Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Whether or not you believe that housing has hit bottom, there are some things to be learned from the recent fiasco that was the housing market. Greed is an ugly business, a vice to be eradicated, especially in the markets.
if only we hadn't all been such greedy pigs! © heywoody - Fotolia.com
For example, many buyers knew, in their heart of hearts, that the beautiful new home they were buying was just a bit above what they could really afford, but hey - the lender says yes, so why not? I’ll tell you “why not”. “Life” happens - people get sick or disabled, lose their jobs, divorce, etc. and buying above your means (and for zero down...really?) limits your options.
Buyers were not the only guilty parties - lenders and brokers can certainly claim their share of the blame. What seems too good to be true very often is - a fact that’s easy to ignore when the money’s flowing all around, home values are rising and all looks rosy on the horizon.
Now don’t stop reading right here and say that I’m blaming all buyers or brokers, I’m speaking in generalities, of course, and I do realize that there were other factors at play, I’m just discussing a part of the problem.
So now that we’ve been collectively “punished”, what are we to take away from all of this? NAR Immediate Past President Ron Phipps recently wrote about 10 lessons we can learn from the housing market crash:
I would also like to add the fact that basic finance should be made part of every school’s curriculum. Buyers who understand what it takes to buy and manage a home should be informed enough to avoid making financial decisions that will negatively impact their lives.
What other things do you believe we can take away from these past few years? Do you believe we’re still in a slump, or does it appear to you that recovery is within sight? Please share what you think!
unfortunately, even when housing values begin to rise, or in other words, recover, the economy will not necessarily "recover" to the good old days. the amount of cash that was being pumped into the economy from equity line advances was a significant factor in the prior economic boom....and it is never to return....or at least for a long while
Wholeheartedly agree with your last comment there - people need to be educated about basic finance! Who the hell gets taught about how financial systems and the economy works at school? I know I didn't!
Or did I just skip that class? :p