Why Removing Houses from inactive is NOT a solution.

[Nexxa]

Being able to pay rent for an extended amount of time in advance would help. As long as the fee is trivial enough, owners are reimbursed their house's value, and the time you can pay ahead is capped at like a year or something super forgiving I don't see a problem. If you're gone longer than a whole year you're not really active enough to clog up a housing slot, I feel.

[Madjames]

Being able to pay rent for an extended amount of time in advance would help. As long as the fee is trivial enough, owners are reimbursed their house's value, and the time you can pay ahead is capped at like a year or something super forgiving I don't see a problem.

I payed for my house free and clear outright. Rent is something I will not stand for.

However, if you made it like a property tax fee like IRL and make it as trivial I can support that. Putting a cap on it is a no no though. You can pre-pay property taxes as far ahead into the future as you want to my knowledge. I pay $120 a month for my 1,700 square food home on a half acre lot. I could do 120 gil a month.

[Nexxa]

I payed for my house free and clear outright. Rent is something I will not stand for.

However, if you made it like a property tax fee like IRL and make it as trivial I can support that. Putting a cap on it is a no no though. You can pre-pay property taxes as far ahead into the future as you want to my knowledge. I pay $120 a month for my 1,700 square food home on a half acre lot. I could do 120 gil a month.

You're active, you play, that house isn't just collecting dust at the expense of active players. You're not part of the problem. The problem is, in my admittedly less than humble opinion, that many of the houses claimed are by people who will probably never play the game again. Maybe link it to how long your account has been inactive? As long as active players aren't screwed over by those who've bailed I'll be happy with a solution. I'd just want to see paying customers get some love instead of the people that no longer pay SE anything being coddled by a broken system. That said perhaps 10 months cold and you get an email warning you that you'll lose your house in 2 months and another at 1 month.

[Madjames]

I imagine it must be nice having a house. Most who can afford the lots don't. Most of the houses claimed are from people who will probably never play the game again. Maybe link it to how long your account has been inactive? As long as active players aren't screwed over by those who've bailed I'll be happy with a solution. I'd just want to see paying customers get some love instead of the people that no longer pay SE anything being coddled by a broken system.

Exactly. I personally do not own a house and am still saving up for the last medium in the ward with my FC. I can agree on a property tax much like IRL. If I do NOT pay my property taxes irl I lose my house, and my wife, me, and my twin boys will be homeless. The government does not care why you stopped paying, or if you are terminally ill. Coddling people who are not paying for the game and supporting the company who made this game possible is something I will never stand behind.

I made plenty of examples of how you can keep your sub going and keep logging in (or having someone log in for you and keeping your sub up to date even when IRL issues come up. I have no sympathy for people because there is always a way to keep your sub active so you don't lose your house.

[Krylo]

Being able to pay rent for an extended amount of time in advance would help.

I disagree with this. Especially for anything over a couple months. The main thrust of any of these actions should be to create churn in the real-estate market, particularly by targeting inactive players/accounts to remove their houses. If someone can pay their tax up to a year in advance it completely invalidates this, especially if the cost is completely trivial allowing most/all homeowners to do so. Why wouldn't they? It removes the necessity to do it manually every month, removes that annoyance.

But it also means that if they quit their house is still tied up for a full year before it drops off. That's HUGE in MMO time.

Pay in advance systems that go over, maybe, two months invalidate the main purpose of having a tax system at all.

[Nexxa]

I disagree with this. Especially for anything over a couple months. The main thrust of any of these actions should be to create churn in the real-estate market, particularly by targeting inactive players/accounts to remove their houses. If someone can pay their tax up to a year in advance it completely invalidates this, especially if the cost is completely trivial allowing most/all homeowners to do so. Why wouldn't they? It removes the necessity to do it manually every month, removes that annoyance.

But it also means that if they quit their house is still tied up for a full year before it drops off. That's HUGE in MMO time.

Pay in advance systems that go over, maybe, two months invalidate the main purpose of having a tax system at all.

I don't care if it's taxes or if it happens so long after your account goes inactive... something needs to clear out the abandoned houses.

[GenJoe]

I don't care if it's taxes or if it happens so long after your account goes inactive... something needs to clear out the abandoned houses.

Well, allowing people to pay for a year's rent just means that you'll see houses start to open up a year from implementation :P
Other than the initial purge of inactive housing (which will be significant) all the subsequent relinquishment will be done on such a long time frame, it's basically just a temporary band aid to get rid of the inactives now, it won't work for future inactives..

[Madjames]

Well, allowing people to pay for a year's rent just means that you'll see houses start to open up a year from implementation :P
Other than the initial purge of inactive housing (which will be significant) all the subsequent relinquishment will be done on such a long time frame, it's basically just a temporary band aid to get rid of the inactives now, it won't work for future inactives..

Then give it a limit of say 2-3 months MAX. Ultima Online game you a month to refresh your house and I think it worked perfectly. However remember, there are so many cry babies in this game I doubt we will even get 2-3 months. I see SE implementing a 6+month inactive and unsubscribed limit for housing which is a mistake but I will take what I can get.