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Thanks for the thoughts. I agree with your jumbo comments. We’ve got some decisions to make…

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No! Don’t Pay It!

The agent should pay the transaction coordinator, or do the paperwork him/herself. You should ask the agent to pay the $350 for you. That’s how it usually works – several in my family are agents.

Or better yet, walk on the deal and get an agent that won’t nickel and dime you.

Nancy_s is right – $350 is .1% of your purchase price. But consumers get screwed in real estate by lots of similar fees. Don’t give in! It may be a small percentage of your price, but wouldn’t you rather have a couple dinners out for that $350? Or make your car payment? Or get a hotel room in Santa Barbara?

Small but not forgotten!

[trex]

No! Don’t Pay It!

The agent should pay the transaction coordinator, or do the paperwork him/herself. You should ask the agent to pay the $350 for you. That’s how it usually works – several in my family are agents.

Or better yet, walk on the deal and get an agent that won’t nickel and dime you.

Nancy_s is right – $350 is .1% of your purchase price. But consumers get screwed in real estate by lots of similar fees. Don’t give in! It may be a small percentage of your price, but wouldn’t you rather have a couple dinners out for that $350? Or make your car payment? Or get a hotel room in Santa Barbara?

Small but not forgotten!

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Who cares if it is legal or not? The bottom line is that most of us aren’t anarchists, and like the idea of having a federal government. If it isn’t legal, it should be. Aircraft carriers are expensive.

There are plenty of no-government, tax free places in the world for anyone that hates income tax. Try moving to Somalia, or the parts of Colombia that the FARC controls.

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Who cares if it is legal or not? The bottom line is that most of us aren’t anarchists, and like the idea of having a federal government. If it isn’t legal, it should be. Aircraft carriers are expensive.

There are plenty of no-government, tax free places in the world for anyone that hates income tax. Try moving to Somalia, or the parts of Colombia that the FARC controls.

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It isn’t about which generation is more or less responsible. Both older and younger generations have their share of irresponsible behavior.

It’s really just about demographics. There is a big group of people in their prime earning years that want to buy their nice homes and have the means to do it now. That makes it harder for us gen xers to compete. I see this all the time in Mission Beach – people buying the nice condos there are older and don’t care if prices go down – they just want to enjoy it before they die.

So what’s the future for gen xers? Our time will come in a few years when the older generation is spending all their wealth on leisure, and businesses have a tough time finding high/mid level management. I already see it in my business – there is a serious shortage at the mid level, though plenty of seniors and entry-level types. That will mean higher wages and cheaper vacation style houses and so on in a few years.

Stop whining and get back to work!

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It isn’t about which generation is more or less responsible. Both older and younger generations have their share of irresponsible behavior.

It’s really just about demographics. There is a big group of people in their prime earning years that want to buy their nice homes and have the means to do it now. That makes it harder for us gen xers to compete. I see this all the time in Mission Beach – people buying the nice condos there are older and don’t care if prices go down – they just want to enjoy it before they die.

So what’s the future for gen xers? Our time will come in a few years when the older generation is spending all their wealth on leisure, and businesses have a tough time finding high/mid level management. I already see it in my business – there is a serious shortage at the mid level, though plenty of seniors and entry-level types. That will mean higher wages and cheaper vacation style houses and so on in a few years.

Stop whining and get back to work!

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I’d vote for her.

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I’d vote for her.

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Be straight with him. Tell him he’s getting low balled, but if he really wants to let it go that cheap, you’ll give him $310k. Or, if you really think it’s a good deal or really care about the guy, make him an offer that won’t expire for two weeks or so. He can try to get the great big offer, when he doesn’t he’ll appreciate that you (a) gave him that chance and (b) paid a little more than the bottom feeder.

I think friends are worth alot more than money, and mixing the two always carries risk.

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Be straight with him. Tell him he’s getting low balled, but if he really wants to let it go that cheap, you’ll give him $310k. Or, if you really think it’s a good deal or really care about the guy, make him an offer that won’t expire for two weeks or so. He can try to get the great big offer, when he doesn’t he’ll appreciate that you (a) gave him that chance and (b) paid a little more than the bottom feeder.

I think friends are worth alot more than money, and mixing the two always carries risk.

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Here’s how:

Imagine there are two neighborhoods, POOR and RICH. The Median in Poor in 2006 is 100k. The Median in Rich is 200k. In 2006, there are five sales, 4 in Poor, and 1 in Rich:

100k Poor
100k Poor
100k Poor
100k Poor

200k Rich

So the median is 100k.

In 2007, prices decline in both markets by 20%. Poor people stop buying, rich retirees jump in:

80k Poor
160k Rich
160k Rich
160k Rich
160k Rich

So the new median is 160k, up 60% from the previous year, although prices overall declined 20%.

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Here’s how:

Imagine there are two neighborhoods, POOR and RICH. The Median in Poor in 2006 is 100k. The Median in Rich is 200k. In 2006, there are five sales, 4 in Poor, and 1 in Rich:

100k Poor
100k Poor
100k Poor
100k Poor

200k Rich

So the median is 100k.

In 2007, prices decline in both markets by 20%. Poor people stop buying, rich retirees jump in:

80k Poor
160k Rich
160k Rich
160k Rich
160k Rich

So the new median is 160k, up 60% from the previous year, although prices overall declined 20%.

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Isn’t Blackhorse on leased land? Coming due in 25 years or so? Can anyone confirm?

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How about an online auction?

Let’s see, I’d be willing to pay $40k for that house, to sell for scrap. Anyone willing to go lower?

[Author]

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