Columbia Missourian Real Estate This Week - Homeownership Helps Secure Our Future
by Mark Stallmann, GRI, ePRO
Chief Executive Officer
St. Charles Association of REALTORS®
“If everyone in the world owned a piece of real estate, there would be no terrorism.” This intriguing and amazing insight was offered by Richard Mendenhall. Richard, a favorite son of the Columbia Board of Realtors is a Past President of the Columbia Board, Missouri Association and National Association of Realtors. He is one of the nation’s leading real estate speakers and educators.
As I sat listening to Richard and reflecting on his words, I realized anew that it is our rights as Americans that set us apart from the rest of the world. It is these same rights that make us the target of terrorists and others who see our rights as a threat to their goals and ambitions.
While there is certainly just plain evil in this world, studies have shown that the evil of terrorism gets its followers and support, in many cases, from those who are disenfranchised, who enjoy little or no rights, those who feel no ownership of their lives or the world around them. It may sound corny, but think of the difference a home of their own would make to these people. Homeownership breeds a sense of stability, a sense of ownership, a sense of hope for the future.
These beginning words of the Preamble to the Realtor Code of Ethics say it better than I can, “Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization….the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the wide distribution of land ownership.”
I am sure you have read many columns about the financial benefits of owning your own home. Real estate remains the best investment available today. Don’t be fooled by the prophets of gloom and doom that sometimes appear in the media. The experts agree that everything points to our market remaining strong in the months and years to come.
More importantly, though, than the monetary benefits of homeownership are the other “social” benefits of homeownership for your family, community and the nation at large. For many years, the government has recognized the social benefits of homeownership and has established numerous policies and programs to promote homeownership. The FHA and VA loan programs, the establishment of the secondary loan market, and the mortgage interest deduction are just some of the ways that the federal government supports homeownership.
Many studies have shown that communities with high percentages of owner-occupied homes are more stable and have lower crime rates, enjoy more involvement by residents in the civic affairs of the community, and even have higher test scores by their children.
Realtors have long recognized the advantages of homeownership for our nation, communities and customers. We work hard for laws and policies that promote homeownership and protect private property rights. Knowing the many benefits of homeownership and private property rights, Realtors have worked with governments and associations from other nations, some of whom have never experienced the benefits of a system of private property. Our National Association has provided talent and dollars to assist the nations of Eastern Europe and other areas who seek the benefits of homeownership for their people.
We Realtors consider ourselves to be very fortunate that we have been given the task of protecting and furthering the American Dream of Homeownership. Realtors are committed to the future of our world, our nation and our communities. We believe firmly that the more people in our world who can experience homeownership, the safer our world will be.
