probably thought was, "These people have a lot of cats, and I don't get paid enough to care."
I think dogs are more likely to get you evicted because dogs can generate neighbor complaints.
posted by Sequence at 2:20 PM on August 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Last year, I was living with four other people in a three-bedroom apartment with seven cats--all of us now having moved on--and our standing arrangement was that SOMEONE had to be home when maintenance came to herd said cats. And it actually went fine. No idea what the maintenance people thought of there being five litter boxes. But, being honest, what they probably thought was, "These people have a lot of cats, and I don't get paid enough to care."
I think dogs are more likely to get you evicted because dogs can generate neighbor complaints.
posted by Sequence at 2:20 PM on August 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
(If I moved to a house that had more bugs, that would be fun for them though)
Ha ha ha. Sigh....
(it's not that she's much good at exterminating them, just that they are a great source of entertainment and simulation for her).
posted by Salamandrous at 8:12 PM on August 20, 2017
Ha ha ha. Sigh....
(it's not that she's much good at exterminating them, just that they are a great source of entertainment and simulation for her).
posted by Salamandrous at 8:12 PM on August 20, 2017
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posted by Panjandrum at 10:06 AM on August 16, 2017 [28 favorites]