tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post4172474125720333811..comments2023-12-30T10:06:37.450+00:00Comments on HousingPANIC - The Housing Bubble Blog with an Attitude Problem, 2005 - 2008: And then people figured out living 50 miles away from work was really, really stupidbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585266242070350399noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-3754681143117470972008-05-05T02:18:00.000+01:002008-05-05T02:18:00.000+01:00I hope gas goes to $10 a gallon. I am sick of the...I hope gas goes to $10 a gallon. I am sick of these over sized monstrosities on the road. I would be hurt, but people who drive those tanks would be hurt more, this would give me satisfaction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-29583117233419977622008-05-02T18:40:00.000+01:002008-05-02T18:40:00.000+01:00What sort of jackass is spending over $1,000 a mon...What sort of jackass is spending over $1,000 a month in gas?<BR/><BR/>Hey idiot, rather than buy the $500,000 one-bedroom downtown "apartment," get a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder sedan like I did.<BR/><BR/>I commute 45 miles each way to work and it takes about 50 minutes. I get a nice quiet time with some coffee and Sirius satellite news to unwind, and my daily gas price is about $12. If I spend $300 a month on gas, that's a lot, and the rent I pay for a nice downtown apartment in an older town 44 miles from the city is 1/3 of what one would pay for a cramped, crumbling studio downtown.<BR/><BR/>I also have the option to telecommute once a week.<BR/><BR/>All this talk about how we're all going to crowd into overpriced, crime-ridden city slums simply due to gas prices is laughable. Chrysler, Ford and GM all sell sub-$19K midsized comfortable 4-cylinder sedans that can slash the fuel consumption of the average commuter by 2/3. Anyone who would keep the Hummer and buy an overpriced $600K house to "save money," instead of dumping the Hummer and getting a real car with good mileage, is an idiot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-80979883274728043552008-05-01T21:56:00.000+01:002008-05-01T21:56:00.000+01:00When I see anyone driving a Hummer, I just burst i...<I>When I see anyone driving a Hummer, I just burst into waves of laughter...</I><BR/><BR/>Especially if they're going to a recycling center and have a "STOP GLOBAL WARMING!" bumper sticker.<BR/><BR/>Back when I used to take Santiago Canyon (two-lane mountain back road in OC), I used to get stuck behind blinged-out Hummer after blinged-out Hummer, all driving 20 UNDER the limit as timid as possible. Always a Hummer that cost more than my house, always with a "BUSHITLER STOLE THE ELECTION!!!! POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!!" bumper sticker.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-42032651241514406962008-05-01T17:53:00.000+01:002008-05-01T17:53:00.000+01:00I ditched my 3 hour 200 mile daily commute for a n...I ditched my 3 hour 200 mile daily commute for a new job, new apartment and, new city with an 25 minute 8 mile commute using public transportation. Did it before prices went nutty and now I am glad I did. <BR/><BR/>Even though my car gets 43 miles per gallon of diesel I am very glad to not be making that drive anymore now that it's ~$4.30 a gallon. <BR/><BR/>Old commute would be $100 a week plus tolls, plus car costs..<BR/><BR/>New Commute $140 a month, done! no tolls no wear and tear. Oh and commuter pass is paid for pre-tax, so my taxable income is lower.<BR/><BR/>Yeah I give up some freedom and have to share space with other commuters but, the price is right and it is a whole lot less hassle!!<BR/><BR/>I will never live in a burb and make that kind of commute again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-78500222843058298722008-05-01T17:18:00.000+01:002008-05-01T17:18:00.000+01:00Anonymous said... Again, probably not that dire...Anonymous said...<BR/><BR/> Again, probably not that dire. I think the dwellers on this site might have a depression problem, go to a MD and get some zoloph before you off yourselves. Yikes.<BR/><BR/>Ignorance is bliss. <BR/><BR/>The drug is zoloft, not zoloph. Is that what you take to maintain your happy, skippy, little world?<BR/><BR/>JaneZAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-4070759595827016992008-05-01T13:59:00.000+01:002008-05-01T13:59:00.000+01:00My drive is 100 miles (2 hours) each way which I d...My drive is 100 miles (2 hours) each way which I drive round trip twice per week.<BR/><BR/>I drive in Monday morning and leave Tuesday night. I return to the DC area Thursday morning and leave early Friday. On Wednesday, I work from home which means forwarding my office phone and muting my Xbox if ever anyone really tries to call me on Wednesday.