4 ms·

An uninsurable, valueless house that I can't get a mortgage to build nor sell to someone else... I can't imagine why this isn't a more popular option

CalRobert 6y ago
To be fair, I got a 200+ year old cottage on a few acres with commuter train service under €100k because I was willing to look at uninsurable, unmortgageable houses. Eccentrics with cash are a market too.
Scoundreller 6y ago
Making housing 3-4x as expensive to build, to include things you don’t need, to qualify for 20:1 leverage is a new phenomenon.
- minikites 6y ago
  Housing is expensive because of the real estate market (speculation, Airbnb, predatory landlords), not because houses are built to have "things you don't need".
  - Scoundreller 6y ago
    Not if you’re building a shack in the woods. “Where’s the R40 insulation?” “This is a 3-season cabin unoccupied 75% of the time. Or the insulation is weak, but the structure and windows are small, so it’s actually far more efficient than an R40 mansion” “Where’s the septic field?” “The toilet is for guests (100flushes/yr) into a holding tank, pumped out yearly. I use the outhouse” “Where’s the 20A circuits in the kitchen?” “I have 1 socket for 1 appliance, everything else is gas” “Why aren’t there sockets every 10 feet?” “The whole point is to NOT have dozens of gizmos here” “Your shower doesn’t drain into an approved gray-water system” “I can wash my car/shower outside but can’t shower with a bucket indoors?” “This doesn’t meet min sqft requirements” “I built all the sqft I need, I’ll spend a half my time here hiking and fishing” Crap like that.
newman8r 6y ago
It's a more viable option if all you're looking for is a simple place to live.
mc32 6y ago
I’m not sure someone building out in the woods is actually looking to be encumbered by the trappings of living in an incorporated village? One whole reason to build out in the boondocks is to build as you like. So it’s kind of beside the point, I think. On the other hand if you want to build to some code, no one is stopping you either, so there is that.
mym1990 6y ago
Its crazy that someone would do something they probably really enjoy without getting financial benefit out of it. JUST WILD.
- minikites 6y ago
  Under capitalism and according to its most vigorous devotees, it is in fact crazy, because the only important thing to them in life is revenue and wealth. You can see it in the various flavors of "hustle culture" and in the ways people are personally hurt when you insult their favorite corporate brand.
  - emteycz 6y ago
    I have never seen a capitalist positioned against pleasure. Why would they bother otherwise? Merely surviving can be done for nearly zero money.

CalRobert 6y ago

To be fair, I got a 200+ year old cottage on a few acres with commuter train service under €100k because I was willing to look at uninsurable, unmortgageable houses. Eccentrics with cash are a market too.

Scoundreller 6y ago

Making housing 3-4x as expensive to build, to include things you don’t need, to qualify for 20:1 leverage is a new phenomenon.

minikites 6y ago
Housing is expensive because of the real estate market (speculation, Airbnb, predatory landlords), not because houses are built to have "things you don't need".
- Scoundreller 6y ago
  Not if you’re building a shack in the woods. “Where’s the R40 insulation?” “This is a 3-season cabin unoccupied 75% of the time. Or the insulation is weak, but the structure and windows are small, so it’s actually far more efficient than an R40 mansion” “Where’s the septic field?” “The toilet is for guests (100flushes/yr) into a holding tank, pumped out yearly. I use the outhouse” “Where’s the 20A circuits in the kitchen?” “I have 1 socket for 1 appliance, everything else is gas” “Why aren’t there sockets every 10 feet?” “The whole point is to NOT have dozens of gizmos here” “Your shower doesn’t drain into an approved gray-water system” “I can wash my car/shower outside but can’t shower with a bucket indoors?” “This doesn’t meet min sqft requirements” “I built all the sqft I need, I’ll spend a half my time here hiking and fishing” Crap like that.

newman8r 6y ago

It's a more viable option if all you're looking for is a simple place to live.

mc32 6y ago

I’m not sure someone building out in the woods is actually looking to be encumbered by the trappings of living in an incorporated village? One whole reason to build out in the boondocks is to build as you like. So it’s kind of beside the point, I think. On the other hand if you want to build to some code, no one is stopping you either, so there is that.

mym1990 6y ago

Its crazy that someone would do something they probably really enjoy without getting financial benefit out of it. JUST WILD.

minikites 6y ago
Under capitalism and according to its most vigorous devotees, it is in fact crazy, because the only important thing to them in life is revenue and wealth. You can see it in the various flavors of "hustle culture" and in the ways people are personally hurt when you insult their favorite corporate brand.
- emteycz 6y ago
  I have never seen a capitalist positioned against pleasure. Why would they bother otherwise? Merely surviving can be done for nearly zero money.