Latest news with #Vare
Otago Daily Times
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Fundraising rock concert for Methven Lions
Bulletproof Convertible will play in Methven to fundraise for Methven Lions. PHOTO: FILE Bulletproof Convertible, a three-piece rock band from Dunedin, is returning to Mid Canterbury for a Dead Rockers Ball to raise funds for the Methven Lions. Band members Silas Waring, Alex Ramsay and Paul Southworth, known for their high energy performances, will play at Mt Hutt Memorial Hall on July 26. There will also be raffles, auctions and Kiwi snacks and supper. Event promoter Simon Vare said the band had performed a free performance at the hall earlier this year supported by Methven teen band, Herding Cats. It was attended by some members of the Lions who were keen to team up with the band for a community event during winter. The trio play original songs with a 1950s influence and perform a mix of country, blues sprinkled with a healthy dose of punk rock and their Dead Rockers Ball is a full production show. The music appealed to all ages, included fairy lights, displays and photo booths, Vare said. ''In some of these small towns we get 18-year-olds, we get 80-year-olds. ''They're edgy, it's an edgy show. ''It's very danceable and fun night.'' He said the band, which performed the events as a hobby, did around eight a year – a couple north of the Waitaki River. He said the evening, like an old town hall dance, started with snacks on the tables and was followed by a hot food supper at 9pm with plenty of room for dancing. ''Be comfortable, we are going to rock it hard and have you dancing … we want you to come on the journey with us. You can wear a ball dress or dress as your favourite dead rock star, leather and denim? Or just come as you are … sweet as.'' He said Bulletproof Convertible were keen to hear from any groups or organisations in Ashburton wanting to benefit from hosting their own Dead Rockers Ball event. ''We would love to set something up in Ashburton,'' Vare said.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Foes of Fishers' plan for rental caps in subdivisions gain allies ahead of vote. What to know
Fishers' first-of-its-kind proposal to curb large corporate investors from buying swaths of single-family homes and converting them to rentals is drawing local and national opposition as a vote on the measure looms. Some homeowners and renters in Fishers have been joined by real estate interests in pushing back against an ordinance that would limit the number of homes for rent in subdivisions to 10% and establish a rental registry for the homeowners. They contend the ordinance unduly reduces the number of rentals, restricts property owners' rights and could depress property values. 'The truth is, Fishers has a proven rental housing shortage and already has an extremely high level of homeownership,' said former City Councilor Jocelyn Vare, a Democratic critic who has organized meetings with residents. 'I don't know why the city would go down this path so brazenly.' The administration of Mayor Scott Fadness and Fishers City Council worked one and a half years on the plan to address the trend of outside investors gobbling up homes, often paying above market value in cash, and drastically changing the balance of renters to owner-occupied homes in some neighborhoods. Fadness said the rental cap would help keep lower-priced houses in the market because those are the ones most often targeted by Wall Street investors. That will give first-time buyers, who are typically younger with less wealth, a chance to own a home in Fishers and build equity. 'Our concern is you can no longer buy a home any longer in Hamilton County for under $450,000, $500,000, 'Fadness said. 'So if you want to attract the next generation or young people and they want to buy a starter home, they can't because investor bought so many to rent.' The ordinance would also prevent neighborhoods defined by cul-de-sacs from being dominated by rental units, which change their character for buyers who prefer neighbors who own their homes. 'I think people buy homes in single-family neighborhoods in a suburban environment with an expectation that that is the experience they are going to have, so I think there is component for sure,' Fadness said. But opponents said Fadness is overlooking one crucial and glaring point; the surge in institutional investors has subsided. In fact the last home purchased by one in Fishers was January of 2023, and the big firms are now selling the homes they bought. 'Market conditions have changed dramatically with interest rates' changing, said Chris Pryor, chief advocacy officer for the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, which opposes the rental cap. 'So in many ways we think they are late to the game with this policy.' Vare said that's enough of reason to call the measure back for a fresh review of the caps, though she favors the rental registration. 'This was the whole rationale for this change in the first place and that isn't even valid anymore,' Vare said. Fadness acknowledged the investor buying spree has eased but that doesn't mean it couldn't come roaring back. 'If there was a hospitable market for it before I don't know why there couldn't be again,' Fadness said. 