<BR/><BR/>I spend 65 dollars per week going 400 miles in my pre-owned Camry. <BR/><BR/>I spend two nights per week at hotels or friends houses which are very close to the office (about 15 minutes). At maximum of 8 nights per month, the cost is less than 700 dollars per month. My total driving time is 9 hours per week and I get one day off per week (Wednesday) and two nights living far away from the nagging wife and household chores.<BR/><BR/>All told I pay 1000 and give up being at home two nights per week (- which I kind of enjoy!)<BR/><BR/>It's not a perfect solution but here's where I live: <BR/><BR/>A 5 acre wooded mountain lot in a nice neighborhood (conservation zone) in an energy efficient house (custom built 3 story, 3000 sq ft cape code built in '02 with walk out basement and detached garage). We have a great view of nature, the mountains, and the ski slopes from our many decks. 5 minutes from the house is the state park with a big lake and and tons of trails. Lots of oppurtunities for hunting and fishing nearby, free firewood and gardening in my backyard. I am also close to my family, 25 minutes from the PA state capital (where my wife is going to work), and 10 minutes from cheap abundant shopping. <BR/><BR/>Like I said, it's not perfect but my mortgage is 1000 per month (not including property taxes). I paid 230 (just recently) and am spending another 10K or so finishing the basement, doing landscaping.<BR/><BR/>If I tire of the driving, I can change jobs and work near the house (albeit for less money). Life is simple where I live, relaxed, peaceful, no illegals, no keeping up with the jones, very little traffic, nice friendly folks everywhere, stable housing market.<BR/><BR/>I just though your readers would be interested in my approach to dealing with the crazed life of working in the nation's capital.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-36840133837843848622008-05-01T06:07:00.000+01:002008-05-01T06:07:00.000+01:00i live in a downtown condo and take the bus to an...i live in a downtown condo and take the bus to another downtown for work. save money on parking, gas, and maintenance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-74151957580433984302008-05-01T06:06:00.000+01:002008-05-01T06:06:00.000+01:00Mark said... Except that most large cities are soc...Mark said... <BR/>Except that most large cities are socialist democrat hellholes.<BR/><BR/>High taxes, high crime, poor schools, massive corruption, dealing with unions...the reasons most people moved away in the first place have not changed...<BR/>===========================<BR/><BR/> Take out just the high crime part, and you just described living in the "sticks". <BR/><BR/> Our property taxes are outrageous for what little (read: nothing) we get. <BR/><BR/> Our school system is an education establishment controlled joke ("But you want good education, don't you? After all, the kids come first".)<BR/><BR/> The good-old-boy cronyism and corruption from the York county board of supervisors on down is enough to gag a maggot. <BR/><BR/> And of course, there's always the good old teacher's union and state worker's union, whose tentacles reach even out here.<BR/><BR/> The ONLY plus is the low crime rate. But I believe that's going to change as well once the scum level realizes that there’s no real police protection (state police are all we got and they are stretched thin) out in the “sticks”!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-16317077481553760862008-05-01T05:32:00.000+01:002008-05-01T05:32:00.000+01:00Again, probably not that dire. I think the dweller...Again, probably not that dire. I think the dwellers on this site might have a depression problem, go to a MD and get some zoloph before you off yourselves. Yikes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-18280836745557340162008-05-01T02:55:00.000+01:002008-05-01T02:55:00.000+01:00Don't want to be in the city - or even the 'burbs ...Don't want to be in the city - or even the 'burbs - WTSHTF. Best to be out with a well, land to grow a garden, and guns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-6568426395288583692008-04-30T23:13:00.000+01:002008-04-30T23:13:00.000+01:00on the flipside of Frank's comment...they could gi...on the flipside of Frank's comment...they could give condos away for free and I wouldn't want to live in one. I've lived in enough apartments to never want another again. And for all the fancy talk, that's all a condo is, an apartment. Although it's even worse since with an apartment you pay rent and you're done. With a condo you pay a mortgage, condo fees, property tax and if the fridge breaks you pay for the repairman too. And on top of that when you step outside the front door you are greeted by bums, gangs, garbage and grafitti.<BR/><BR/>Thanks but no thanks.<BR/><BR/>I'll gladly spend an hour in my car to live in a house with acreage as I do now. I live 18 miles from work and on a bad day that takes me an hour. On a good day 40 minutes. And with my 32 MPG commuter car the total cost of my commute works to about $4 a day. No way in hell I'd chance my life around to live in some shitty ass apartment so I can save $4 a day. <BR/><BR/>As someone else said, this is just the latest NAR marketing ploy. I would expect HPers to be a little less gullible than this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-77502736309307691722008-04-30T22:00:00.000+01:002008-04-30T22:00:00.000+01:00Re: I.m a stupid renterYou certainly don't live in...Re: I.m a stupid renter<BR/><BR/>You certainly don't live in California.......what city are you in?