I first found the site in early 2005. At the time, I had just held a discussion with my brother – should we sell this SFH rental property ? Rent was about $300 less than the carrying costs. We both decided we would be fine and that even if housing prices dipped a little, we’d be OK – we were already up $150K in two years. When we raised the rent $200, the tenants really complained and pointed out they could do better for less elsewhere. As I was looking through Craigslist, I saw one of Rich’s posts directing me to the site. After about three weeks of reading, I sent the link to my brother and we decided to sell the property. It closed late Sept. 2005. The peak of the market.

So, that’s why I’m here, but why do I staty ? I think I have the longest “member since” time of anyone other than Rich. I haven’t noticed anyone with an older username, anyway.

I’m here because I think Rich is uniquely qualified to write about housing and real estate. He writes objectively, intelligently, humorously, and always brings a perspective that is different from anyone else.

I’m here to teach people about stuff I know well – economics, data analysis, free markets, battlebots, and LAMPP programming – though the last two rarely come up.

I’m here to point out B.S. when I see it so that others reading the site to learn don’t learn the wrong thing.

I’m here because I hope to move-up or build in 4 or 5 years and this site allows me to keep my eye on the market from perspectives other than my own.

I almost left before the election because of all the political posts, but I’m here now because that has mostly gone away.

Maybe someday I’ll ask some of the other posters for a job. Currently have one and love it, but I think like to work with or for davelj, EconProf, or FLU, or write some specialty applicatinos for someone in the real estate industry.

I’m also here to write overly-wordy posts that could otherwise say the same thing with fewer words by someone less wordy – like FormerSanDiegan, for example.