Reply #48: Shoddy '70s

[gadfly156]

We're in a shoddy 1974 townhouse purchased in '00 for $129k. It's not a bad area for a TH development -- bigger yards, well set near a creek and a line of trees, etc. -- but living here is almost as bad as living in apartments what with all the noise, huge cadres of kids 9-14 running amok, etc. Nevertheless, prices have skyrocketed like crazy.

I thought it was ridiculous when these things started going for $269k about 6 months ago? Forget about it. They are now going for $305-315k. And the average time on the market? 7-11 days. Yup. Who the frack wants these places so bad to pay so much for them? Answer: everyone who can't afford the new townhouses going for $500k & up, or can't afford even the cute little '40s brick bungalows going for about the same.

I remember driving in certain parts of the area when I was growing up and seeing what I considered to be the "poor people's homes" cuz they were so small, semi-shabby, and covered in siding. Today I couldn't touch one of those homes price-wise.

I'm in Maryland, close to DC. Don't move here. Don't move to northern Virginia which is even worse. YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT.

I can't wait to get the hell out of this area and go someplace I can own a REAL home. And no, it's not an "American dream/keep up with the Joneses" thing. I'm tired of having everyone else's freaking noise in my living room, is all.