Thursday, July 28, 2016


In the News   Presented by Prairie Title  

July 28, 2016

         

Where’s the Housing?

 

By Frank Pellegrini, Prairie Title CEO   

 

We’re in the midst of political convention season, that every-four-year dream world where both parties write platforms that will never see the light of day past their conventions and silly hats, banners, balloons and confetti rule the day.

What’s missing from both the major candidates for president, unfortunately, is truly substantive policy regarding housing. Compounding the issue is the media’s almost complete lack of interest in talking about housing as an important economic issue. To paraphrase a political campaign from long ago, I ask: “Where’s the Housing?”

Take this recent piece from the Wall Street Journal as an example. Titled, “Where Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Stand on Economic Issues,” the article goes on in detail about jobs, trade, taxes, entitlements, debt, immigration, infrastructure, the Fed, college, wages.

These are all important issues, without a doubt, but I ask again: Where’s the Housing? Whether owning or renting, everyone has to live somewhere, and the impact housing has on the American economy is enormous. There is some bi-partisan movement in Congress for GSE reform, and the major party platforms both have planks that urge a return to a real estate lending environment like Glass-Steagall. (Republicans would like to go back to Glass-Steagall; Democrats favor a modernized version of Glass-Steagall). Regardless, making our views known to the respective parties is the key to pushing our representatives toward developing housing policies that work. 

Real estate industry associations work every day to remind the media and politicians alike of the importance of housing. Our job, it seems to me, is to back them up by participating in industry political actions groups at the federal and state levels. We also must be dedicated to promoting the industry in our local communities through media relations and participation in community-based business groups. Let’s make our voices be heard.

What’s your point of view? Keep the conversation going by calling or emailing me, or write a comment here.

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