And They Said it Wouldn't Happen

[Smit]

the thing about nuance, it always seems to be a "Yes for me but none for thee" kind of thing. Democrats and Republicans both never seem to see the nuance in each other's argument. they usually just condense down a person's reasoning to some simple caricature of what was said. It's a pretty good indication that your point has hit home when someone, rather than countering the argument with a better one, they just condense it down to something like "Horsey Story" and moves on.

Bwahahahahaha!

Thanks for that Beej, that was lough out loud funny. A nice way to start the day.

Hey, your horsey stories probably work really well on Republicans so keep up the good work.

[BrianP.]

https://www.talent.com/tax-calculator?salary=120000&from=year&region=Massachusetts

Why do people never talk about the government and how much they harm the middle class? In the above example a couple earning $120k a year will pay $35,020 dollars in payroll taxes. In addition to that property taxes in my state using my taxes as an example will wack another $10k off your gross income. Sales tax on everything except food (not prepared meals that's 7 percent) and clothes (not really nice stuff there's a luxury tax on those). Excise tax every year on registered vehicles even though you paid sales tax when you bought it. Fees (another name for tax) on a multitude of things.

After all that then you can try and save for retirement or a vacation or whatever else you may need or want.

But yeah because Bezos or Musk is a billionaire is why people struggle. At least they created a product or service. Don't like they are that rich don't buy their product or use their service.

[BrianP.]

Haha, yeah, I do wish I could figure out how to "message" a Republican so they'd understand simple nuance. That would probably change the world. 

How about honesty? That would be different.

[Smit]

How about honesty? That would be different.

I'm not sure any country in the world has that. That's not going to get you reelected.

It's a nice thought though.

[neurosis]

It can be done, but it takes sacrifice and hard work.

You have to make around $120k per year to afford a home in this area. There aren't enough of those jobs to go around. The median income is around $60,000 while the median housing price is $760,000

You'll have to explain to the people who are priced out how with just a little hard work and sacrifice, they can make it work.   

The average median home buyer in the 80's was around 31 years old. It's something like 47 now. 

[rdshear]

It can be done, but it takes sacrifice and hard work.

Probably has a bit to do with location as well.  I know there was a house in my mom's town in Tennessee as a fixer upper for under 40K on 1/2 acre lot.  It would have been a great starter home for a single income family.  But in my neighborhood you'd be lucky to get a house under $250K  I bit more difficult for single income expecially with little down.  Some areas are even worse.  I could see how it makes it hard for people in those areas to see how it can be done.

[Del.]

You have to make around $120k per year to afford a home in this area. There aren't enough of those jobs to go around. The median income is around $60,000 while the median housing price is $760,000

You'll have to explain to the people who are priced out how with just a little hard work and sacrifice, they can make it work.   

The average median home buyer in the 80's was around 31 years old. It's something like 47 now. 

That's because Democrats run the state and coast. It's not hard to figure it out.

[YoDoug]

The entire housing market is has been screwed up by capitalist greed. From realtors thinking they should make thousands or tens of thousands of dollars for showing you a couple of houses to unrealistic flippers on TV to the big corps buying up entire markets to drive up the prices. Add crazy low interest rates for a long time along with minimum down payments and you enable bubbles to happen. If you look at historical trends we are in a massive bubble right now and it is going to pop. When it does prices will return to pre-pandemic values and if history holds true it will take nearly a decade to get back the values they were at last year.

The one that really gets me is the TV flipper shows. They look at a kitchen and say, $20k, then a bathroom, $5k, etc. If you have done any re-modelling you know their estimates are way off.

The other thing that pisses me off is the cheap flippers that just paint/floor/etc over nasty old moldy floors/walls/etc. They don't fix underlying issues. Their band aid fix will look good for a limited time and then the new homeowner is going to be the one to actually have to fix it correctly. I'm not one for gov regulations and over use of permitting, but the system as it is now rewards cheap and immoral builders and flippers. 

[YoDoug]

Probably has a bit to do with location as well.  I know there was a house in my mom's town in Tennessee as a fixer upper for under 40K on 1/2 acre lot.  It would have been a great starter home for a single income family.  But in my neighborhood you'd be lucky to get a house under $250K  I bit more difficult for single income expecially with little down.  Some areas are even worse.  I could see how it makes it hard for people in those areas to see how it can be done.

My wife's parents live in TN and my wife has been watching prices for a few years wanting to buy a fixer upper. TN is completely overpriced right now. It is one of the most unaffordable states right now. Video below has some great data on the current TN market.

[rdshear]

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13500-Paris-St-Huntingdon-TN-38344/40941661_zpid/

This is the house I was talking about.  There are several affordable houses in her area.  With an aluminum foil company in town single income homes are do-able there.  Now Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga areas are likely a different story.

[Del.]

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13500-Paris-St-Huntingdon-TN-38344/40941661_zpid/

This is the house I was talking about.  There are several affordable houses in her area.  With an aluminum foil company in town single income homes are do-able there.  Now Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga areas are likely a different story.

The cities you mention are more than likely Democratic controlled. It's not hard to figure out.

[neurosis]

That's because Democrats run the state and coast. It's not hard to figure it out.

That would be a tough sell in Boise Idaho? Sure, the median housing price is only $500,000, but the median income is only $35,000.  Idaho is about as red as it gets and they have the same problem.

It takes about 10 minutes of research to find that this is an issue across the US, and sure, it's worse in bigger Cities but this isn't limited to Democrat run States or areas.

[Del.]

That would be a tough sell in Boise Idaho? Sure, the median housing price is only $500,000, but the median income is only $35,000.  Idaho is about as red as it gets and they have the same problem.

It takes about 10 minutes of research to find that this is an issue across the US, and sure, it's worse in bigger Cities but this isn't limited to Democrat run States or areas.

Democrats are running to those Red states. Enough to fuck them up too.

[JParis]

Over the past couple of years I gave up the notion of buying a small home before I retired...it simply does not make any sort of financial sense....especially not as I consider I am in my last 10 working years.

It just ain't happening....

[neurosis]

Democrats are running to those Red states. Enough to fuck them up too.

Well apparently they're fucking up the entire country.