Thursday, May 14, 2015

Private Property Matters


In the News  


Presented by Prairie Title           
Commentary by Frank Pellegrini, Prairie Title CEO  


I was recently thinking about an old “friend” of mine. I put that in quotes because I’ve never actually met him, though I’ve admired the man’s work for years. His name is Hernando de Soto. Mirroring the curiosity-driven nature of the famous Spanish explorer with whom he shares a name, our Hernando de Soto is an explorer in his own right. Rather than land itself, he explores land-oriented economic concepts.
Today’s de Soto is a globally respected Peruvian economist whose advice is sought by heads of state and world leaders, including many U.S. politicians, economists and business leaders. So why should we, as real estate professionals, be interested in de Soto’s economic musings?

De Soto believes that a very important characteristic of capitalism is the ability to protect individual property rights through an established system based on “
economic facts” in which transactions are formally documented and recorded and ownership and other rights may be clearly determined. He argues strongly that a formal land title system empowers economically disadvantaged people by assuring them rights and assets that are critical to becoming economically self-sufficient.

“Until you have universal, well-protected, clear, and transferable private property rights, you cannot have a market economy in Peru … or anywhere else,” de Soto once told Reason magazine. His strong belief in private property rights reflects the long-established position of those of us who work in the U.S. real estate industry. Private ownership of real estate is a bedrock of our economy and the foundation upon which developed nations have been built.

We see reports in the mainstream and industry media every day about the real estate market —
interest rate movement, or lack thereof, price changes, home sales, new home construction, etc. Why is real estate such a popular subject? Because it matters. Real estate ownership and the transfer of ownership rights is one of the main engines that can drive our economy forward. In today’s market, with real estate helping lead the way back to a stable, growing national economy, ensuring that property rights are respected and enforced has never been more important

Real Estate agents, lenders, lawyers, appraisers and other professionals who work in our industry make vital contributions every day to our economy. In the
title insurance industry, our focus is on protecting the integrity of vital land records and providing the assurances that make the ability to clearly establish formal property rights possible. We are proud to provide that service.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Call or email me: 708-386-7900; frank@prairietitle.com.


Other stories we’re following:            
Bankers Concerned about
TILA-RESPA Impact.
Commercial, Multi-Family Thriving.    
Realtors Ask for
TRID Grace Period.
Prepared Remarks by CFPB Director Cordray at NAR.