We asked LakeshoreDreams.com founder Eric Canfield to offer his top three predictions concerning what we will see in the lakeshore industry in the coming years. The following was his reply:
With the current economic downturn and the disintegration of the family, Fathering will continue to be seen as a greater need to the benefit of society as a whole.
Some interesting stats;
Children from low income, two-parent families outperform students from high-income, single-parents homes. Almost twice as many high achievers come from two-parent homes as one-parent homes. Source: Charles F. Kettering Foundation (1990).
Fatherless children---kids living in homes without a stepfather or without contact with their biological father---are twice as likely to drop out of school. Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Survey on Child Health (1993).
90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. Source: Ctr. Disease. Ctrl
85% of all youth sitting in prison grew up in a fatherless home. Source: Texas D.of Cor.
Fathers will see an increase need to connect with their families in meaningful ways. Lakeshore property should be seen as a more powerful way to facilitate needs for connection.
With more product on the market, buyers will be inundated with properties. Because of this they will gravitate to the ones that are presented to them through the niche media sources they frequent.
This will further result in sellers demanding more exposure of their properties instead of the “image ads” that some realtors have run in recent years. This means that the new leaders in the real estate field will replace self-recognition with courage, increased product knowledge and more aggressive marketing.
Although it is tough to say exactly what the market will do, there are many positive indicators:
- Historically Low Rates
- Prime Inventory Available
- Greater Value
It is clearly self-evident that maintaining the natural beauty and integrity of the environment is a concern for all – especially the owners and stewards of private property. Yet, because of certain influential people and the billions of dollars allocated to environmental activism there will be more restrictions placed on private property.
This will result in the need for greater activism on the part of resort communities, small developers, and families who own lakefront property. This activism will be needed to secure the rights of property owners so they can enjoy and ultimately see their vision fulfilled.
