Post Code Lottery
Apparently the post code can be a determining factor in the price of a house, particularly in urban areas where one area is considered more desirable than an other. House make over shows (what ever happened to DIY) abound on the telly. There are even programmes to help you sell your house, buy a house and make money buying and selling houses. To hear people I know talk you would think the only reason to own property is for the monetary reward that will come when you either let it or sell it.
At the same time there is a lot of moaning done about lack of community spirit and unwillingness of people to get involved which I think is a symptom of this pervading ethos that people no longer save up to buy a home but invest their money in a property. With this investment comes the understanding that you won't be staying and sooner or later you'll move on to something bigger and better.
Is it better though? How many bedrooms can one family possibly need and what is the point of owing the bank the rest of your life just so you can tell people how much in debt your are hoping they will be impressed?
Instead of investing in bricks and mortar invest in their family friendships and a sense of stability that comes from knowing long term the community they are living in. Instead of spending money on the latest 'home improvement' spend time and effort on community improvement. Get to know the people and the place, help, join, get involved. A sense of community can not be taught and can not be established by outside agencies. A sense of community develops when people feel a part of the community they live in and care about that community, it's people and places. As long as people continue to invest in property with a view to moving on they will never allow themselves to establish the relationship with the community they need to feel included.
I can't remember where I heard the saying - a cynic is a person who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. It's time people stop putting a price tag on where they live and started putting a value on it.
At the same time there is a lot of moaning done about lack of community spirit and unwillingness of people to get involved which I think is a symptom of this pervading ethos that people no longer save up to buy a home but invest their money in a property. With this investment comes the understanding that you won't be staying and sooner or later you'll move on to something bigger and better.
Is it better though? How many bedrooms can one family possibly need and what is the point of owing the bank the rest of your life just so you can tell people how much in debt your are hoping they will be impressed?
Instead of investing in bricks and mortar invest in their family friendships and a sense of stability that comes from knowing long term the community they are living in. Instead of spending money on the latest 'home improvement' spend time and effort on community improvement. Get to know the people and the place, help, join, get involved. A sense of community can not be taught and can not be established by outside agencies. A sense of community develops when people feel a part of the community they live in and care about that community, it's people and places. As long as people continue to invest in property with a view to moving on they will never allow themselves to establish the relationship with the community they need to feel included.
I can't remember where I heard the saying - a cynic is a person who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. It's time people stop putting a price tag on where they live and started putting a value on it.
posted by Jodie @ 10:04 pm
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