<BR/><BR/>-AFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-89058503186894689452008-04-30T21:14:00.000+01:002008-04-30T21:14:00.000+01:00Spend $500/mo on the condo HOA to buy an apartment...Spend $500/mo on the condo HOA to buy an apartment. No thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-36713757930225697332008-04-30T21:06:00.000+01:002008-04-30T21:06:00.000+01:00so they can make the move to downtown?Who wants to...<I> so they can make the move to downtown?<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>Who wants to live downtown by skid row and all the traffic and pollution?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-86728925856654005792008-04-30T20:29:00.000+01:002008-04-30T20:29:00.000+01:00Folks, you've got to work wherever you can so if d...Folks, you've got to work wherever you can so if driving is the way to do it then so be it. And even with a 50 mile commute, a well maintained Corolla still gets 30 mpg on the highway. Even brand new, that's a $14K capital investment which can last 15 or more years with less than $500 per year on maintenance (including brake pads, belts, tires, the occasional starter, the water pump, and oil changes [but sans blowing out the main transmission]).<BR/><BR/>I think the question here is whether or not the home is worth it when being able to move: 4 yrs in Philly, 2 yrs in St Louis, and 3 yrs in Houston becomes the norm for a white collar professional? I'd say, rent in a safe town (or if in a city, a secured facility thus paying for that armed guard), drive a fuel efficient car, and keeping the idea of moving for a better position at the back of your mind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-85982233454685103202008-04-30T19:44:00.000+01:002008-04-30T19:44:00.000+01:00When the wife and I bought last year, the better o...When the wife and I bought last year, the better of our 2 vehicles got 20mpg avg. Now the worse of our 2 gets 29 (hers pulls 33). Her commute takes maybe 7 gallons/week, mine blows about 10. So 17 gallons comes to $68/week, or $272/mo. Had we continued to rent in a bad county closer to both our jobs with bad schools/crime/etc, she'd get maybe an hour a week back and save 2 gallons/week. I'd save maybe 6. So 8 gallons = $32/week or $144/mo. That's a small price to pay - less than 0.1% of our monthly gross - in order to live safely, 1/4 mile from excellent schools surrounded by trees/farms.<BR/><BR/>Oh yeah - our power company is about 20% cheaper than the one that does the city/nearby suburbs, ours is significantly more energy-efficient, and we got about 60% more house for 15-20% more to boot...and 40 years younger. :)<BR/><BR/>So to recap:<BR/>Increased gas costs: $144/mo<BR/>Decreased power costs: $30-60/mo<BR/>Efficiency savings: $20/mo (despite being 60% larger)<BR/>Decreased *heating gas* costs: $25-30/mo annualized<BR/><BR/>So $35-70/mo extra for a beautiful, large new house in a good, safe neighborhood, with excellent schools, surrounded by trees and deer...yeah, losing out BIGTIME! ;)<BR/><BR/>As for lost time - I lose about 4 hrs/week and my wife loses about 1. If your life is so packed that this significantly impacts it, seek professional help...I'm taking 9 gradschool creds and working fulltime and I can manage it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-61805325026366081892008-04-30T19:31:00.000+01:002008-04-30T19:31:00.000+01:00Anonymous said... wait a minute yesterday yo...Anonymous said...<BR/><BR/> wait a minute<BR/><BR/> yesterday you had a piece on that guy in Tampa living alone in a condo building. You mocked him of course and wrote about how condo living sux. Now all of a sudden condo living is the way to go and we should all buy condos.<BR/><BR/> Come on man have some consistency in your points of view.<BR/><BR/> As for $1000 a month, I find that suspicious. $1000 at $3.50 a gallon is 285 gallons. Even with a gas guzzling SUV that gets 15MPG that will take you 4250 miles. This guy's doing a lot of driving outside of his commute which won't change if he lives downtown.<BR/><BR/> What he's also not taking into consideration is the condo fees he'll be paying. Any gas savings will be sent to the condo board. That looks like a fairly high end condo he's looking at so expect at least $500 a month in fees. Poof, there go his gas savings and on top of it he'll be living in an apartment building.<BR/><BR/>I think the point that you are missing is that all across our Homeland our citizens are trying to figure out how to keep the Great Consumption Binge going, whether it be Big cars, Big Houses, BIG Condos, Big diamond rings, BIG BIG BIG. (Peter Gabriel sang it so well twenty freakin years ago and no one listened to him). <BR/><BR/>You can debate the good BIG vs the bad BIG all damn day. <BR/><BR/>Wait for it....