House Poor

Describing an individual with significant income, but with such a large mortgage on his/her house that he/she has little discretionary income. Historically, this term referred to farmers and ranchers, most of whose cash went to debt service on their land, but it has expanded to include anyone who spends so much on his/her mortgage that he/she cannot spend on other goods and services he/she wants or needs. Being house poor is also known as being land poor. See also: Upside down mortgage, McMansion, Foreclosure.

land poor

Having substantial real estate assets but little cash. It historically referred to agricultural land, but it no longer has that restricted definition.

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References in periodicals archive

the forced shift from opium poppy to less labour intensive crops such as wheat set in motion a chain of events which reduced the amount of land available for renting or sharecropping, hurting the landless and the land poor who rely on such arrangements.

'The planet that rules our destiny': alternative development and environmental power in occupied Afghanistan environment and planning d: society and space

Extensive research (Agarwal, 1989; Bhalla, 1989; Chen, 1989; Duvvury, 1989; Kandiyotti, 1990; Roy and Clark, 1994; Roy and Tisdell, 1993a; 1993b; 1997; World Bank, 1990) has shown that since rural women's (especially landless and land poor women) reliance on forests, commons and other natural resources is far greater than men's, effective ownership rights to cultivable land by making women more economically independent significantly reduces their need to rely on forests and natural resources and appropriate user rights to forests provide them with the incentive to preserve as well as increase the supply of natural resources and environment.

Effective property rights granted to landless and land poor women and families in India would also encourage them to plant and grow trees on their land.

Issues in resource conservation and sustainable development: Indian situation

The land poor households however generate some income through participation in the rural tenancy and labour markets, and are heavily involved in rural non-farm activities, particularly in construction, transport and petty trade.

Recent developments in Bangladesh rural economy: implications for strategies and policies for alleviation of poverty

Pressure on land is growing throughout the Continent, a trend which is predicted to continue and which will ultimately lead to an increase in the numbers of land poor and landless, a recipe for conflict.

Rural Change in Tropical Africa