Cue violins.....Your Mom and Dad bought or built their house back in the 50's. A modest house but it fits their needs nicely. Lovely location, nice view, garden, flower beds and a million happy memories. Wonderful to have the grandkids running around the big yard with the dogs just like you did back in the day. Best of all, because it's a modest home, the taxes are only a couple grand...say $2500.
Cue oboe......Snidley Richcash thinks it's a lovely location too. Just the spot to build his dream showoff place that the high rent architect designed. Have to get rid of those pesky old folks and tear down that shack but that's not a big deal. After all, Snidley has this burg in his pocket. But more importantly the new home would pay not $2500 but $7500 in taxes.
Mom and Dad better hope they're not on the toilet when Snidley tells the powers that be his plans because they won't have time to wipe.
