Why do people hoard empty housing?

So many empty homes on this server, including towers, keeps, etc. Starting to remind me of the Second Age server most of us played years ago when UO Ren wasn't around. I'll keep my personal opinions on the subject out of this, so my question stands: Why do people hoard empty housing?

We've got three accounts, 15 characters, one house slot per character.

Dead horse won't live again. You won't find answers nor solace in this commiseration thread.

There are quite a few reasons why people may leave housing empty and it isn't necessarily hoarding in all cases either.

Houses could be blocking placement of a larger house in hopes of being able to place said larger house in the future. I personally like having an empty house to be able to do trades in for rare instances where someone may prefer that. For instance you are selling a few hundred treasure maps and the buyer prefers just gating the maps from a safe location IE inside a house. Certainly there are those that will keep certain houses especially large keeps and forts in hope of the value increasing which it almost certainly will over time and then selling them when they feel they can get what they want. You may find a large structure surrounded by a couple smaller houses and people will do this to block anyone else from placing right around their house.

Then you have those that just don't play very much at all where they have plans for certain things that never come about or take a long time to.

Mostly because houses are valuable and people are greedy assholes who hoard more than they need. UO players, especially those that heavily involve themselves in commerce, are hoarders.

I guess Amph did find answers in this thread.

Don't get butt hurt, it's the way it is. You knew the answer before you posted. There are MANY threads on this subject.

I did you a favor by jumping to page 8 and summarizing it for you.

"There are quite a few reasons why people may leave housing empty and it isn't necessarily hoarding in all cases either.

Houses could be blocking placement of a larger house in hopes of being able to place said larger house in the future. I personally like having an empty house to be able to do trades in for rare instances where someone may prefer that. For instance you are selling a few hundred treasure maps and the buyer prefers just gating the maps from a safe location IE inside a house. Certainly there are those that will keep certain houses especially large keeps and forts in hope of the value increasing which it almost certainly will over time and then selling them when they feel they can get what they want. You may find a large structure surrounded by a couple smaller houses and people will do this to block anyone else from placing right around their house.

Then you have those that just don't play very much at all where they have plans for certain things that never come about or take a long time to.
Andersonius,"


This guy answered it actually to what he wanted to hear I assume.

Some people play the long-term game.

Just because they don't do it all in a day, a week, a month, or even a year does not mean that their time and efforts should fall by the wayside for someone else who wants it and wants it now. Some of us have families, jobs, etc...that limit our playtime to a few hours a week and as such, things take time.

I can't even keep track of all the hateful comments I received from players on this server from the prominent down to people that i'd never heard of over a fortress I placed nearly two years ago at the Yew Gate.

"You're not using it!"
"Quit hording!"
"Someone else could put it to better use!"
"You must hate this server and want it to die."
.....and much worse attacks on my character in real life and family.....

I've got a lot going on in my life, but I always said the same thing. It'll get used eventually as the Guild Hall for my guild. I've had similar statements about other buildings that weren't "insta-decorated". Some people even thought that when my house was destroyed in real life by a tornado, no joke, that I didn't deserve to keep refreshing things because I wasn't using them enough....never mind that an entire guild full of people were using these buildings even in my absence.

Fast forward about 2 years and that unused, horded, waste of space that was destroying the server now houses the guild hall for the largest guild on the server. Some people are very short-sighted....and some simply cannot see past themselves and their own selfish wants.

tldr;

There's nothing wrong with housing. Play the game.

Sometimes it's just an investment.

The bulk of my empty houses are those that surround my fort and there's an obvious reason for that: I don't want hillbillies living next to me.
I have a few other empty homes which I keep because they hold value in terms of nostalgia, grief, or currency.

In any case, all of my properties, even the empty ones, hold some sort of value to me.

There once was a time here on this server where one player owned the majority of premium fort/keep spots. There is no doubt in my mind that he would have continued to hold those spots until this day if he still played here. It's not a greed factor but a smart investment. Each one of those premium large housing spots would sell for a minimum of 8-10M today, all it took was 2M back when he played here, next year those spots could fetch 15+M, who knows.

actually your fish stand was greatly a couple weeks ago and i asked xeg to notify you

i figure the asshole you know is better than the one you don't

Yeah she got to me, that house is actually on my list to drop but I'm just to lazy to go and physically do it. I appreciate the heads up, considering SOME OTHER FUCKS didn't bother sending me so much as a PM.

Friends over greed I will always let you know if I notice something like this.

I have 2 empty houses around my large tower. Both are small classics.

For me, its strictly to prevent any more neighbors from moving to my island.

Hey Im social I like people but when Im actively playing I legit NEVER see anyone there but me so I consider that island mine and would like to keep it that way

Aren't you on Bald Island? Hardly YOUR island!

I feel like people can compromise, I think so many houses empty is not good.

I'd be ok with taking it down to 3 houses per account. Server growth means compromises need to be made for the greater good.

I think 9 houses for a player is pretty reasonable.

Yup Bald Island.

Even when I was playing 24/7 actively I legit NEVER saw another person on the island. ONCE I saw Erl when a house decayed that I placed a small classic on to claim the spot. ONCE I saw a roaming band of PvP action (months ago).

Unless I see you or someone else in my mind...its MY island

Friends over greed, you said it!

Excuse me sir, I lived there a good while as well with you!