Just for shts

TheDuckis

We were watching househunters last night, which prompted me to look up the cheapest place available in the town we're moving to. Behold:

http://www.redfin.com/CA/Burlingame/1500-Sherman-Ave-94010/unit-1B/home/1555354

But don't worry. You can go a town over and get this beauty for half the price.

http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Mateo/932-Peninsula-Ave-94401/unit-312/home/17308292

mrsconn23

Holy hell. 

This is what you can get for $360k around these parts:

http://www.homes.com/listing/152218056/14226_Cherry_Tree_Rd_CARMEL_IN_46033

And for $160k

http://www.homes.com/listing/154952627/10495_Harlowe_Dr_FISHERS_IN_46038
 (and note that house #2 has been recently reduced...by $1.  That's some savings there)

TheDuckis

Yeah, it's seriously depressing how expensive this area is. And we're not even moving to the city. We're moving to a suburb that's slightly less crappy than the surrounding suburbs.

The $1 price drop is apparently a trick realtors use to get a house that's been on the market for awhile to shoot to the top of the listing systems.

mrsconn23

Ha.  Makes sense, but I did not know that.

I built this house and have been here almost 8 years, so I have no experience with househunting or realtors.   That's going to change next spring though. 

MinM

I'm starting to wonder if home ownership is anything I even want anymore.

mrsconn23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_just-shts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:f02107e4-5b00-4769-94e6-813621aef3caPost:ca750dec-ee7f-4b5f-9b2e-eda90402a0b5">Re: Just for shts</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm starting to wonder if home ownership is anything I even want anymore.
Posted by MinM[/QUOTE]

It's such a toss-up Min.  There are parts of it that are great, but a lot of it is for the birds.  If you think you're going to be moving or could potentially move out of your area in the next few years, I would not recommend it.

BIL and SIL live in NC, but they lived in KS previous to that could not (and still cannot) sell their condo, so they rent it out.  That has been one hell of a bitch to deal with for them.

zsazsa-stl

Duckis - What happens to people who can't afford those prices?  Let's take our favorite example - the hotel maid (on a low tip week).  How does she even afford an efficiency apartment?  Are all of the low income workers riding buses for three hours to get to your town?

TheDuckis

People do commute from far and wide to get to the area--we have some of the worst traffic in the country, too. I know a lot of people who commute 90+ minutes each way. Still most of them are paying the same money for maybe an additional 500 square feet. in the immediate area there are pockets of less-desirable housing in certain towns. In the town we live in now (30 minutes south of where we're moving) there are a lot of trailer parks. You can buy a doublewide for 60-120k. There are also apartment complexes everywhere. It's about 2500/month for a 2 bedroom with decent amenities.