[Darrell Young]

Dear Piggington Readers,

YOU ALL make good points; a few I find difficult to resolve (with data/proofs/information/etc.).

YOU ALL have likewise completely missed my original and basically only point. That being; this house, however attractive/acceptable/garish you may find it, doesn’t represent the typical house here in Amarillo. In fact, it represents basically a brand new, custom (built special with tons of upgrades) home.

Our median house price here is $111,000. We have a growing economy, albeit not high-tech, but nonetheless signficant, which grew 14% last year. I’ve offered State published articles on my website (read them if you choose) that will answer nearly all the questions posted here.

Nearly EVERY family I meet here in Amarillo that hails from the LA Basin or Sacramento or Stockton or the last one from Redlands has told me they cannot continue to live in SoCal because it has become too expensive in too many ways. I don’t live there, but they did. THEY are telling ME this. My experience with these families consists of 7 different family units. Once family, hispanic in culture, told me the racism was too difficult to cope with. They lived in Stockton. They wanted out and they are now happy. They lived in a 1300 square foot box but sold it for over $290,000. They bought a nice, 4/2/2 built in 1995 for $166,000 and are happy as clams because by trading their equity for a paid off home, they can afford to work a little less and still have money for their kids to attend Amarillo College (best community college in the State of Texas).

I came to this site thinking I would meet individuals who were looking for something else. What I found were bitter, angry, testy, aggressive people who seemingly have nothing better to do with their simmering thoughts than to unleash them on an “outsider” and enjoy the hell out of the heckling and cutsie commentary.

Many of you wonder “how dare I”. The last time I checked, Americans can pretty much say what they want. I’ve tried to answer your questions, but too many of your questions are poised at the comparison of SoCal to West Texas. Sure, there’s a helluva difference – but guess what CA? I’m not whining about bubbles and skyrocketing costs of living or, dare I say it; “Proposition 13”. My air doesn’t stink. I can drive as fast as I want because it’ll be a few miles before I hit lots of traffic. My rush hour is more like 5 minutes. I can clip along through the center of Amarillo on I-40 at nearly 70 mph on two lanes at 5:00 pm every day and be home in just under 6 minutes. My neighbors don’t look at me sideways and I don’t represent anything scary in my community.

Commerce, well, sure, we have 5 Walmarts for our little town of 188,000. If we don’t have it here, its because we didn’t need it. The next biggest town is Lubbock, two hours away and beyond that, its either Oklahoma City or Dallas.

Again, EVERYONE of you missed my point. If you have equity and are retiring or want to transfer that equity into outright ownership, consider us. Thats all, just consider us. There are roughly 260 million Americans in this country, and roughly 18 million of them live in California. But to listen to the media hype and politics, etc, you’d think you guys invented most of what happens in peoples lives. From the stories I’ve been told from those who have escaped CA, I’d more say its a little freaky and somewhat surreal to live there. I bet most of you are simply just indoctrinated into how things are there and its just what you know.

I’ve encourage anyone to contact me, pro or con on my posts. Instead, you’ve done the chicken-shit thing and responded negatively with all sorts of anonymous forum blasts/flame storms using some simple moniker like Josh or RE or slimyguy or whatever.

I’m done posting here. My message has fallen on deaf ears. I should have known. I will sell 21 Sandhills, I will collect the commission – and yes, you’ll still be sitting around, wringing your hands, seething about something and wondering where your equity went and whether or not you’ll fall into the Pacific when the big one hits.

AMF’s

[Darrell Young]

Of course, you realize I showed you a complete custom home. Custom dude. I’m talking a $30,000 roof. Slate floors, hand scraped, oak flooring in nearly every room. A $3000 gas grill on the back porch. The differences in these two properties are so extreme, it makes your argument seem even sillier. You’ve compared a 2006 Chevy Impalla SS to a 2006 BMW 760i.

Life is good in Amarillo,

Darrell R. Young
http://www.amarealtor.us
Amarillo, Texas
(806) 236-4102

[Darrell Young]

The answers to many of your questions aren’t just sitting on the edge of my tongue. You’ll have to work a little to find out for yourself. Check out http://www.living-in-amarillo.info and read the articles yourself. Sadly, there aren’t any true indicators or reports for “rush hour” or “beautiful sunsets” or “great neighbors”, but I’m way happy here and never felt at home in Colorado Springs or Denver, Colorado for 18 years previous.

