Ann Coulter And Housing

Ann Coulter's views on the environment are well known. Her views on housing, though less apparent, court similar controversy.

At college we were taught that shelter was one of the five basic needs of man. Families, particularly young ones, should view affordable housing as a fundamental right. Were not talking about mansions here, just a bog standard terraced two up two down. What are the obstacles to the average family owning a house. Firstly, inflated valuations. Why should proximity to local cafes or a park have a disproportionately adverse effect on house prices. Shouldn't the fact that people need somewhere to live have an overriding effect when it comes to determining the fair price of a property. A house is not a like a designer watch or a piece of fashion jewellery. It can't be priced solely on what the market can bare. It is an essential, like food. There would be an outcry if a loaf of bread cost thousands. Similarly, alarm bells should start ringing if the average family struggles to buy an average house.

Land prices are another boulder in a house buyer's path. There are many reasons (right and wrong) why residential land prices are high. But all land owners should bare one thing in mind when valuing their portfolios. The land actually belongs to God, it is not really the land owner's. They are just just stewards.

The third major hurdle is the mortgage. I'm not talking about a standard mortgage set at a reasonable multiple of annual income. No, I'm talking about those "mortgages" that offer, for example, ten times salary. Who would take this type of mortgage. A rich person? No, more likely someone with modest means who, given that house prices are unreasonably high, sees a ten times salary mortgage as the only option. This situation often leads to problems with repayments, putting family welfare at risk. Mortgage lenders should remember on thing: do not take advantage of the poor, God is their mighty protector and will argue their case!