'And I think (if it does), this just ensures we will not get neighborhoods that are just saturated with rental products.' Fishers found that there are 2,522 single-family home rentals in the city, or 8% of all the single-family homes, with about 25% of those owned by institutional investors. A recent study found that corporate investors own more than 40,000 single-family rental homes in five Central Indiana counties. Pryor said there are more fundamental reasons for MIBOR's opposition to the rental cap: it intrudes on a homeowner's right to do what they please with their property. 'We think it violates core property ownership rights while it artificially interferes with the free market by limiting rentals and will have unintended consequences such as increased rental rates,' he said. 'We realtors have a long history of protecting property rights.' In addition, he said, 'it takes an option off the table for many people (single family rentals) at a time when purchasing a home is harder than ever.' Indiana Association of Realtors also oppose the rental caps while the One Zone Chamber of Commerce covering Hamilton County supports the ordinance and called it a ' thoughtful and strategic approach to ensuring long-term neighborhood stability and housing market balance,' in a recently published letter. Fishers' 240 subdivisions have varying levels of rental rates, most lower than 10%, but about 50 have rental rates much higher, some reaching 40%. Vare said some of the city's numbers are misleading. For example, of the 17 Fishers neighborhoods exceeding 30% rentals, 11 are condo or townhome communities, including three that were recently built as for-sale units. While some homeowners associations set their own rental caps, others don't address it all and still others don't bother because covenant rules usually require unreachable voting majorities. Foes of the caps are increasing pressure ahead of a possible vote by the City Council next Monday. Last week, two unsigned full-page ads appeared in the suburban Current newspapers urging action against the ordinance and text messages were sent to Fishers residents urging them to register their opposition. 'The Fishers City Council is looking to control who you can sell your home to,' the message read. 'Meaning you may be required to accept a LOWER offer on your home because of government overreach.' The texts, sent by the Hoosier Homeowners Alliance, a political organization with large financial contributions from the National Association of Realtors, prompted Fadness to issue a statement on the Fishers website. 'Yesterday, residents received intrusive and misleading messages from a national special interest group opposing our efforts to preserve the opportunity for families to own their homes and maintain our neighborhoods' vibrancy,' it read. 'I apologize for any confusion these messages caused, and in response, we have put together additional information that addresses the opposition's statements.' The ordinance has several exemptions to allow people to rent out their homes even when doing so would exceed neighborhood caps, including having had the house on the market for at least six months. Other exemptions include: Job relocation Renting to family members or legal dependents Deployed military Selling the property will cause undue burden. The City Council will discuss the ordinance at a meeting Monday night and public hearing and could vote on it afterward. The council could also delay the vote to another meeting. Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418. Email at and follow on X/Twitter @john_tuohy. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Foes of Fishers' rental caps in subdivisions gain allies ahead of vote
Indianapolis Star
21-04-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Foes of Fishers' plan for rental caps in subdivisions gain allies ahead of vote. What to know
Fishers' first-of-its-kind proposal to curb large corporate investors from buying swaths of single-family homes and converting them to rentals is drawing local and national opposition as a vote on the measure looms. Some homeowners and renters in Fishers have been joined by real estate interests in pushing back against an ordinance that would limit the number of homes for rent in subdivisions to 10% and establish a rental registry for the homeowners. They contend the ordinance unduly reduces the number of rentals, restricts property owners' rights and could depress property values. 'The truth is, Fishers has a proven rental housing shortage and already has an extremely high level of homeownership,' said former City Councilor Jocelyn Vare, a Democratic critic who has organized meetings with residents. 'I don't know why the city would go down this path so brazenly.' The administration of Mayor Scott Fadness and Fishers City Council worked one and a half years on the plan t o address the trend of outside investors gobbling up homes, often paying above market value in cash, and drastically changing the balance of renters to owner-occupied homes in some neighborhoods. Fadness said the rental cap would help keep lower-priced houses in the market because those are the ones most often targeted by Wall Street investors. That will give first-time buyers, who are typically younger with less wealth, a chance to own a home in Fishers and build equity. 