No hard feelings either.

Life is good in Amarillo,

Darrell R. Young
http://www.amarealtor.us
Amarillo, Texas
(806) 236-4102

[Darrell Young]

The business owners I know are living and doing quite well. If your way of life depends on “median” living; well, your not really up to speed with the points of my posts. A better indicator of quality of living can be found in property growth values. I’ll recommend some improved reading for you:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/nar_3q05/#table

Life is good in Amarillo,

Darrell R. Young
http://www.amarealtor.us
Amarillo, Texas
(806) 236-4102

[Darrell Young]

Texas no State income tax. Sure, our property taxes are higher, but we just passed landmark legistlation to move a signficant portion of the tax burden to business in the form of excise taxes.

Taxes in Amarillo are about the same as in other places in Texas.

There is no HOA.

There are high tech jobs, but mostly in the technical trades. Draftsmen/Architects can work anywhere with a web connection.

As to ownership, as I’ve tediously mentioned in previous responses, this situation is for those who have the equity. If you have nothing but a huge mortgage, with no equity, then you’re wasting time typing. If none of this information can be applied in your life, pass it over. But please, leave off the flames. That’s not what I intended by posting here. I read the entire forum before I posted and I’ve read nearly nothing but negative, gloomy, posts about how hard the real estate economy is. How many agents have lost their jobs and how prices have begun falling.

I’m here with a remedy for some, but not all. If I can be of further assistance in showing you other homes, priced appropriatly in the $95-$110 per square foot (2005 and newer) homes, 3000-4000 square feet, just give me a call or email me.

Life is good in Amarillo,

Darrell R. Young
http://www.amarealtor.us
Amarillo, Texas
(806) 236-4102

[Darrell Young]

Energy efficiency? I remember the screaming two years ago about California energy costs. Texas never said a word. The pictures of the dirt are the “undeveloped” part of this otherwise, top of the line neighborhood. This neighborhood is “brand new” as in 2 years. Sure, we have a little construction sand in the streets.

Once again, I realize I’m here to peddle a house, but you need to realize WHY I’m posting here. Its because your INFLATED California economy just might be a godsend to you IF you capitalize on your equity now. In other words, sell your dang houses and move the equity into another property that is COMPLETELY PAID OFF.

I’ve lived in many States including California. Pound for pound, I wouldn’t trade the love and sincereity of the people of Texas and the Panhandle for nothing. We have zero rush hours, weather that changes completely in 24 hours, tons of sunshine, a (steadily) growing economy, excellent high tech industry (Bell Helicopter/Marine 1 (Presidents choppers are built here) as well as 1/3 of all the Beef industry in the entire United States. As I’ve said before, life is good in Amarillo.

Thanks for your post/response. I wish I could have seen a litte more careful or well thought out response rather than your cute collage of misunderstood photos and snide commentary. My posts are all about quality of life sir. I’d never trade you mine for yours – been there, done that.

Life is good in Amarillo,

Darrell R. Young
http://www.amarealtor.us
Amarillo, Texas
(806) 236-4102

[Darrell Young]

First, the pictures you collected are of the new development area of La Paloma. Second, please understand, Amarillo HAS NO BUBBLE. Our cost of living, income levels and disposable income have been rising “steadily” for years now. There is no “wild speculative” investment like what’s occurred in San Diego and elsewhere in the coastal cities of California. Amarillo, Texas grew by a steady 14% last year (per CNN MONEY).

The point of my post is truly a marketing effort, however, your missing out on the point. Your market is odd and way off to the rest of the US. I’m suggesting you capitalize on your temporary good forture now but cashing out and taking your money to a lesser economy where you can “own” something with the equity in your California house.

You’ve complete knocked my town and this top of the line neighborhood because you’d rather live in a box for $350,000 hoping someday you can get that equity out. I’m merely pointing out a solution to a life long problem (what to do before I lose everything “my equity”).

Did you read the captions on the photos? If so, you understood what it was I was showing you.

Again, thank you for your response, I did ask for it. What I did ask for was condescension from someone who lives in constant traffic, bad air, millions of gallons of rainfall, and overall, a hectic way of life. Sure, you’ve got an ocean to “swim” in but its an all day event getting there.

Life is good in Amarillo,

Darrell R. Young
http://www.amarealtor.us
Amarillo, Texas
(806) 236-4102

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