Election Reflections

I read with interest about a survey that revealed an extremely low voter turnout in the 18 - 25 age category. I recall it being in the area of 15% of the eligible voters in this age group actually voted. As pathetic as the overall voter turnout was, this age group brings apathy to a new low. Here is the kicker; the articles I read gave various reasons (excuses) for the low turnout in this group. It sited the negative ads that turned off this group. It sited the the prevailing position among these young people that it doesn't really matter who is in office, it's all the same. It quoted some as saying they are just fed up with how Washington behaves and they want no part of it. What a bunch of hooey! What is seems to me is that they just don't care, and they have no idea what is going on in Washington. Further, they don't realize that Washington is just part of the voting process, many local offices and local issues are decided from these elections that directly affect them. Second, they are lazy. They have not even taken the simple step to register, obviously, not all, but most. Many are so out of touch that they are not even aware that a registration is necessary. It is amazing that in the midst of the information age, and the most technologically advanced individuals are so ill informed. I recall in the last presidential election, a young first time voter wanted to know what number to call on his cell phone to vote, like he did on American Idol. The third reason from my observation is that this age group is just into themselves. They will protest some of the most silly things on campus that have so little significance, or will go to great lengths to participate in amusing or so called 'spontaneous' events (ie Zombie walks, or world's largest pillow fight, etc). Where does voting fit into their that mix?

Voting seems outside of their peripheral. It seems to far detached to enter into even of secondary importance. It is a sad commentary for what lies ahead for our country. I remember my first voting experience. I couldn't wait to get registered and vote. When I watch the election night returns and saw this huge number of votes cast, I knew that number would be one less had I not voted. My vote was actually posted on the television screen. I was proud to vote and counted it a duty and privilege to do so. I consider it the bare minimum a citizen of this great country can do. It is a freedom that many Americans have fought and died for to preserve and protect this right. It is a freedom that is only dreamed of in many peoples and countries across this globe.

There are some who want to challenge the voting process and make it easier for the lazy, uninformed, voter to cast a ballot. Perhaps on line vote casting or cell phone or texting. Do we really want to cater to those who don't care? Privileges come with responsibility, and exercising that privilege should take some, albeit small, amount of effort.

Years ago I remember the "get out and vote" campaign. A good idea that hasn't taken a lot of traction. How about the "stay home and don't complain" campaign. Stay home, don't vote, and don't complain. Let others make the decisions for you and your country, so our young adults can participate in the more important events, like world's largest cotton candy eating contest.

Wooden Boat Show September 18

One of my favorite early fall activities is the annual "Wooden Boats on the Wall" in Leland, Michigan. Every year on the 2nd Saturday following Labor Day, wooded boat owners display there restored wooded boats in the river along the park in Leland, Michigan. Boat enthusiasts and interested lookers will congregate in the charming little harbor town of Leland to admire these rare beauties. Live music and food choices are offered for your strolling pleasure. Also, rare and antique cars will be on display in the park near the boat show. Boat and car owners are often present and eager to share some of their experiences on the waters and roads of beautiful Leelanau County. The show is free and usually goes from 9:00AM to 3:00PM. While you're in Leland explore the historic 'fishtown' district. Dating into the 1800's this quaint village are remains largely undisturbed in its shanty town appearance. Inside these wooden shacks you'll discover shops and deli's. The recently completed marina plays host to sailers and motor boaters alike and offers more 'boat looking' along the rock lined harbor. Venture on north or south on M22 and enjoy some of Michigan's most splendid country side dotted with vineyards and romantic wine tasting venues.
We fell in love with Leelanau County on one of our many family camping trips to the area. We particularly loved Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore and dreamed of owning real estate in the county some day. Ten years ago we acquired some property and built a lake cabin. If you would like to know more about Leelanau County or real estate in Leelanau County, don't hesitate to contact me. I would be delighted to share what I know about Michigan's 'little finger'.

"Was not meant to be." ?

