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> What once was old is new again. Does this also mean it is a "step down"? Because it looks like it is. Aren't we supposed to be better off than we used to - w

> What once was old is new again. Does this also mean it is a "step down"? Because it looks like it is. Aren't we supposed to be better off than we used to - with all the efficiencies of market economy and technological progress that is...

IanDrake 7y ago
We are way better off. Just live somewhere else. You can rent a nice house in Ohio for less than half that much [1]. Progress doesn't subvert the laws of supply and demand. [1] https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/apa/d/cincinnati-stunning-3-bedroom-2-bath/7033258278.html https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/apa/d/cincinnati-stunning-...
- derekp7 7y ago
  And for me, $1200 a month is my entire mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and upkeep on a 1500 sqft house, in a pleasant neighborhood, surrounded by pleasant urban area. In an area that has a large number of corporate headquarters for companies that everyone has heard of, with access to a number of 6 figure jobs.
  - t0mbstone 7y ago
    And whereabouts is that? When was your mortgage started? How much would it cost me if I was to buy a house like yours there right now for only 5% down, for example?
    - derekp7 7y ago
      This is between the Milwaukee / Chicago corridor. In my case it is in Illinois about an hour north of Chicago, and the mortgage on my current house is 3 years old (bought for 162 K). In my case I put about 11% down, so I'm paying 100/month PMI, otherwise the monthly payment would be that much lower. For a good idea of what housing is currently like around here, point something like Zillow or whatever in Lake County, look at Waukegan, Gurnee, the Chain of Lakes area, and if you want quite a bit cheaper you can go west a few more miles to McHenry County. Or for an area that is closer to urban, go north to Racine. Now much of the housing in this price range (100 - 200K) is going to be older homes, however a lot of them are either well maintained (as there is a large blue-collar demographic here that is comfortable with DIY), and there is also plenty of new construction that you can get in that price range also. Edit: just did a Zillow search, for all of Lake County IL, for single family homes 100 - 200K, and got 894 results. I added the keyword "as is" to the search, and only 139 of those have "as is" in the description.
  - tandr 7y ago
    Would you be kind and share at least country/state of that place?
ScottFree 7y ago
> Does this also mean it is a "step down"? Because it looks like it is. Why is living with other human beings considered a "step down"? Most people in this so called "modern" age are horribly lonely.
- me_me_me 7y ago
  Its a step down because you are forced into it. 50 yrs ago you could decide to do it, now its pretty much decided for you.
  - t0mbstone 7y ago
    But you aren't forced into it. Nobody is forcing people to live in expensive places like San Francisco. There are plenty of places in the USA where you can rent a nice house or apartment for very cheap. It might not be the most exciting or opportunity-filled area to live, though.

IanDrake 7y ago

We are way better off. Just live somewhere else. You can rent a nice house in Ohio for less than half that much [1]. Progress doesn't subvert the laws of supply and demand. [1] https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/apa/d/cincinnati-stunning-3-bedroom-2-bath/7033258278.html https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/apa/d/cincinnati-stunning-...

derekp7 7y ago
And for me, $1200 a month is my entire mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and upkeep on a 1500 sqft house, in a pleasant neighborhood, surrounded by pleasant urban area. In an area that has a large number of corporate headquarters for companies that everyone has heard of, with access to a number of 6 figure jobs.
- t0mbstone 7y ago
  And whereabouts is that? When was your mortgage started? How much would it cost me if I was to buy a house like yours there right now for only 5% down, for example?
  - derekp7 7y ago
    This is between the Milwaukee / Chicago corridor. In my case it is in Illinois about an hour north of Chicago, and the mortgage on my current house is 3 years old (bought for 162 K). In my case I put about 11% down, so I'm paying 100/month PMI, otherwise the monthly payment would be that much lower. For a good idea of what housing is currently like around here, point something like Zillow or whatever in Lake County, look at Waukegan, Gurnee, the Chain of Lakes area, and if you want quite a bit cheaper you can go west a few more miles to McHenry County. Or for an area that is closer to urban, go north to Racine. Now much of the housing in this price range (100 - 200K) is going to be older homes, however a lot of them are either well maintained (as there is a large blue-collar demographic here that is comfortable with DIY), and there is also plenty of new construction that you can get in that price range also. Edit: just did a Zillow search, for all of Lake County IL, for single family homes 100 - 200K, and got 894 results. I added the keyword "as is" to the search, and only 139 of those have "as is" in the description.
- tandr 7y ago
  Would you be kind and share at least country/state of that place?

ScottFree 7y ago

> Does this also mean it is a "step down"? Because it looks like it is. Why is living with other human beings considered a "step down"? Most people in this so called "modern" age are horribly lonely.

me_me_me 7y ago
Its a step down because you are forced into it. 50 yrs ago you could decide to do it, now its pretty much decided for you.
- t0mbstone 7y ago
  But you aren't forced into it. Nobody is forcing people to live in expensive places like San Francisco. There are plenty of places in the USA where you can rent a nice house or apartment for very cheap. It might not be the most exciting or opportunity-filled area to live, though.