When this is all over, I think I will purchase a second home. Although I have considered it, I’ve never pulled the trigger on a second home mostly because I enjoy hotels and resorts. In years past, Kathy and I have considered buying a second home in New York, Hawaii or even Las Vegas, which are our favorite cities to visit. In New York, I love the Langham Hotel. It’s walking distance to most of my favorite spots and they have a great restaurant on the second floor. In Hawaii, we usually stay at the Andaz in Maui. It’s pretty new and they have several great restaurants including a great Morimoto sushi spot on the beach. In Las Vegas, we still love the Bellagio, but sometimes stay at the Waldorf Astoria if we prefer quiet. I always thought I’d miss the energy and amenities of these places if I purchased something. Kathy and I also worried that we would feel forced to visit more often to justify the expense and maintenance. But COVID-19 changes things a bit.
I don’t think I will ever be the type of person who avoids hotels, but having a second home would be a nice thing to have right now. I don’t think I am alone. It really makes me think that people are going to value their homes even more coming out of the quarantine. Those who have the means could start looking for larger homes; others may be thinking about investing in some home improvement work and still others might be thinking about a second home, like me. I’m confident residential real estate valuation, especially in the most desirable cities, will see another spike in the coming years.
By definition, unintended consequences are the results of an action different from what was expected or planned. They are often referenced in relation to changes in policies. I have heard the term used for years, primarily related to government policies. Still, I didn’t realize until recently that much has been written on the subject, and most experts believe that there are three categories of unintended consequences:
I once read that sports are a universal language. Regardless of ethnicity or what language you speak, almost everyone speaks sports. No place has that been more evident than the Olympics, where every four years, we are moved by images of athletic rivals from around the world shaking hands and embracing each other in moving displays of sportsmanship.
Happy Easter! The blog will resume on April 7, 2024.