For those who owned homes and had employment throughout the pandemic, there is much for which to be thankful. Home values are up across most parts of the nation, along with consumer confidence. Unfortunately, we live in a nation divided across many boundaries. Although the pandemic might have been a boon for some, it has been a curse for others, not just economically but in human terms as well.
Having just returned from overseas, the abundance and freedoms available here in the U.S. are palatable. What we take for granted is, in many cases, only available on wish lists for the majority of the rest of the world. With this in mind and choosing to focus on our numerous blessings, we choose to be thankful.
Amid the holidays, however, is a modicum of concern. We are living today in a United States that is dramatically different than just a few short years ago. We are seeing societal and economic shifts that are very troubling and, when paired with the apparent absence of real and effective leadership on city, state and federal levels, portend a dimmer future.
Here are the top 11 issues that I believe will be affecting real estate in the future — in no particular order:
1. Global warming
Whether you believe in global warming or not, one thing is very clear: Our climate is changing. With the change are increased wildfires, hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding — it’s a growing list.
To even a casual viewer, changes will be required in where we put homes and how we build them. We also need to come up with an effective plan for dealing with those currently living in hazard zones. Some municipalities have refused to issue permits to rebuild, which brings up another entire set of issues.
2. Division between the haves and have-nots
Google “wealth in America” and any number of articles pop up about the ongoing redistribution of wealth to an emerging “wealthy” class. This redistribution is at the expense of those on the bottom of the economic ladder, and…