While reading a recent commentary by Ryan Heraty, I was confused by his somewhat naive attacks on those who are out-of-state homeowners and or those involved in the short-term rental business, portraying them as some sort of drain on the state’s economy. How can that be?

Most likely the owners of these residences have overpaid to purchase them. Who benefited most from that?  Did the seller decide to be a benevolent participant in these sales? No, it’s always the other guy that’s greedy, never us.

These homes are also likely to be rented to tourists, and tourism is big business in this state. Those tourists come here and pay (and sometimes overpay) to dine in local restaurants, pay for equipment rentals and/or repairs, buy gas, groceries etc. 

Sure the homeowner is making some money to rent out the property, but if they are the evil out-of-stater, who is maintaining that home? Who is cutting the grass, making repairs to the plumbing, the heating and so on, doing the painting, clearing the driveway?

And if they are not homesteaded properties, aren’t they subject to property tax increases in the second-home category, not being used as a business?

So where exactly is the net money drain that is so often complained about?

These comments made by the author seem like another attempt to punish success until it’s no longer worth achieving.

Robert Zeidler

Georgia