Comments on: House Approves Business/Real Estate Bill

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:52:26 +0000

What? I asked a simple question and he answered and I responded. What else is there to say?

And since when are YOU the arbiter of good debate?
You’ve never cared about “mature debate” before. Why start now?

By: Impressive

Impressive — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 04:08:55 +0000

Damm mike,, I thought you would have at least tried to engage in a mature debate on the points he raised,, Guess I expected too much.

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:06:22 +0000

Like I said. Baseless assumptions with some mild ad hominems.

Par for the course.

We got it.

By: PANGAEA

PANGAEA — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:47:15 +0000

If You sell property you will live for a day.
If you rent property you will live forever.

If you sell you will eat cake for a day.
If you rent you will have your cake and eat it.

If you throw your Bread and Butter on the waters, it may not come back as Buttered Scones.

Be careful what you wish for.
All that glitters is not gold, it’s a Lead Balloon.

By: Quo vadis

Quo vadis — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:09:37 +0000

Mike, Bermuda does not have a land title registry (which would record exactly who owns each property in this category and provide the ‘evidence’ you seek). Your reply ignores this fundamental fact and sadly your pithiness does little to engage with a serious issue. Given your general style, however, I’m hardly surprised. My analysis above speaks for itself. Feel free to discuss the substantive points made or continue on with your willful ignorance.

By: lucky 7

lucky 7 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 19:57:15 +0000

You ppl who are complaining are soooooooo dumb. This is Commercial real estate–not many of us own buildings in town, (for example) so it has nothing to with us,(they’re not taking anything away from us,) but it WILL help all of us in the long run. Its so sad how you guys can’t see the big picture….I really pity how small your brains are. Must be hard going through life with that handicap.

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 16:33:52 +0000

So… no, then. Just assumptions.

Got it.

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 16:32:27 +0000

Yes. Three years. That’s what I meant by “YEARS”.

Now is not the time to focus on the election. Now is the time to focus on running the country.

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 16:31:20 +0000

MY a**es?

OH! Right. Because I’m not PLP, I must be OBA.

I forget that.

Nonsense.

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:22:04 +0000

Back to the name calling, how mature
I have never been stuck on race as I have always championed for a “Better Bermuda for ALL BERMUDIANS”
OBA is not the lesser of two evils. OBA and PLP are two sides of the same “Evil Coin”
Party Politics needs to come to an end PERIOD

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:18:03 +0000

I have no party
If you we’re truly for a “Better Bermuda for All Bermudians” you would feel this is not a good thing.

By: PANGAEA

PANGAEA — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:22:01 +0000

I am not the only home owner who was handed the thin end of the A.R.V. wedge.

45 years ago my property original A.R.V. assessment made it eligible for sale to the world market.

The U.B.P. adjusted the A.R.V.eligibility numbers upwards which took my house out of the running.

This effectively reduced my world market value, at the same time increasing the market value of properties at the upper end of the market.

Then the U.B,P increased the A.R.V. as means to collect higher taxes, but still were clever enough by splitting hairs to keep the A.R.V.on the majority of Bermuda Real Estate below world market eligibility.

KNOW THIS FACT….. The Bermuda Real Estate Gold Mine is the life blood of this country.

” If you sell, you live for a day , if you rent you live for ever”.

I do not know of any other country on the planet where a Government controls the Peoples Real Estate.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:51:36 +0000

Why is it that when people complain about the OBA’s underhanded actions, certain OBA trolls offer the same recurring statements, such as, “well the PLP did it”. What they fail to realize is that the PLP supporters have already taken the PLP to task, that is the ONLY reason the OBA is the government of the day. So when PLP supporters are calling out the OBA’s foolishness, it’s not just for the sake of it. I am sure that the many who stayed away from the polls last year will not stay away next time.

By: CBA

CBA — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 10:30:01 +0000

My guess is that most of these multi-million dollar homes are owned by non-Bermudians. But, even if they’re not, the average Bermudian can’t afford these homes. So, the owner could lower the price so that more people could afford it, but that would lower the entire market. If multi-million dollar homes are going cheap, the entire house and condo market would be pushed down, benefiting nobody.

For whatever reasons, the wealthy non-Bemrudian purchasers are no longer interested in buying in Bermuda. So, houses are sitting empty while they are on the market. Who benefits from that? Nobody. The Bermudian economy is losing out every day these houses sit empty. So, why not have businesses buy them? They can put their own people in them who will pay electricity, gas, other bills, etc which directly add to the Bermudian economy. Plus, the company now feels more attached to Bermuda, making it less likely that they will leave when the economy takes a dip.

Bermuda wins overall with this legislation. This is not just a “windfall” for sellers.

By: haha

haha — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:10:17 +0000

And what will the PLP do?! You’re a moron. They will take us back like the last 14 years. At least the OBA is the lesser of two evils, but you guys are still stuck on race lmfao.

By: Looking in

Looking in — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:01:52 +0000

The OBA are doing a good job of helping us.

