EVOLUTION OF REAL ESTATE

Many centuries ago, in order to have a place to live, one must defend the land at any cost. But the development tribal leader system led to distribution of land, settling disputes, and obligatory payment. Its progression culminated in a pooling of labor along with a CEO of some sort to funnel endeavors, such as irrigation channels, strongholds, farming methods, and temples. When land improved, populations expanded. The increased fertility is tantamount to greater number of available workers.

However, that system could only support up to three extended families, and the amorous farmers discovered they could no longer identify every person within their area. Individuals residing in small locations obtained the safety of number in exchange for sacrificing familiarity. The very first rent scheme was all people paying homage to the king or lord who claimed ownership of the land. As the farming villages grew into cities, the leading families retained ownership through right of lineage.

The labor-for-protection led to taxes and tenancy. During that time, only royal families have the right to own a land. They scatter their wealth to friends or allies, handing out titles and deeds to lands, which enabled the owners to collect revenues. Peasants living in those lands had to pay a rental fee to the title holders. Aside from tax, all the people under the ruler’s helm were required to pay a tax. Other leaders even oblige people to render military service since they not only own the land by birthright, but also by military right. But peasants can trade with other kingdoms and the overall level of wealth increased, inducing merchant class and tradesmen. Their inception paved the way for non-agrarian shops and houses still paying rents and taxes to different rulers, but purchased, sold, and rented among the common people. Wealthier merchants became the first common-born landlords. They did not own the land, but the houses built on it.

When meritocracies displaced aristocracies, politics was born. As a result, title lands were split into smaller parcels and sold on a free market. But those who could buy the deeds were merchants or former aristocrats who evaded being shortened by revolutionary vehemence.

And there’s the industrial revolution. The usage of machines freed several peasants, enabling them to fulfill different tasks and become educated in new fields of labor. A once useless skill became their primary source of living. Ambitious people were able to jump from class to class. Peasants were classified as either middle class, blue collar, white collar, and the like. They were able to posses houses, cars, and eventually, appliances.

Speaking of houses, the introduction of mortgages could not be attributed to any country. However, it has existed for a long time as an exclusive loan given only to the highest social class in the society. But the industrial uprising made banks offer higher-risk loans to common people, which allowed them to become landlords themselves.

From tribal system to mortgage, it took 30,000 for people to acquire properties. Home ownership has gone a long way, to the point where most people frequently take too much (or take out too much) of a loan.