I once read something from some real estate guru, who said he would rent out properties he owned, and live in rentals for himself. I can't remember his reasoning, but it was sound as I recall. I think he liked the flexibility for himself. I prefer to stay put for years on end, and to make my home truly my own.
I do know, as a long-term landlord in NYC myself as well as one in the sticks of upstate NYS, the nicer the neighborhood, the easier it is to find good, respectful, and paying, tenants.
For some, it is about the location. They have the rentals they own in places that rent - but rent for themselves somewhere they want to live, but can't yet afford.
For sure. At the moment, this isn't too much of an issue in Finland, though I suspect it will get that way in the future, as society crumbles further.