Serena, I think you’re missing a crucial point in how we found people to buy the house. We didn’t sell to people just because they were black, but because they were committed anti-gentrification activists with intentions to not flip the house because of those politics. We looked for buyers through an organization of black anti-gentrification activists because the neighborhood was 99% African-American. Our intention was to sell to people who wouldn’t flip it. That said, the owners can do whatever they decide is right and we didn’t write any clauses into the deed to make sure it wouldn’t be flipped.

We sold the house for twice what we had paid for it, and $5,000 less than the appraisal. I don’t see that as giving the house away to people just because they are black. We had figured out that $60k was the right amount to sell for, to not mess with the home values of others on our block, and that’s why we didn’t sell for $100k, or $45k when the buyers tried to talk us down. It was hard to stick to that number, but I’m glad it worked out.

I also want to clarify that I didn’t move out of the neighborhood because it was scary. I say I wouldn’t move there again because for five years I didn’t feel right about taking up space as a house of white people in a black neighborhood. I’ve talked about why I don’t think that’s “reverse racism” in other comments.

Thanks for joining this conversation.

I am glad to be a part of this blog effort. I am of course proud of how you folks conducted your homownersexualshipness. I had a small part in helping in the Baltimore Ave. house and later in the house that was purchased, doing some maintenance items and repairs.

In answer to your questions about “should they be compensated because they are – technically, in the capitalist society we live in – padding my coffers, even though i don’t want it padded?”, my answer would be no, they should not be, unless you want to do so. We all need to be able to learn to accept graciously, and often it can be a turn off to be paid for what you wish to volunteer to do. It makes no more sensse to me to consider paying people for their generosity that it apparently made to you all to expect to be paid for your generosity to the larger community you donated to. Guilt is often behind the need to pay (or gifting back) for other’s gifts to you. Don’t go there.

Do what you feel comfortable doing, and if you feel a need to pass something back, pass it up or down the line. Don’t feel that you have to reciprocate directly. That is what I feel you accomplished with the house in Philly. Don’t lose the message. Accept graciously, and act generously. Emily taught me that!

i recently bought a house here in minneapolis (closed end of august). i did it entirely on other people’s credit, opportunized on the foreclosure crisis here in mpls, and now have 2 big loans to pay off.

i definately did things very different this time in regards to gentrification. i chose to stay in the neighborhood i have been living in since i moved back to town which is about 50/50 rent/owned, mixed income but not poverty, and ethnically diverse. i wanted to stay in an area that 1)i am already connected to and don’t feel like i am transplanting just to “own”, and 2) my lifestyle/class/access to priviledge does not tip the scales and undermine the economic eco-system (for lack of a better way to put it) that already exists here.
that said, we all know that people are losing their homes every day in this city and country, be it their own or the one they rent that gets foreclosed on. and it’s this very thing that makes it possible for someone else to buy. that is, the people who are getting foreclosed on probably would *be able to keep their homes* if the situation for them was how *it is right now* for the next person. so royally fucked up!!!!!
and put on top of that my decision to want to be the sole person at the bottom line, yet live collectively. what the fuck? an interesting example of that for me is:
i decided to roll into rent $25/month per person to go towards two different Native American organizations in town – my idea of “back rent”. what feels strange about something like that is, i am not deciding this with other people, i’m deciding it for them. i am very transparent with my money, where it came/comes from and where it’s going. and even though i have no intention to sell and absolutely don’t think in terms of equity, you and i both know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and shit happens. but so (for example) when a housemate is all psyched up to do a project that i don’t consider to be a priority but definitely “improves” the house in some way, should they be compensated because they are – technically, in the capitalist society we live in – padding my coffers, even though i don’t want it padded?
these are just some of my quandries, day in and day out.
any ideas insights or criticism is greatly appreciated!