EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,
This may sound familiar: A neighborhood flourishes, attracting families to put down
roots, fostering vibrant Jewish life. As its appeal increases, home prices inevitably rise.
While this signals a lively and desirable area, it creates difficulties for young couples
and new families. They often have to search farther away to find affordable homes,
making it challenging for established neighborhoods to maintain their size and the
youthful energy we all cherish.
It’s naturally exciting when our property values go up; it’s a sign we’ve built desirable
places to live, and that’s something to be thankful for. But sometimes, in our enthusiasm
for rising home values, we can lose sight of how important it is to keep our
neighborhoods reasonably affordable. The result? The next generation, or new families
who would love to join us, might find our community financially out of reach, leaving
homes mainly for the highest bidder. Ultimately, this can slow down our community’s
growth and lessen its wonderful diversity.
Marine Park is a good example of what I mean. When my family moved here about 20
years ago, an average home might have been in the $350,000 to $450,000 range.
Today, those same homes are often worth more than double. Unfortunately, that makes
it incredibly tough for younger people to move in and build their lives there.
While we all appreciate the value of our homes, it’s also so important for us, as a
community, to think about the long-term health and accessibility of our neighborhoods.
Perhaps we can all try to be more thoughtful about pricing, whether buying or selling.
Even if it means selling our home for a little less than top dollar, it could be a truly
meaningful act for the next family hoping to become part of our vibrant community.
As Shavuos approaches, a time that speaks so much to our enduring legacy, perhaps
this is one way we can help our kehillah welcome and support the next generation.