<BR/><BR/>Wait for it....<BR/><BR/>It's over.<BR/><BR/>JaneZAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-90605710134640564562008-04-30T19:24:00.000+01:002008-04-30T19:24:00.000+01:00Re: 50 miles to work.Frank, you're as narrow-minde...Re: 50 miles to work.<BR/><BR/>Frank, you're as narrow-minded and short-sighted as the people you hate - just so you know.<BR/><BR/>Driving 50 miles isn't driving 50 miles. I had a 27 mile commute and it was pain. I interviewed a sysadmin who had a 25 mile commute that was 3 hours each way. I have a friend who commuted 75 miles to work and it was a pleasant ride.<BR/><BR/>The one with the longest commute had a big house on acreage in a great school district and paid far less than a typical generic tract-house on a postage stamp. It's called prioritization: his kids got their schools, the family got a big house with a big yard without paying out the a$$ leaving lots of extra money for other things. And what's funnier is his commute at the time was about the same as my 27-mile one. :)<BR/><BR/>As usual, hardcore-HP'ers show their ignorance and inability to look at the big picture/see the world for the shades of gray it is, rather than the black and white they want it to be in order to benefit them exclusively.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-40517589201609244772008-04-30T19:14:00.000+01:002008-04-30T19:14:00.000+01:00SUVs and Hummers may become condosSUVs and Hummers may become condosAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-77521515732261839582008-04-30T18:58:00.000+01:002008-04-30T18:58:00.000+01:00seems "they" "get" you one way or another.......seems "they" "get" you one way or another.......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-41351918220037949602008-04-30T18:56:00.000+01:002008-04-30T18:56:00.000+01:00I'm tracking my gas purchases for 3 years now, and...I'm tracking my gas purchases for 3 years now, and my annual cost never been higher than $1,500 for two (30 mpg) cars. That "$1000 a month on gas" statement is BS, sounds like a spin to justify condo purchase.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-33889605685507593912008-04-30T18:54:00.000+01:002008-04-30T18:54:00.000+01:00at 17 cents a gallon it sounds like hugo chavez ca...at 17 cents a gallon it sounds like hugo chavez can afford those/and "tanks" and at 15 cents a gallon ditto to iraqAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-88643166145274284652008-04-30T18:42:00.000+01:002008-04-30T18:42:00.000+01:00I also have no sympathy for today's lemmings drvin...I also have no sympathy for today's lemmings drving those barges. <BR/><BR/>Back in the 70's I subscribed to the energy savings mantra. Bought Vw's and crap cars. I was stuck in lines for 5 gallons of gas many times at 6 AM.<BR/><BR/>Then I saw the oil supply come back in the 80's 90's and 00's and along with that, the soccer moms and their SUVS, Hummers and Excursions. <BR/><BR/>I along with many others sacrificed a lot of good times so that these gas gusslers could drag their fat a#$ cars around in later decades.<BR/><BR/>I ain't buying saving gas and energy. I'll burn it while I can, still enjoying driving my Bimmer 750 around town. Screw all the SUV and truck drivers. If we run out of petro molecules, we will all be in the same boat. Since I am retired, I don't give a d#$%. Like I said before on this forum, when all the Corporate jets stop flying and Bellagio turns off its fountains, then I get serious about energy saving. It's all about diverting assets so the rech can continue to have the good life.<BR/><BR/>Disgruntled Retired Baby BoomerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-39780632656996245772008-04-30T18:23:00.000+01:002008-04-30T18:23:00.000+01:00Point 1 - Does he expect to sell his current house...Point 1 - Does he expect to sell his current house before he moves? Or is he going to be stuck with two mortgages?<BR/><BR/>Point 2 - He was talking about Baby boomers living closer to work. Guess this means no retirement, hm?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18675105.post-30319309522878624962008-04-30T18:03:00.000+01:002008-04-30T18:03:00.000+01:00During my early 20's, I lived comfortably on my sa...During my early 20's, I lived comfortably on my sailboat located in Marina del Rey, California. The slip cost was only $10 / ft for my 35' Columbia sailboat (=$350/month). The slip allowed for access to Marina City Club Condo amenities such as bathrooms, spa, tennis, etc.<BR/><BR/>www.marinacityclub.com<BR/><BR/>Plus, the infamous nightclub Red Onion was steps from my boat slip. Hot European girls galore. Hey Swedish, Norwegian, and British girls out there, if you ever been to a sailboat after partying at Red Onion, I was your captain. LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com