By: shutthemdown

shutthemdown — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 21:48:02 +0000

might aswell get ready to kick ya a**es out

By: Quo vadis

Quo vadis — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:41:34 +0000

I’ve not missed anything apart from your predictable sarcasm. The next election is not that far away (just over 3years max). You may want us not to focus on it, but I’m quite sure that the OBA has it in mind.

By: Quo vadis

Quo vadis — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:38:26 +0000

Dear Mike, my first comment was not ‘mudslinging’, it was a claim that can be substantiated with just a little thought. (1) Many, perhaps most, wealthy Bermudians support the OBA –> (2) Many, perhaps most, of these properties are owned by wealthy Bermudians [but who knows for sure, since we don't have a land registry yet] –> (3) [and this is the key] Increasing the number of potential buyers (i.e.: inflating demand while keeping supply constant) benefits the wealthy people who own such properties and who just happen to support the OBA –> (4) This policy benefits wealthy OBA supporters. I don’t think that’s so hard to follow. If you want to dispute any steps in this logical chain, be my guest. But I suspect you’ll have a hard time refuting the fact that most wealthy Bermudians support the OBA. Now, if you argue that most of these properties are owned by non-Bermudians anyway, then you have the Government simply making it easier for non-Bermudians to sell their properties at a higher price. Either way, the policy does nothing to benefit ordinary Bermudians and is a disproportionate boon for those at the top. I look forward to your reply.

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 18:22:30 +0000

And, in case you missed it, the next election is YEARS away.
Why are you focusing on it?

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 18:21:41 +0000

This again?
950 lost… but let’s not count those that were added.

And did they promise 2000 in the first year? I don’t recall that. Maybe you do.

The question I have for you is:

Do you have evidence of your initial claim, or is this just more mudslinging?

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 18:20:00 +0000

I hope you don’t write messages to your clients in “TXTspeak”!

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 18:18:59 +0000

Not even a little bit true.

I know you’re desperate for that to be true so your party will get back in, but come on.

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:56:17 +0000

How many estates are/were for sale? Who’s cashing out? Follow the trail and find your own evidence.

By: Keepin' it Real...4Real!

Keepin' it Real...4Real! — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:20:26 +0000

you heard de man …Corporate Market…some people jus don’t understand..siiigh

By: Keepin' it Real...4Real!

Keepin' it Real...4Real! — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:17:11 +0000

i guess now is a good time for you and the rest of average Bermudians to snap up this real estate huh..? let us know how you make out paying for it.

By: Quo vadis

Quo vadis — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:16:16 +0000

Yes, really. The OBA must suspect that they’ll not win the next election. 950 jobs lost last year as opposed to the 2000 jobs they promised and further Civil Service job losses on the horizon. Their plans may well work out (stimulate the economy, etc) and hopefully they will. But, this is a backup plan. Allowing companies to buy property, commercial immigration, reducing the tax rate for non-Bermudian purchasers: all to increase the number of possible buyers for high-end properties owned by OBA supporters. So, in response to ‘hmmmm’, that’s my proof. A long series of policy decisions designed to benefit those at the top.

The economic arguments for each of the OBA programs I listed are weak at best. The Government admitted that the reduced tax rate was a flop in terms of producing additional sales, Canada eliminated its commercial immigration program because it didn’t produce substantive investment and it’s dubious that a company looking to buy a $10million house is really looking for a fixer-upper that will produce construction jobs. So, poof, there go the OBA’s flimsy, public justifications for each policy.

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:11:21 +0000

OBA will destroy all hope for Bermudians in the next 4 years

By: Terry

Terry — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:34:04 +0000

See ^

By: eview

eview — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 16:31:21 +0000

Come on Grant Gibbons u know there is nothing wrong with the Companies Act I deal with clients all day long they r not confused about what the act says if u say its vague it not about properties but now its clear for exempted companies to buy so called high end property n soon there will be ways made for them to buy all property OBA u might save Bermuda but u will have gave away everything even the kitchen sink when Bermuda n its ppl finally realize what all these amendments really are it will b too late our Beautiful country sold for a few $$$

By: Sleepin dawg

Sleepin dawg — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:41:57 +0000

This was plp agenda…a Bermudian construction worker took a back seat to jokers had to be taught their job when they came here…and the money left.Now rents…? …..surely there is a set standrd of living somewhere where goverments don’t interfere withit….stop lowering our monies…before you end up yourselves ….broke .If our monies deminish then so does yours…The way things are going….I’ll be requiring reduction in MP’$ salaries …something has to be done…to rectify de situation…standat?

By: Terry

Terry — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:39:11 +0000

“Whither goest thou”.
Irony.
Look where you went.
I need a rum.

By: inna

inna — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 13:48:26 +0000

Really?

By: jt

jt — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 13:42:04 +0000

If that were true more PLP members would have voted for the bill.

By: Hmmm

Hmmm — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 13:41:41 +0000

Are you going to show proof, or just your ignorance?

By: Quo vadis

Quo vadis — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 13:32:47 +0000

How many of these properties are owned by OBA supporters? This is nothing but a windfall for OBA members looking to cash out of Bermuda.