#ThursdayThoughts: The Essence of Property

By Taylor Johnston

Most things in life can be compared and contrasted. I’m about to make a weird & unusual comparison between the health of human beings & properties/buildings. A successful property and a successful human share similar characteristics. First, by successful, I really just mean full of successes, or wins. Both humans & properties have many similar ingredients and I will rank them below. Even though they are vastly different in a number of ways as one is a place and one is a person, there are common metrics to their health. One is made up of things that make a place. One is a living organism, uniquely designed and ascribed with intrinsic value. On this earth, both attain value the same way. Property in Latin is Proprius or “one’s own, particular to itself”.

1. They produce: A healthy property produces profit or cash flow and enough margin to weather storms. A healthy human produces care for their fellow man, products to be used, & value through effort. Those stores of value give margin to weather storms. On earth, their measured value always equates to their use.

2. Self-care: A strong property has all its needs and maintenance attended to so it remains relevant over the long-term. A strong person takes care of themselves through mental, physical, spiritual, and purposeful care.

3. Purpose: Both people and buildings are built for a reason, for a purpose. There is meaning behind effort and action. They both serve something externally.

4. Origin & End: People and properties/places each have an origin or beginning. Each also has an end or re-creation.

5. Unique: There is only one of each. No property can be exactly replicated as it is in a unique place and time. Also, every human is one of a kind. Only one type in each place and time. That alone is valuable.