What Effect Will the Election Results Have on the Real Estate Market?

As a “political junkie” who has also run for office back in New York, I’m as appalled as anyone by the rhetoric of this year’s presidential election. I’m writing this on Monday, so I have no idea what’s ahead of us come Wednesday and beyond, but for now I am consumed with anxiety about how the week will unfold, and not just about who wins.

Forget the talk about it being a poor choice between Trump and Clinton. The bigger issue has become how the supporters of the losing candidate handle their loss and how they treat the winner. It could affect the real estate market, too.

One can only hope that all the nonsense will now transform into peaceful acceptance of the outcome. Normally, we are accustomed to a polite concession by the loser and a cordial offer to work with the winner for the betterment of our republic. Al Gore did that in 2000 when the Supreme Court stopped the Florida recount which might well have benefited him.

 

This election is different, in that many Trump supporters have been enlarging their stockpile of guns and ammo — you can never have enough, apparently — to defend the republic against Hillary Clinton. Also, some “2nd Amendment folks” might just be contemplating Trump’s suggestion about taking action against a President Clinton before she abolishes the 2nd Amendment (as if she could do that). Meanwhile, Clinton supporters are distraught about the damage a President Trump might do to America, both nationally and internationally.

If the Secret Service thought it had its hands full protecting President Obama, they’ve got a bigger job ahead of them regardless of which candidate takes the White House.

Meanwhile, I hear a lot of talk among Clinton supporters of leaving the country if Trump wins. Most talk is about Canada, but others are eyeing Europe, figuring that Canada might build a wall to slow the flow of Americans heading north. (Just kidding.)

 

If this talk is serious, and if Trump wins, don’t be surprised if there is a surge in homes listed for sale. That’s business I do not look forward to getting!  .

 

Trump supporters are less likely to leave the country if Clinton wins. Remember, they have guns to protect them from the anticipated tyranny of a Clinton presidency. Their rhetoric gives me the impression sometimes that they relish the prospect of engaging in that long-anticipated battle against a tyrannical government.

 

Not knowing as I write this what the election results will be, I won’t waste more space on speculation based on Trump winning vs. Clinton winning and what the effect on the real estate market will be. There will be plenty of time to write about that when I learn the results (which you already know!). Perhaps you can understand, however, why it was hard for me to come up with a column this week on some other real estate topic. Like the rest of America (and the world), I can’t get my mind off the election and only wish for this nightmare of a presidential campaign to be over soon — hopefully on election day.

Published Nov. 10, 2016, in the YourHub section of the Denver Post and in four Jefferson County weekly newspapers.