'Our concern is you can no longer buy a home any longer in Hamilton County for under $450,000, $500,000, 'Fadness said. 'So if you want to attract the next generation or young people and they want to buy a starter home, they can't because investor bought so many to rent.' The ordinance would also prevent neighborhoods defined by cul-de-sacs from being dominated by rental units, which change their character for buyers who prefer neighbors who own their homes. 'I think people buy homes in single-family neighborhoods in a suburban environment with an expectation that that is the experience they are going to have, so I think there is component for sure,' Fadness said. But opponents said Fadness is overlooking one crucial and glaring point; the surge in institutional investors has subsided. In fact the last home purchased by one in Fishers was January of 2023, and the big firms are now selling the homes they bought. 'Market conditions have changed dramatically with interest rates' changing, said Chris Pryor, chief advocacy officer for the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, which opposes the rental cap. 'So in many ways we think they are late to the game with this policy.' Vare said that's enough of reason to call the measure back for a fresh review of the caps, though she favors the rental registration. 'This was the whole rationale for this change in the first place and that isn't even valid anymore,' Vare said. Fadness acknowledged the investor buying spree has eased but that doesn't mean it couldn't come roaring back. 'If there was a hospitable market for it before I don't know why there couldn't be again,' Fadness said. 'And I think (if it does), this just ensures we will not get neighborhoods that are just saturated with rental products.' How many rentals are in Fishers Fishers found that there are 2,522 single-family home rentals in the city, or 8% of all the single-family homes, with about 25% of those owned by institutional investors. A recent study found that corporate investors own more than 40,000 single-family rental homes in five Central Indiana counties. Pryor said there are more fundamental reasons for MIBOR's opposition to the rental cap: it intrudes on a homeowner's right to do what they please with their property. 'We think it violates core property ownership rights while it artificially interferes with the free market by limiting rentals and will have unintended consequences such as increased rental rates,' he said. 'We realtors have a long history of protecting property rights.' In addition, he said, 'it takes an option off the table for many people (single family rentals) at a time when purchasing a home is harder than ever.' Indiana Association of Realtors also oppose the rental caps while the One Zone Chamber of Commerce covering Hamilton County supports the ordinance and called it a ' thoughtful and strategic approach to ensuring long-term neighborhood stability and housing market balance,' in a recently published letter. Fishers' 240 subdivisions have varying levels of rental rates, most lower than 10%, but about 50 have rental rates much higher, some reaching 40%. Vare said some of the city's numbers are misleading. For example, of the 17 Fishers neighborhoods exceeding 30% rentals, 11 are condo or townhome communities, including three that were recently built as for-sale units. While some homeowners associations set their own rental caps, others don't address it all and still others don't bother because covenant rules usually require unreachable voting majorities. Ads and texting campaigns Foes of the caps are increasing pressure ahead of a possible vote by the City Council next Monday. Last week, two unsigned full-page ads appeared in the suburban Current newspapers urging action against the ordinance and text messages were sent to Fishers residents urging them to register their opposition. 'The Fishers City Council is looking to control who you can sell your home to,' the message read. 'Meaning you may be required to accept a LOWER offer on your home because of government overreach.' The texts, sent by the Hoosier Homeowners Alliance, a political organization with large financial contributions from the National Association of Realtors, prompted Fadness to issue a statement on the Fishers website. 'Yesterday, residents received intrusive and misleading messages from a national special interest group opposing our efforts to preserve the opportunity for families to own their homes and maintain our neighborhoods' vibrancy,' it read. 'I apologize for any confusion these messages caused, and in response, we have put together additional information that addresses the opposition's statements.' The ordinance has several exemptions to allow people to rent out their homes even when doing so would exceed neighborhood caps, including having had the house on the market for at least six months. Other exemptions include: Job relocation Renting to family members or legal dependents Deployed military Selling the property will cause undue burden. The City Council will discuss the ordinance at a meeting Monday night and public hearing and could vote on it afterward. The council could also delay the vote to another meeting.
