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> a housing market so expensive it’s throttling one of America’s biggest urban success stories. Decades ago, these tidy homes were cheap enough for schoolteache

by csense 8y ago

> a housing market so expensive it’s throttling one of America’s biggest urban success stories. Decades ago, these tidy homes were cheap enough for schoolteachers and firefighters. Today, most cost at least a million dollars, and what was once a proudly middle-class neighborhood has morphed into a financially gated community If you want a house like that, and you're not super wealthy, find a remote gig and move outside the big tech-boom cities. Here in the Rust Belt, houses like that are very affordably priced. If enough people with tech-generated wealth start living and spending money here, it'll make progress solving the regional inequalities that are driving support for Donald Trump.

majewsky 8y ago
Later in the article, the point is made that many young people move to the cities because they actually want to live there. I can see that: I would hate living in a suburb where the amenities are miles apart and nothing can be reached by foot or bike.
- kthejoker2 8y ago
  Detroit? Salt Lake City? El Paso? All I'm seeing is people demanding to be accommodated to live exactly where they want, even at the expense of the people who were there before they wanted to be there, even as there are plenty of viable options to go around. But oh no, they don't have Seattle's views? Cry me a river.
phillipcarter 8y ago
But I don't like that area. A house like that is not worth giving up the incredible outdoors lifestyle that the Seattle region offers. I'm happy to live in a well-built, quiet condo that I pay a bit more for than "standard" condos or whatever. Don't really need a house. But even these are nearly impossible to come by. There's practically zero inventory.
- realbarack 8y ago
  FWIW if "incredible outdoors lifestyle" is what you seek and remote work is an option there are a number of better, cheaper places to live than Seattle.
  - phillipcarter 8y ago
    What examples? I don’t actually live in Seattle proper, as it’s far too expensive. But the surrounding areas are also absurd in price.
    - realbarack 8y ago
      It really depends what you are looking for but a short list of western cities which are superior outdoor destinations to Seattle at least in some ways (and are much cheaper) is Bozeman, Missoula, Salt Lake City, Rapid City, Reno, Boise, St George. If a city is not a requirement, the list is a lot longer. Your mileage may vary depending on much or little you value things like remoteness, lack of traffic, mountains vs desert vs forest. Yes, if you're a hardcore mountaineer it might be tough to beat the north Cascades but for the rest of us there are a lot of good options.
- swiss_beatz 8y ago
  To be blunt, wtf are you complaining about then? You don't want to live in a cheaper area, so how can anyone help you? You aren't the only one who wants to live in a nice area at an affordable price.
- BeetleB 8y ago
  >But I don't like that area. I can summarize a lot of the comments in this thread with: "But I want it!" The city isn't obligated in making areas you like affordable to you. I wrote a bit about this recently: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16926098 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16926098
  - phillipcarter 8y ago
twoquestions 8y ago
Remote gigs are also not terribly available to most. Either your line of work demands you be at a specific location, or you're competing with the 0.001% of the entire world for a remote job, with employers that would rather do without than make do with sub-superlative people.
pnathan 8y ago
Yeah, but then you're living in the Rust Belt.
- rustybelt 8y ago
  Just curious what it is that you do in your day to day life that is so location dependent? I'm someone who enjoys a variety of activities including museums, fine dining, sporting events, kid-friendly activities like zoos, hiking, going to the beach, concerts, exploring interesting towns and cities, fishing, attending interesting lectures, woodworking, playing music, boating, golf . . . I think you get the idea. I've never had any problem doing or enjoying any of these activities during a lifetime spent in the Midwest and South. I can completely understand plenty of reasons why someone wouldn't want to live where I live: job, family, even weather (though I'm surprised how much quality of life people are willing to sacrifice for this one amenity), but "eeww, the rust belt" is a silly and insulting response.
  - violinist 8y ago
    I like mountain climbing, skiing, rock climbing, sea kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, backpacking, mountain biking. Many of these things are only possible near mountains. I live in Boulder currently, but grew up north of Seattle, and it really does provide more variety in outdoor pursuits than just about anywhere.
    - rustybelt 8y ago
      Interesting. I can't hold it against someone for enjoying the area where they grew up. I know how it feels to have someone insult your hometown and wouldn't want to do that to anyone else. I've always enjoyed visiting the west coast. If you ever find yourself in Northern Wisconsin, sea kayaking the Apostle Islands is pretty spectacular. Check out http://livingadventure.com/ http://livingadventure.com/ for more info.
  - ummonk 8y ago
    One other big reason: racial diversity. In much of the United States, the community is basically white race / white American culture by default, and people like me naturally end up being somewhat anomalous / outsiders. In some places there is also racism to various extents, but even in the absence of racism, there is just a significant handicap to not being a member of the default group. In contrast, I fit right at home in a cosmopolitan place like Silicon Valley where there isn't really a default culture. Of course, it's basically a global phenomenon that cosmpolitan cities tend to be far more expensive than the cities that more closely reflect the local culture.

