We recently sold our house and purchased a new condo. It’s been over 10 years since we made a real estate transaction, so this was quite an experience. Apparently much has changed in the housing market, since we were last participants. (Understatement!) We learned that purchasing any real estate is more difficult now. We learned that purchasing a new condo can be especially difficult. Along the way, we continued to hear from real estate agents, bankers, attorneys and appraisers that the amount of regulations added to real estate transactions has tremendously increased the potential for difficulty in the process.
My question: Has the government overreacted to correct a problem…to the point that they have made it unnecessarily difficult to purchase a new home? Could this be one of the reasons for a continuous sagging real estate market?
I realize there was a problem…banks were giving loans they shouldn’t have given….something needed to be done…but the problem wasn’t as much in my city.
I wonder though, if this reaction…or overreaction…isn’t representative of what we do as churches, organizations, and individuals.
Sometimes one person is the problem, so we create a policy that impacts everyone. One department may be the problem, but we change the rules for everyone. Often there is one complaint raised, so we change our structure to appease an individual. Sometimes we have a couple of bad months…or even one unusual Sunday…and we react…or overreact…like the trend is permanent. Our children make one mistake and we react like it’s who they are…rather than like it’s a mistake…one they can learn from…
Have you ever overreacted to correct a problem? Do you have any examples to share with me of when you’ve seen this? When is a time we tend to overreact in the church or as individuals?
(I realize some will be far more schooled on the housing issue than I am, so feel free to educate me. I simply know what I experienced and what I was told along the way.)
Good points as always.
Sometimes it's easy to over-react to correct a problem in the church. And it's even more damaging when it's all handled online. It's so hard to convey meaning without using tones, body posture, etc. People read too much into the digitally written response, or write things they would never say face to face.
I have to guard against over-reaction. I personally find it too easy to become defensive.
Thanks for the great thoughts!
I just experienced this on my job. People actually created a problem when team member went into the hospital. Assumptions were made as to why she was in the hospital. Scapegoats were identified, changes were demanded. It turned out she had bronchitis (not work related). Damage to the relationships is permanent.
Government tends to overreact. I'm still trying to figure out the value add of the TSA at airports. I too am buying a townhouse right now. I'm making my 2nd offer tonight. Since this is my first time buying I have nothing to compare it to, but I'm amazed at all the paperwork and hoops to jump through.
Thanks for the personal illustration.
I think the answer to this is both Yes and No.
Our government and the lending institutions are to blame for the problems. And something has to be done. I think that a core problem though is people can't be trusted; which is why we got here in the first place. So, on the one hand, yes, I think that most rules that come into being because of things like this are an overreaction. They're there for a reason, but bottom line is they end up hurting honest people who just want to do things like buy a new condo. On the other hand, no they are not an overreaction. The people who cause the problems are still around and even if they weren't there are a whole new batch who are going to spend more time figuring out how to cheat the system. So for them, the rules are probably spot on.
Thanks Jon for bringing more light to this.