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But there are plenty very cheap areas to buy houses or rent. Sure, many people don't want to live there, that's why it's cheap today. But it is a possibility no

But there are plenty very cheap areas to buy houses or rent. Sure, many people don't want to live there, that's why it's cheap today. But it is a possibility nonetheless, one that is better than collapsing society. I'm always honestly confused why today it is seen as impossible to move to a cheap area? People have been doing this for generations (centuries?). It's never the most fun solution, but it is a solution. Jobs. Most people don't have the luxury of working fully remotely. Areas with cheap housing are overwhelmingly geographically isolated and economically depressed, which is why the housing is cheap - local residents simply can't afford to bid up the price of housing. A lot of people would rather struggle to make rent than raise their kids in a community with high crime, bad schools, poor healthcare, limited prospects and a general atmosphere of despair.

Glawen 4y ago
I don't know the US situation, but in my city in Europe, there is a factor 2 to 3 for flats in fashionable location compared to my location. I have the same traveling distance to the city center, but my location has less public transport options. Schools are ok, it's even better than in the fashionable district, and I have less criminality. I've spoken to a few colleagues who just arrived in the city from another region, and they all went into the fashionable district without considering any other locations, because someone from that district told them any other district is bad. The fact is that if you bought your flat in this fashionable district, it doubled in value over 7 years, whereas in my district, prices went up 50% at most. For me it is the same as the stock market, people follow the trend and smart folk get out before it goes downhill.
jjav 4y ago
> Jobs. Most people don't have the luxury of working fully remotely. Then you commute. Yes, sacrifices are required but it's not the end of the world (or collapse of society, as GP put it). When I moved to a cheaper place over 20 years ago working remotely wasn't much of a thing so I had to drive 60-90 minutes (occasionally 2 hours). It wasn't great but it was a pragmatic solution that allowed me to have a nice place to live and leftover money to save. > A lot of people would rather struggle to make rent than raise their kids in a community with high crime, bad schools, poor healthcare, limited prospects and a general atmosphere of despair. There is a very wide gray area of reasonable places with reasonable prices between the extremes of San Franciso/Manhattan vs. economically depressed areas with "a general atmosphere of despair".
cudgy 4y ago
What good is a job, if it doesn’t cover your expenses, doesn’t allow you to save any money, is located in an area where there is no affordable housing, and restricts you from doing normal, societal things like having children.

Glawen 4y ago

I don't know the US situation, but in my city in Europe, there is a factor 2 to 3 for flats in fashionable location compared to my location. I have the same traveling distance to the city center, but my location has less public transport options. Schools are ok, it's even better than in the fashionable district, and I have less criminality. I've spoken to a few colleagues who just arrived in the city from another region, and they all went into the fashionable district without considering any other locations, because someone from that district told them any other district is bad. The fact is that if you bought your flat in this fashionable district, it doubled in value over 7 years, whereas in my district, prices went up 50% at most. For me it is the same as the stock market, people follow the trend and smart folk get out before it goes downhill.

jjav 4y ago

> Jobs. Most people don't have the luxury of working fully remotely. Then you commute. Yes, sacrifices are required but it's not the end of the world (or collapse of society, as GP put it). When I moved to a cheaper place over 20 years ago working remotely wasn't much of a thing so I had to drive 60-90 minutes (occasionally 2 hours). It wasn't great but it was a pragmatic solution that allowed me to have a nice place to live and leftover money to save. > A lot of people would rather struggle to make rent than raise their kids in a community with high crime, bad schools, poor healthcare, limited prospects and a general atmosphere of despair. There is a very wide gray area of reasonable places with reasonable prices between the extremes of San Franciso/Manhattan vs. economically depressed areas with "a general atmosphere of despair".

cudgy 4y ago

What good is a job, if it doesn’t cover your expenses, doesn’t allow you to save any money, is located in an area where there is no affordable housing, and restricts you from doing normal, societal things like having children.