by csense 8y ago

majewsky 8y ago

Later in the article, the point is made that many young people move to the cities because they actually want to live there. I can see that: I would hate living in a suburb where the amenities are miles apart and nothing can be reached by foot or bike.

kthejoker2 8y ago
Detroit? Salt Lake City? El Paso? All I'm seeing is people demanding to be accommodated to live exactly where they want, even at the expense of the people who were there before they wanted to be there, even as there are plenty of viable options to go around. But oh no, they don't have Seattle's views? Cry me a river.

phillipcarter 8y ago

But I don't like that area. A house like that is not worth giving up the incredible outdoors lifestyle that the Seattle region offers. I'm happy to live in a well-built, quiet condo that I pay a bit more for than "standard" condos or whatever. Don't really need a house. But even these are nearly impossible to come by. There's practically zero inventory.

realbarack 8y ago
FWIW if "incredible outdoors lifestyle" is what you seek and remote work is an option there are a number of better, cheaper places to live than Seattle.
- phillipcarter 8y ago
  What examples? I don’t actually live in Seattle proper, as it’s far too expensive. But the surrounding areas are also absurd in price.
  - realbarack 8y ago
    It really depends what you are looking for but a short list of western cities which are superior outdoor destinations to Seattle at least in some ways (and are much cheaper) is Bozeman, Missoula, Salt Lake City, Rapid City, Reno, Boise, St George. If a city is not a requirement, the list is a lot longer. Your mileage may vary depending on much or little you value things like remoteness, lack of traffic, mountains vs desert vs forest. Yes, if you're a hardcore mountaineer it might be tough to beat the north Cascades but for the rest of us there are a lot of good options.
swiss_beatz 8y ago
To be blunt, wtf are you complaining about then? You don't want to live in a cheaper area, so how can anyone help you? You aren't the only one who wants to live in a nice area at an affordable price.
BeetleB 8y ago
>But I don't like that area. I can summarize a lot of the comments in this thread with: "But I want it!" The city isn't obligated in making areas you like affordable to you. I wrote a bit about this recently: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16926098 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16926098
- phillipcarter 8y ago

twoquestions 8y ago

Remote gigs are also not terribly available to most. Either your line of work demands you be at a specific location, or you're competing with the 0.001% of the entire world for a remote job, with employers that would rather do without than make do with sub-superlative people.

pnathan 8y ago

Yeah, but then you're living in the Rust Belt.

rustybelt 8y ago
Just curious what it is that you do in your day to day life that is so location dependent? I'm someone who enjoys a variety of activities including museums, fine dining, sporting events, kid-friendly activities like zoos, hiking, going to the beach, concerts, exploring interesting towns and cities, fishing, attending interesting lectures, woodworking, playing music, boating, golf . . . I think you get the idea. I've never had any problem doing or enjoying any of these activities during a lifetime spent in the Midwest and South. I can completely understand plenty of reasons why someone wouldn't want to live where I live: job, family, even weather (though I'm surprised how much quality of life people are willing to sacrifice for this one amenity), but "eeww, the rust belt" is a silly and insulting response.
- violinist 8y ago
  I like mountain climbing, skiing, rock climbing, sea kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, backpacking, mountain biking. Many of these things are only possible near mountains. I live in Boulder currently, but grew up north of Seattle, and it really does provide more variety in outdoor pursuits than just about anywhere.
  - rustybelt 8y ago
    Interesting. I can't hold it against someone for enjoying the area where they grew up. I know how it feels to have someone insult your hometown and wouldn't want to do that to anyone else. I've always enjoyed visiting the west coast. If you ever find yourself in Northern Wisconsin, sea kayaking the Apostle Islands is pretty spectacular. Check out http://livingadventure.com/ http://livingadventure.com/ for more info.
- ummonk 8y ago
  One other big reason: racial diversity. In much of the United States, the community is basically white race / white American culture by default, and people like me naturally end up being somewhat anomalous / outsiders. In some places there is also racism to various extents, but even in the absence of racism, there is just a significant handicap to not being a member of the default group. In contrast, I fit right at home in a cosmopolitan place like Silicon Valley where there isn't really a default culture. Of course, it's basically a global phenomenon that cosmpolitan cities tend to be far more expensive than the cities that more closely reflect the local culture.