Sunday, October 12, 2008

I'm Me, and I Approve This Message

I am an expert on financial behavior because I watch HGTV .
For you, I'll share some of my knowledge.

Check out any show featuring a thirtyish, first-time couple buying their first house. These people will state they feel comfortable spending, for example, $1800 a month on a mortgage. They're pre-approved, usually creatively with two mortgages, for a little over that amount.
I don't know if that includes insurance, interest, et al. I'm assuming.

Then they rattle off a list of wants like they're filling out a shallow profile on Match.com.
They're usually wanting updated marble counter-topped kitchens, extra bedrooms, extra bathrooms, garage, and a yard.
Their wise realtor takes them off to see houses in their comfortable price range.

Of course, they can't find their wants as they imagine it, so they get discouraged.
I was said to be pouting when I was five and got discouraged the way they do. I was told I was unrealistic when I was twenty and acted that way. Call it what you will.

So the savvy realtor, working on commission, shows them a house for the full amount of their pre-approval.
Maybe even more, but they'd have to come up with some cash.
They look at it, "just to see."
The house is beautiful, new or remodeled, and a gorgeous home anyone could live in. It has all or most of desires on the list.

Used to be, you had to be rather successful, not just the average Joe, to reward yourself with a great home for your first home.
To get all that one wanted the first time out was an exception.
It was something that some of us who were starting out hoped to achieve, and deserve.
But on these shows, the first-time home buyers would buy the house that used to take time to save up enough money for a down payment.
The time that it took forced us to compromise and appreciate. It's not such a bad thing.

Instant gratification. Hard to condemn because it's fun, but it must be discouraged, when expected.
Getting constant instant gratification, and also living with integrity, just don't mix for some reason.
So this down-payment-less culture has assaulted the society of just rewards for smart work, and now we all are paying the costs of living in a fearful society with major players stopping their game.

Is this just a generational thing, complaining about progressive changes from what we're used to? Or is it truly the result of bad influences in our society?
Either way, they're taking me down with 'em.

But I could of told you we were headed for a meltdown.
Coz I watch HGTV, doncha know.