Poll | 09/09/2008 12:00 am

Are real estate prices in your area going down, leveling off or surprisingly rising?

Read more about: Economy, Meltdown, Money, Real Estate

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Kerm, my friends may’ve been BS’ing me, then, on how much they fork over per month. It wouldn’t be the first time (maybe the second).

By James the Game on 09/12/2008 1:44 pm

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Some people have rent control, but they would have to have been living in the same place a long time (and putting up with a lot of harassment) to have such low bills. Like I said, I want out. After a certain age, it just isn’t worth the hassle of living here. It was exciting when I was younger (and much skinnier, oy, the price of groceries!) and lived from paycheck to paycheck. I’m not ancient by any means, but I like to have security, like anyone else. I grew up Upstate, with clean air and in a time when we didn’t even lock our doors. I’ve been robbed here so many times I’ve lost count and it has made me cynical. The main advantage to living here is no need for a car. Mass transit has really improved over the time I’ve lived here and my apartment is literally minutes from midtown Manhattan, where I work. I feel safe taking the train at 1AM because it is so crowded. You can get anything here, any time, 24/7—but that is no reason to stay someplace where I am miserable. Sorry for venting. I am in my “get ready for work” mode and it makes me unhappy, especially on Friday. James, have a nice weekend.

By kermie b on 09/12/2008 2:43 pm

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Yeah, I was only there once: late June/early July 2002. A friend and his wife live in Queens, and I had driven with a buddy to Cooperstown, NY, to check out the National Baseball Hall of Fame (incredible!). Anyway, we were playing golf there when an old newspaper chum, Roger Hitts, phoned and invited us out. He gave live cell-phone directions as we got in the general area of his home. It appeared to be a nice, tiny apartment, and I believe he said at the time it was just under $1,000 a month. I remember thinking, “Wow, for a tiny hole in the wall like this?” Wherever it was, Kerm, it wasn’t too far from Yankee Stadium, because from his house onto the freeway that passes by the stadium didn’t seem like more than 20 minutes or so.

By James the Game on 09/12/2008 2:53 pm

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Okay, that is wayyyyyy out there in Queens, so the location is less desirable and it does cost less. Funny you should mention Cooperstown—one of my sisters lives there. Great big house, wrap-around porch, four bedrooms, two baths, acres of land and her monthly mortgage is less than $1,000. My mouth fell open when she first told me that. You cannot get a studio for that here. Location, location and I forget the last thing again. Hmm.

By kermie b on 09/13/2008 12:08 am

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Medium-sized and small “modest” homes are still selling and prices have levelled off. It’s the big Macmansions that nobody’s buying these days. It used to be that the rich were immune to recessions that affected us little guys but it seems as if too many people were pretending or deluding themselves that they could afford to live the high life and they are having trouble getting rid of the outsize homes that they bought but can’t afford to keep. Of course, the very rich (the inhabitants of “Richistan”) are unaffected by the financial events that touch the rest of us.

By Sam Mirando on 09/09/2008 4:40 am

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I don’t have the numbers or statistics (or the time to look them up this morning) to back up this right now but when I was house hunting seven months ago, the cost of the housing was affordable but the taxes made purchasing unrealistic. Lately as I drive around town I see the “PRICE REDUCED” tags attached to the realtor signs but perhaps these houses were greatly overpriced in the beginning “just in case” they could get top dollar? I’m renting now, at least until I finish college. That’s three years away and we know how much can change.

By W G on 09/09/2008 4:57 am

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In my neck of the woods, the housing prices are remaining stable, which is great news for those wishing to sell in the next little while.

By Laurie Deer on 09/09/2008 6:29 am

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In my area, just west of Houston, used home prices for older homes have decreased somewhat. However, our area is growing in leaps and bounds. Hundreds of new homes are being built, to the point where the school districts are struggling to keep up with the growth. I just heard that a major company is opening new offices here and transferring hundreds of families from the west coast. A brand new 3,000sf home can be purchased here for $275,000+, depending on the neighborhood you buy into. For those of us who own older homes in older neighborhoods, it’s harder to sell your house because there are so many new ones out there to choose from.

By Nanny hasSeven on 09/09/2008 8:47 am

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We have had our house on the west side of Houston up for sale for about 2 months, had a contract but the woman backed out. See pretty much the same as you say. Ours is a patio 2 bedroom so it is for a certain type of buyer, we are not rushing to sell so we are not going to go for lowering prices by too much. My daugher works for large realtor here and says in general Houston has strong base.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 09/09/2008 10:43 am

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In my area (Oslo), the prices are rising from an already high price, and are expected to keep rising…

By Ine Drage on 09/09/2008 9:11 am

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Ah, you’re in Norway? Cool!

By James the Game on 09/13/2008 1:56 am

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I am :) Figured this site needed people from all over the world:) I find it really fascinating, and I’m definitely learning a lot about cultural differences and your political system!

By Ine Drage on 09/16/2008 12:48 pm

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Yeah, Ine, politics in America is like anywhere else: it’s all hogwash. I have a friend, Ian Gillan, who visits Oslo on the concert cycle every now and again.

By James the Game on 09/16/2008 5:58 pm

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True! Politics are mostly hogwash:) when ever did lying get that acceptable? But it’s quite interesting to see how political systems are devided, like: you having to major parties, and we have got at least ten different parties to choose from… Hope your friend likes Oslo, I think it’s a great city, even though I prefer the countryside myself!

By Ine Drage on 09/18/2008 2:57 pm