What would you do with Seven houses?

Question

Lets say you had a lot of money and you didnt know what to buy. WHY NOT HOUSES! That would be cool. I mean, a vacation home would be awesome. Maybe two vacation homes. When you get up to three vacation homes, i find it would be hard to visit all three. You would favor two, maybe visiting the third every couple years or so. Seven.... thats pushing it. And not knowing you had seven, thats kinda sad. What are your thoughts?

Mine are, if you have so much money you need to buy houses... and you forget how many you or your wife have purchased (i mean, i would notice if my wife bought a house), wouldnt that money be better used for something else? Lets say, oh i dont know, your a conservative base, reaching out to Christians. Wouldnt just settling for 3 houses be sufficient and putting the other money to better use such as some of the ideas you promise you support but have never donated to.

Signed - loyal republican but not really thinking a republican is running to vote for.

Answer 1

I hope there is nothing fundamentally wrong in owning more than one house. Our family live in two and rent out the others. We do not live in the US though.

I think that what is curious about this election is how come Americans get to decide between just two candidates? Why not three or five? That would be far more interesting and, dare I say it, democratic.

Answer 2

I would imagine they were purchased as forclosed properties, so I'm sure he benefitted from a downturned housing market, oh, and dont worry , he makes an extravigant income to cover the property taxes on them, why would he want so many homes ? perhaps he writting off more expenses than is allowed by the IRS, perhaps they are a tax shelter for him.

Answer 3

If I were this rich then you can be sure that my family and my closest friends wouldn't have to worry about much because I am a generous and kind person. I would feel awful having so much while others are struggling. I like to make others happy. It's a great feeling when you can do that. You don't have to be rich to do that by the way. Sometimes a smile goes a long way. I'm happy with one house. I would work at a job that I love. I wouldn't care how much it pays. I like working. I would step up my volunteer activities or start my own organization to address some unmet needs. I don't know why we live in a society that seems very rigid and selfish. I cannot stand McCain. He seems a it's all about me kind of person. Why doesn't he just retire. I'm sure it's his ego won't allow it.

edit: If I bought houses for someone else then I wouldn't count them as things I own. I wouldn't discuss it.

edit: Shouldn't McCain bought businesses instead that helped put people to work?? What good does owning real estate do for the people of this country? Hmmm.. The Republicans are all about putting people to work but isn't it interesting how McCain really hasn't done that?  Has he created some non-profit entities? He could be a silent partner. No excuse.

Answer 4

There are just so many things wrong with this entire argument.

1.  These houses could be investment properties not vacation homes.  Investing in property and renting it out has made many people wealthy.

2. McCain and his wife have always kept their finances separate.  He may not even know how much money his wife makes or where she invests her money.  If the houses are managed through a reality firm, he may never have even been to them.

3. The McCains, especially Cindy, is very involved in donating time and money to many causes around the world.  The fact that they don't go around bragging about it or using it for political gain doesn't make it less authentic.  The Obamas donate neither time or money to charitable causes. The Obamas donated less than 6% of their 1.5 million income in 2006.  In 2004 it was less than 2%.

EDIT:  The McCains have always kept their finances separate.  Each has their own financial responsibilities.  The fact that there isn't evidence shows that the houses are probably Cindy's and John may never have even been to them rather than "vacation homes".

I agree that they, along with most Congressman including Obama, don't have a clue what the average family has to deal with financially.  Michelle recently tried to compare having to decide about $10k in dance lessons as equivalent to families deciding if they have gas or food money.

The difference between the giving of the McCains and the Obamas is simple.  The Obamas have done things for the community as part of their job.  The McCains have done things without financial or career gain involved.  Michelle has done a lot of good things in Chicago but it was her career. She got paid for it.  Cindy has done things throughout the world and used her own money to finance it.  Barack worked on some community projects on the south side of Chicago.  He used it to get into politics.

Below is a link that tells about Cindy McCains community service.  Yes it is listed on McCain's website but you don't hear him using it as part of his resume.

Answer 5

When it gets to the point where you can't keep track of them, time to sell off some of them. Two should be the most you would ever need or want. This revelation, esp not knowing how many houses he owns, has seriously damaged McCain in my eyes and in the eyes of millions of voters. To say the least, the man is out of touch with the every day realities Americans face today.

Answer 6

I would be worried that a convicted terrorist like William Ayers (Obamas buddy) would come by and blow them up.  

Answer 7

If I had seven houses, I would sell a few and use the money to run for president. hahaha

I don't fault the guy for having money, and spending it on whatever he wants. But if he has trouble keeping track of how many houses he has, maybe he isn't ready to keep track of a whole country.

Answer 8

Yeah. Real estate, long term, is such a horrible investment. Would you feel the same if you realized he bought those houses for his kids and grandkids?

Answer 9

keep in mind mccains wife is very wealthy. she has trust funds set up for different investments, mccain is not part of those trusts or investments. some of those houses are rentals, some are lived in by their older children and some are for the mccains. this supposed not knowing is nothing, his name may not be on any of the deeds. at one time i owned several houses/condos and i had to stop and think sometimes how many i owned because i had a company that managed them for me. this house thing is no big deal.

Answer 10

1. Even in Monopoly when ya got the dough, ya buy houses.

#2. How many of the houses are in The senators name?

#3. Did he buy them or were they purchased by Corporate?

#4. O'Bama's p**s ed because he only has 1.

Answer 11

This is a good example of Obama being to stupid to  know when to keep his mouth shut. This is going to blow up in their faces and they set themselves up for anything that happens. The entire liberal plan is to keep votes bought so as to stay in office to make the easy money but yet they want to criticize some one else for having it. And some think these people make responsible leaders.