Price of Housing

[bobm]

More people are moving to Portland, Ore. than there are houses for them. Rents are skyrocketing while house prices are rapidly climbing. The Oregon State Senate just passed a bill to increase the Portland Metro. area minimum wage to $14.25 from $ 9.45 and is now in the House. Small businesses are bitterly opposed to this move and many are saying that it will put them out of business. On the TV news they had a report where a couple put in an offer on a mid range house in Portland, Ore. that came onto the market that day . So, Offers and counter offers started to fly on the house that the couple wanted to buy. They quickly put in a price war offer of $20,000 over asking price and immediately there were 18 offers above their offer. This couple dropped out of that price war . Just think of the inflationary spiral that is poised to start as the union workers will start to demand a wage hike to counter the minimum wage hike and resulting increase in price of goods and sevices, rents and house prices.

 

[seedcorn]

Here housing can vary for a decent house from $60,000 to $200,000 depending upon what town you want to live in. No one is entitled to live in a certain area. Can't afford an area, move. I did.

 

[baymule]

Stupid high prices are just that, stupid.

 

[so lucky]

When an area suddenly becomes THE place to live, there are some people that are caught there, can't even afford to move. Even if they own their house, they can't afford to live there. Groceries, transportation, services all go up. Tough situation to be in.

 

[Nyboy]

Certain towns in Westchester Like Rye and Bronxville, starter house go for a million. You don't want to know the taxes

 

[seedcorn]

When an area suddenly becomes THE place to live, there are some people that are caught there, can't even afford to move. Even if they own their house, they can't afford to live there. Groceries, transportation, services all go up. Tough situation to be in.

You never own your house-as long as government exists-you just rent. Moving is scary but if your house is in an expensive part of the country, you can sell out and move. There are jobs everywhere. My Dad moved to different area-yes it meant leaving family-as did I. There are good people every where. Plus kind of fun getting to know area and differences. As I age, I will move again so kids don't have to worry about senile 'OL man when I get there. They think it at times but I'm just training them.

 

[Beekissed]

Move to WV...it's never THE place to live. Our mountains keep out most of the yuppies, then the unique, ingrown culture, the weather, the lack of culture, poor wages and bad roads drive the rest of them back home to their original state. It's the perfect storm.

 

[digitS']

My son has lived much of his adult life in Portland. He moved there right after high school. For 7 years, he lived in Seattle and very much, wanted to get back to Portland. He has had a year or two in several other cities: Minneapolis, Washington DC, even lived in a very small town in Pennsylvania for about a year . The story has always been the same with him - wanting to get back to Portland.

Allow environment, amenities, and lifestyle to erode to some level from sheer population pressure? Portland community is making decisions not to by any number of actions. Might I one day be standing at the city border with my nose pressed against the glass looking jealously into the city? I can't imagine it ... but people want to be where people want to be.

I know that it is tough to live in a neighborhood where developers have built "more livable" neighborhoods nearby and there is increasing property values. Standing still is not likely. The alternative of sliding backwards into a more depressed, blighted environment has no appeal.

Holding on to what we've got is difficult but it often reflects either ill-health or a lack of imagination. Life is at least partly what we make of it.

I watched some of a documentary on John Nance Garner, yesterday. That led me to read a little about his political enemy, Andrew Mellon. Now there was a rich guy who powered his way into politics! You had to wonder ...

Anyway, people with money always end up with power. It may not be quite as much as what they wanted and thought they deserved but it takes thousands of ordinary mortals to set a different course if they are opposed. Their manipulation is sometimes outrageous! ... ("Cox's Army") If the people of wealth fail, retirement looks painless from this side of the fence.

Steve

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

A couple of weeks ago, when we drove up to Vancouver to visit the newly replanted kids (from little rock) we looked at Lake Oswego and some other areas. We can't afford any of them now. We looked at Ridgefield, north of Van. Prices are climbing there!

Its back to looking in Grants Pass and along the Applegate, we decided.

 

[ducks4you]

More people are moving to Portland, Ore. than there are houses for them. Rents are skyrocketing while house prices are rapidly climbing. The Oregon State Senate just passed a bill to increase the Portland Metro. area minimum wage to $14.25 from $ 9.45 and is now in the House. Small businesses are bitterly opposed to this move and many are saying that it will put them out of business.

I'm sorry to read this, Bob. Government dictating wages is the BIGGEST job killer, so your boom will become a bust, just like in Seattle, where the $15.00/hour pay has closed Down businesses.