What came first, the Chicken or the Egg?

We are all just “RENTERS!”

Heard an interesting analogy of home-ownership the other day, or one could say it was a great rebuttal to the American Dream of “owning” your home.

The speaker stated no one actually “owns” their home, or property of any kind for that matter, outright. His rational stated that if you actually “owned” something, then it could not be taken away from you. You would have to be willing to rid yourself of ownership by either selling or giving it away to someone else who would then gain ownership.

A participant in the audience argued that since he occupied his home without a mortgage or any other lien, then he did in fact “own” his home! The speaker calmly asked if he lived in a state or municipality that levies property taxes on his home. The participant answered yes. The speaker asked if he lived in a neighborhood that had a home owner association (HOA) and if so, do they access homeowner association dues. The participant again answered yes to both.

The speaker then asked the gentleman if he did not pay his taxes or his HOA dues, did either authority have the right to foreclose on his property; thereby forcibly & legally taking it from the so called “owner” without mutual consent. And therefore, making the “owner” a “renter” and the authorities “landlords”!

The participant thought for a moment and realized the point the speaker was making, as he walked away wondering if he did in fact “own” his home.

Personally, I still like to think a person “owns” their home if they hold the deed to the property and the authorities mentioned only have an interest in the property allowing them to take action if the “owner” defaults. But an interesting take on the subject, nonetheless. It did make me stop and think. Maybe there’s merit to the argument, maybe not. But I have concluded that it is not worthy of time well spent – similar to caring if the chicken or egg came first!

Compliments of;

Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner