The main attraction to home ownership is in the second word: ownership. In theory, whether the house was paid for in cash or not, the residents are able to alter or keep the premises exactly how desired without interference. Such freedom is what inspires people all over the world to pay exorbitant prices and fight to remain in areas that may have long since become hostile to them. Personal freedom where one lives has seemingly become an entitlement in some places, while such fantasy is impossible for others.
Two circumstances may control how one exists within a residential space. When the home is in a planned community that may have restrictions, most of the homes look similar if not the same, and whatever changes that one exhibits must be kept from view of the main road. The other situation involves displacement when one is being financially enticed to leave, or one can no longer remain in an area. Other than city codes which change by neighborhood and city, home owners have the ability to adjust their living spaces.
What happens when the neighborhood around the home begins to change? Neighbors may remain in place, but what happens when the businesses begin to change from what was originally in place? Sure, a neighborhood is composed of people, but the very essence of a community depends on what lives within, what draws people to an area. Long-time businesses or job opportunities help determine what kind of turnover exists, and such turnover determines the types of residents the area attracts.
When the character of a neighborhood changes, some people are upset, but many understand that their culture pockets will evolve over time. However, what is more insidious is when people are attracted to a neighborhood for certain qualities, but choose not to engage with any of the people who actually live there. When neighborhoods are essentially the same, but the names are changed to attract different clientele, marketing devalues what gives the property value in the first place. Certain neighborhoods have retained their popularity over time, and there should be respect given to those whose residential cultures have remained over turbulent times.
Because human beings will forever require shelter, there will be battles over how to attract people to certain shelters over others. Government entities need to regulate how markets attract people to real estate and what kinds of people the real estate markets want to repel. People with means should not be allowed to be attracted to cute neighborhoods with the condition that the current residents leave.
