The two-year housing decline is worsening

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Buying is not always better, especially if you don't plan to be in one place for a long time. After paying mostly interest for 5 years, plus commissions and fees involved in buying and selling along with getting a mortgage, plus insurance and maintenance. Your looking at spending more for a house.

Buying somewhere you plan to stay short-term is great if the market is going up - my husband and I made 40% return on our London home we lived in for 3 years, but not when you're thinking short-term and the market has either plateaued (as was the case where I live now in 2005) or is going down.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Affordable housing attracts people who can't get in to nice communities on the weight of their own merit. It's nothing more than a means of diluting the hard work of hard working people who build and create a nice & desirable community.

If the ghetto fabulous homeboys of Plainfield wanna move to Westfield, let them work their way up like everyone else.

That leads to some form of segregation.

Does it?

Most "nice" neighborhoods in this area are very racially diverse. The ghettos are just as diverse as well.

It's got nothing to do with color anymore. It's got to do with class.

[almaty 19]

I dunno about those of you saying that owning a home is a bad idea--maybe its not such a great investment--but then is the Stock Market any better? Lets not forget about the tax savings--I really appreciate the tax write-off for my home mortgage. Also the feeling of this dwelling being mine! I can paint it I can put holes in the walls, I can do pretty much anything to it within reason without violating a rental aggreement. Also think of the equity you build and how you can use that equity to get a line of credit that is a tax deduction in order to buy a new car, go on a vacation, pay a debt, or educational expenses.

I rented for 5 years--I have now owned a house for 4 and a half years--sure I am paying about 400 dollars more for my house than I was paying in Rent. And I am responsible for the maintenance and upkeep--however, in a few years if I decide to move I might at least break even, and alternatively I could decide to continue owing my home and rent it to someone else.

But buying a home is not for everyone--if you do not like to crawl on the roof, go into the basement, climb up in the attic, know nothing about anything mechanical or home improvement--or hate to mow the lawn--then probably owning a home is not a good idea for you.

As far as using real estate to make home--that is not for a person just buying a family home--the real investment opportunity is to get a lot of cash and buyout some of the overbuilt areas where home builders and contractors are bankrupt or on the verge and desperate--buy the lot, flip them and sell them or rent them to others.

hola hermano artie..i agree..you will be busy on the week-ends and learn home maintenance once you own a home...or go broke paying for professionals

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sorry Lisa, you're wrong...

A Real-World Example

The absolute arrogance to post a 'real-world' example when I deal with this every day @ work

Let's put it this way....are landlords in business to be in the hole each month? Methinks not

Obviously one cannot generalize and cover every location in the country. Obviously some areas are different. I've already said that. Scroll back

Tim Ellis runs a blog site called the Seattle Bubble. You're welcome to write to him:

Homebuying Platitudes vs. Reality

http://seattlebubble.com/blog/

[Fandango 1,439]

Sorry Lisa, you're wrong...

A Real-World Example

The absolute arrogance to post a 'real-world' example when I deal with this every day @ work

Let's put it this way....are landlords in business to be in the hole each month? Methinks not

Obviously one cannot generalize and cover every location in the country. Obviously some areas are different. I've already said that. Scroll back

Tim Ellis runs a blog site called the Seattle Bubble. You're welcome to write to him:

Homebuying Platitudes vs. Reality

http://seattlebubble.com/blog/

You're the one who posted it in reply to me. I see enough 'real world examples' in the real world, thx.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sorry Lisa, you're wrong...

A Real-World Example

The absolute arrogance to post a 'real-world' example when I deal with this every day @ work

Let's put it this way....are landlords in business to be in the hole each month? Methinks not

Obviously one cannot generalize and cover every location in the country. Obviously some areas are different. I've already said that. Scroll back

Tim Ellis runs a blog site called the Seattle Bubble. You're welcome to write to him:

Homebuying Platitudes vs. Reality

http://seattlebubble.com/blog/

You're the one who posted it in reply to me. I see enough 'real world examples' in the real world, thx.

You're saying I should take your word for it because you have a real estate license, but not his?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Steven,

Lisa is speaking generalities and you're speaking in exceptions. You're both right but neither of you is always right.

[Fandango 1,439]

You're saying I should take your word for it because you have a real estate license, but not his?

Erm, hookedonphonics.com Stevo.

I said you don't need to give *me* a 'real-world example' as I see them everyday in the 'real world'

kthxbye.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You're saying I should take your word for it because you have a real estate license, but not his?

Erm, hookedonphonics.com Stevo.

I said you don't need to give *me* a 'real-world example' as I see them everyday in the 'real world'

kthxbye.

Me not give to you...me give to everybody to take for what it's worth. Me just added, 'You're wrong, Lisa' part to pepper it up a bit.

[Fandango 1,439]

You're saying I should take your word for it because you have a real estate license, but not his?

Erm, hookedonphonics.com Stevo.

I said you don't need to give *me* a 'real-world example' as I see them everyday in the 'real world'

kthxbye.

Me not give to you...me give to everybody to take for what it's worth. Me just added, 'You're wrong, Lisa' part to pepper it up a bit.

Well, perhaps next time you should clarify so that it doesn't appear that you're addressing me!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You're saying I should take your word for it because you have a real estate license, but not his?

Erm, hookedonphonics.com Stevo.

I said you don't need to give *me* a 'real-world example' as I see them everyday in the 'real world'

kthxbye.

Me not give to you...me give to everybody to take for what it's worth. Me just added, 'You're wrong, Lisa' part to pepper it up a bit.

Well, perhaps next time you should clarify so that it doesn't appear that you're addressing me!

You were still wrong.

[Fandango 1,439]

You were still wrong.

Oh my God, what is your deal? I think you just love bickering!

Before you graced us with your .02, I already said there are areas where renting makes better sense.

You really do need to read more comprehensively! I'm starting to worry!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You were still wrong.

Oh my God, what is your deal? I think you just love bickering!

Before you graced us with your .02, I already said there are areas where renting makes better sense.

You really do need to read more comprehensively! I'm starting to worry!

The housing market is a scam.

[Ban Hammer 13,365]

you two get a room

[one...two...tree 2,762]

you two get a room

If you knew that pushing a button would cause someone to jump out of their seat, would ya still do it?