| Xai Wa Yang A Hmong landlord ... in Madison? YES! by Ka Bao Lee |
| Owning your home is a dream many Americans share. As Hmong Americans establish their own identity here in the United States, many of them share this dream as well. According to a 2004 publication by Hmong National Development, Inc. and Hmong Cultural and Resource Center, 47 percent of Hmong in Wisconsin own their own home. However, some have loftier dreams than just owning a home. They also want to become even more involved in the real estate process. Some Hmong people have moved beyond just owning the home they live in; they have become landlords themselves. While they face the same challenges as any other landlords, their Hmong identity has also created unique situations that can be both good and bad. Xai Wa Yang has lived in Madison, Wis. for over 20 years, but it wasn't until 1992 that he was finally able to buy his first home. However, instead of buying a house, Yang bought a four-unit apartment. Yang says that the buying process itself, the logistics and paperwork, can be difficult. While Yang agrees that property rental is a good investment that can pay off in the long run, he warns that it is not as easy as it seems. "Just like anyone else who rents, you have to make sure you understand all rental laws and regulations," he advised. "Otherwise you could end up being sued. It is essential to understand landlord-tenant relationships." In addition, the challenge of finding good tenants can sometimes be very hard. "There are good people and bad people," Yang stressed. "It doesn't matter if they are Hmong, White or Black." He was referring to those who do not take care of the property and those who just don't pay rent on time. He added that he doesn't just rent exclusively to Hmong people, but all his units are currently occupied by Hmong families. When he bought the apartment building there were other families who had lived there, he explained, but as more Hmong families moved in, those residents moved out. Hmong renters with Hmong landlords also say that there are unique situations that sometimes get complicated. Gao Yang , who is Hmong and has previously rented from a Hmong landlord (not Yang) says that there are advantages and disadvantages to having a Hmong landlord as well. Yang believes that Hmong tenants are sometimes much easier to deal with because of their shared culture. "It is easier to explain or discuss problems about the property," Yang observed, because he and the tenants both speak the same language. Gao agrees that it is easier dealing with a Hmong landlord. "They are more approachable because they are Hmong," Gao said. "You can go to them with more problems. They are really understanding." Another advantage is that Hmong tenants are sometimes much more relaxed when it comes to rules and regulations, Yang added. "Sometimes it is much easier when Hmong people live in the property because they are much more understanding," Yang said. "Other people might not be as understanding and they go straight to suing you." He further explained that with Hmong tenants, if there is a problem, he can go fix it right away without a 24-hour notice, while other tenants might expect a notice first. Gao agrees that Hmong landlords can be much more relaxed and lenient when it comes to paying rent. She says renters didn't get penalized for paying late. (But of course, she tries to pay her rent every month in a timely manner). Gao believes that her landlord was lenient with her because she is Hmong; otherwise she didn't think a non-Hmong would receive the same leniency. Hmong landlords are not very strict with enforcing rules and regulations, she adds. However, the unstructured nature of the relationship can sometimes be bad, according to Gao. She says that sometimes her landlord was not on top of problems. For example, Gao says, "They were kind of late in fixing things. It wouldn't be as immediate." She also says that sometimes they weren't as organized, but that could also be due to the fact that they weren't a rental company with people working for them. The landlord was responsible for everything himself. Overall, Gao says that she had a positive experience renting from Hmong landlords. The unstructured nature of the relationship can be bad for the landlord as well. Yang explains that sometimes he is faced with situations that are quite complicated. He says some people think that because he is Hmong they can take advantage of him. Some people also try to negotiate with him, using their common Hmong identity as a reason to give the residents special treatment, but he tries to be fair to everyone. As more Hmong people dream of becoming homeowners and landlords, they will have to deal with unique situations that might add to or complicate their dreams. Yang says that although property rental is a great investment, he doesn't know if he will buy more property to rent. He wants to finally buy a home just for his family. |