5/31    I own a small apartment complex (real estate investment).  It's
        currently vacant.  After some renovation I'm thinking of only renting
        it out to local school teachers.  Rent is expensive in this area and
        I think we're losing good teachers because of it.  I want to give them
        low rent.  Is it legal to (a) rent it out only to school teachers?
        If not, is it legal to quote them a lower rent than non-teachers?
        This is not a troll.  I want to know if this can be legally done
        without getting sued.  Thanks.
        \_  I don't think it's illegal;  after all, that big brick apartment
            complex at the corner of hearst and arch only rents to
            non-students, and they never had any legal problems it appears.
            it's a kind move you are making..and plenty of people
            state strong cases below.  Just as long as you do not
            discriminate according to race, sex, and religion, you
            are pretty much clear.
        \_ You're hereby reminded that the motd is not a lawyer, or even
           a human being. It is a collection of non-lawyer specimens (which
           are, arguably, homo sapiens). Despite what we all think we know,
           you are running a VERY high risk taking any advice posted on here
           at face value. Go and see a lawyer. The money it'll save from future
           potential lawsuits will be worth it. -nonlawyer
        \_ I would say that it's illegal to quote teachers lower rent or
           rent only to teachers.
           \_ You would probably be wrong.  HUD has a program which sells
                houses to teachers at 1/2 off, i suspect that you would
                not run into any problems doing something similar yourself.
                To ban all non-teachers, you might have to call yourself
                a teachers co-op or some such.  (note that the Co-ops in
                Berk. rent some houses only to students, so why not be
                able to rent only to teachers)  In fact, you should call
                yourself a non-profit for teachers then pay yourself
                whatever your yearly profit would be and you can get
                good tax breaks (and probably shelter other income if you
                are clever)
                \_ I know the gov't can have programs like this, but I'm
                   not the gov't!  :-)  Coops have to be non-proft, I'm not
                   ready to do that yet.  I will still generate income
                   from my tenants, I just won't be gauging them.  How
                   about those "retirement" apartment complexes?  They're
                   discriminating on the basis of age and they're for-profit.
                   \_ :-[ , It's legal.  (that clear enough)
                        Also, you seem to be a little confused as to the
                        nature of non-profits.  You can set up a non-profit
                        just for this bldg, pay yourself an excessive salary
                        [the money does not know where it came from].  The
                        salary you can pay yourself is virtually limitless
                        (certainly more than you are going to make in "profit"
                        on a "small" apartment comlex (unless we have widely
                        differing ideas on what "small" is).  It is only
                        the non-profit COMPANY that can't make money (and
                        that isn't really true either) You as the founding
                        executive can still pull in a great deal.
           \_ My understanding is that it IS legal to discriminate on the
              basis of a tenant's profession.  (e.g. refusing to rent to
              a lawyer is permissible, but don't be surprised if they sue
              you anyway ;)  You of course cannot discriminate on the basis
              of race, religion, etc., but occupations are not a quality that
              is protected against such decisions.
        \_ Ask a lawyer, not the motd.  How can stupid people attain and
           keep so much money?  Never ceases to amaze me.
         \_ You wanna know what never ceases to amaze me? Motd censors. I mean,
            you decided somehow to keep the stupid GQ rice picking thread,
            which is of course of no merit other than purely sociological
            wankering. THis is fine. That's one of the functions of the motd.
            When someone asks about real estate, does s/he expect a correct
            answer? Maybe, who knows. That's just all part of this grand
            experiment known is the soda motd. I found it interesting to
            read the responses to this thread, because I, apparently like
            you, was amazed that someone would ask such a question in this
            forum. Does that mean we FUCKING CENSOR it? FUCK FUCK FUCK.
          \_ hey, which of you fucking idiots nuked the rest of this
             thread?  FUCK YOU ASSHOLE