As a real estate agent I have heard that quote many times from sellers and particularly buyers. I have heard it from people of faith and people with no faith connection. It has continued to puzzle me. It often comes up when a home purchase does not go the way the buyers have intended. A typical response is, "everything happens for a reason, so it was not meant to be." That is particularly puzzling from a no faith perspective. What then is behind the reason? If your belief is in no authority, what then is driving or orchestrating the events. Is it mere fate, or chance or luck or lucky stars? Taking it from a faith perspective, how does one know if it was meant to be or not meant to be? Does that mean that beyond any control of a buyers decision, that the outcome is invariably left to divine intervention. So if a home is listed at $225,000 and the buyer offers $130,000, the seller rejects the offer, the buyer responds by saying, "well, it was just not meant to be". Both the faith based and non faith based buyer can claim the same result. If however, a buyer offers $215,000 on the same home, and the offer is accepted, then it must have been "meant to be". Could it have been that it is not so much fate or divine intervention, but rather a process of determining a fair market value and offering a reasonable amount based on comparable properties and value to the prospective home buyer. When a non faith buyer responds to a outcome as "was not meant to be", they seem to be giving a whole lot of credit and responsibility to fate (chance) or to their lucky stars. When a faith based buyer who offers $130,000 on a $225,000 listing and then responds "was not meant to be" would seem to be trivializing a God who would have interest in a ridiculous offer. The same can be said for a seller who prices their property way higher than its market value. When it certainly does not bring an offer, was it "not meant to be" that we move? Did Lucky Stars align against the seller, or did God block any interested parties from viewing the property?
Art Linkletter had a appropriate quote, "Life happens while you are making plans". To the faith and non faith buyer or seller, my response is, determine fair market value, determine your finances, your options, and make a informed decision based on facts and your gut (intuition).
To the faith based buyer/seller, I would add prayer to the above. I do not want to diminish God's involvement in a believers life in any way. When their no peace in regards to a decision after careful prayer and consultation, then likely there is a reason for it. Or if there are road blocks after road blocks when making informed and reasonable decisions, then perhaps there is a time to pull back. It's just when a faith based buyer or seller does the "was just not meant to be" thing in response to unreasonable decisions, it becomes a rather poor reflection or witness on God.
Life, the things and events make up our lives and experiences, happen when we set goals, make plans, dream, decide and then engage.

Half off the Half off Price

Some years ago I was shopping at a local Meijers store and heard the announcement over the public address system "attention shoppers, right now in our outdoor garden department, we are having a half off the half off sale". Well, if you do the math it comes to 75% off. But as good as 75% off is, the idea of half off the already discounted half off price, sent the shoppers streaming into the outdoor garden center...including myself. 75% off is good, but hey! half off the half off price is just to good to pass up! There I picked up decorative trees for $4.50, shrubs of all kinds for $2.00. Grasses for $1.75 and so on. I spent about $30 and pretty much landscaped my entire home and deck area. I thought I had been so lucky. Now those trees and shrubs are beautiful mature features of my landscaped areas of my home, and at a fraction of what it would have cost me now to do it.

Right now in real estate, the market is giving us a 'half off the half off sale' of properties. Incredible bargians at just a fraction of their original price. Two days ago I submitted an $28,000 offer for a home last sold in 2005 for $115,000. Two weeks ago I wrote an offer for $24,000 on a home that last sold in 2004 for $118,000. These are bank owned homes and take some time to get acceptance and close, but the offers are considered acceptable and likely to close soon. Every day I see opportunities for savy shoppers to cash in on these 'half off the half off prices'. I bought my first home in 1978 for $16,000. Incredible, that 32 years later, homes can be purchased for that price and less! I have heard some say that we are not at the bottom yet, and they may be right. But think of it. If the market declines another 10%, that means home prices at 10 - 15% of original price. That is close to actually giving them away, how much farther can there be decline when there are homes at the 25% of previous pricing. Even if such does happen, with a $20,000 purchase that computes to $2,000. Passing up a "half off the half off price" on a solid home with great upside potential, because the market might dip another 5% or so, just doesn't make sense. This is the time to reinvest in real estate. High inventories, very low interest rates, buyer incentives. Does a buyer opportunity get any better? At this point, I wouldn't miss out on a solid home purchase, because I thought, possibly, maybe, could be, get better. Just like the Meijer sale, half off the half off price, won't last forever.