ku # 565/66 ~ singing in the rain
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 08:34AM 
Grass tuffs in Spring rain • click to embiggenThere were several comments on yesterday's entry about my neighbor's $50K house which was in the picture. Mike even wanted to know if it was insulated - it is.
While I don't think that Mike is interested in buying the house - it's not for sale, I do think he was a bit surprised at the $50K price tag that it sold for about a year ago. The common (mis)perception is that a house of that size and apparent condition should command a much higher figure unless it is a "basket case". The house in question was not a basket case. In truth, it was not pristine either. But the family that purchased it moved right in and there has been a rather constant clamor of saw, hammer, and nails ever since.
That said, a pristine piece of real estate in our little village is most likely to be priced in the $90-120K range. Prices here have remained stable - we did not experience a bubble so there has not been a crash. La, la, how the life goes on.
But, while we're on the subject of houses and cars and just "letting the market work", photographer Kevin Bauman gives us a very disheartening look at the reality of the excesses and failures of the free market run amok in Detroit, Michigan.
I am deeply ashamed of and very angry at the country I live in which fosters the "market forces" that allow this to happen - in fact, that both encourages and worships it.
Reader Comments (2)
We need a bit less worship at the alter of unbridled capitalism, less confusion between capitalism and democracy, and a whole lot more socialism. For example: single payer health care for everyone in the country. And quality education for everyone up to graduate school.
Expensive? Yes. But as teachers are fond of saying it is far less expensive than the alternative. We are paying very dearly now for not providing these. We are running out of room and money for prisons, among many other manifestations.
Has anyone considered the cumulative effect of advertising on those who watch television regularly as regards the general health of society? Someone besides the advertisers that is.
Our whole system is pretty F**ked up if you ask me. Or even if you didn't.
Coming from California the idea of a beautiful house with good bones for $120k sounds like an opium induced dream!
Regarding your last comment, I heard one social commentator quote that as a culture Americans love to work hard, make money and spend money. And they are very tax averse. I don't think we are going to change this, not for a long time if at all.
My motto is, everything in moderation. We are now being reminded of just how smart that philosophy is.