Posted on 07/26/2021 6:43:59 AM PDT by Mr. K
I am looking at an absolutely gorgeous house in Greenwood, Mississippi. In California this would be a $2vmillion dollar place.
It is selling 'as is' for $200K or best offer. I called, the real estate agent said it was in a 'bad area'.
It is the former offices of the a garden society, and was in a movie called "The Help"
With the right security and many dogs, could this be a good move?
Just how bad is it, 2 blocks from downtown? Market street in Greenwood, Mississippi
If this is the house on the link, it’s in a Residential Historic District. There could be some stringent rehab rules which usually equate to more $$ to rehab. You may also be (probably are) dealing with lead paint, possibly even asbestos which requires more $$. It appears to be near the river, so check to see if it’s in a flood plain (which is also more $$ for insurance).
The link is from an article printed in 2017. Has this house been on the market for that long?
OMG... OUCH!!!!!!!!
That’s Crookhaven, LI for ya...
Go to google (or whichever search engine you like) and enter “instant Street Views”. Upon entering the property address, you should be able to get a front view and a satellite view. By pushing the arrows on the screen, you can also travel up and down the adjoining streets to see what’s what several blocks in any direction.
I’d take the real estate agent’s word for it. You know what “bad area” means! If you must move to MS I’d seriously check out the Gulf Coast towns...they are actually quite nice.
SO it looks like that house, and the entire neighborhood will only go down in value given the demographics.
Sometimes houses are cheap for a reason...caveat emptor.
We pay $800 a YR on 5 acres, 3 bedroom home, large shop, pond and fenced nicely in rural Missouri. Take a whole 10 minutes to drive to town though.
Nowadays, it is more, black, black, black.
Do not move into a town with a majority black population, or an area around a lot of them. The property values will decline, the town leadership will be taken over by black democrats and you will constantly have to watch your back for car jackers, muggers and thieves.
Better off to move to a white area like Vermont or Maine.
It does not have to be that way, but that is the way that it is.
Of course, it will never happen, but dreams are good.
Excellent advice. Buying a house sight unseen is never a good idea.
Also for me, the neighborhood is just as important as the house. Before putting down an offer, I like to drive around the entire neighborhood to get a lay of the land. Then make sure you drive by there on a Friday or Saturday night.
Years ago, I thought I had a great bargain on a house in a Boston suburb by a train station but driving by on a hot summer Saturday night, the strip mall a few blocks away featured a very "rough" crowd that was noisy and boisterous. I also saw some "police activity" about a block away with what looked like a domestic disturbance in progress. Shirtless young males were sitting out on their front steps playing loud music and sipping out of solo cups. What looked like a decent neighborhood by day got very "sketchy" after dark."
Now I understood why the house was such a deal, the currant occupants were probably desperate to get out of there.
Saved me a lot of hassle, I'm sure.
Why live like “The Omega Man”?
That was undoubtedly the real raisin the house was such a deal.
Regards,
Everybody’s got their raisins!
Yes...I’ve brought properties abroad, and even with those, I always inspected the properties and surroundings in person prior to offering. Location, location, location!
Good idea to leave NY. Location location location. There are great places to live in the south. Seems you do better than living in a bad area in MS.
‘Bad area’ means black area, of course. If you’re not black, you’re not local, and you’re seen as an interloper, then this would almost certainly be an unpleasant and dangerous situation. Why do it?
Aside from sheer curiosity, if a local agent (whose livelihood depends on selling property) discourages the sale because it's in a "bad area" you shouldn't even bother to examine it.
If you do decide to do visit it, I definitely advise being heavily armed when entering "the area". Have the agent let you out five blocks from the house -- and walk to it. If you survive the trip, consider why anyone else might want to pay to live in the same environs...
Rural Mississippi has plenteous beautiful and lovingly maintained homes -- on scenic acreage. Why consider a house that probably is a trashed-out drug den -- whose resale value is permanently destroyed by its environs -- no matter how much "fix-up $$$$" you miight put into it?.
FUGGETABOUTIT!
If the real estate agent tells you its in a bad area, stay the hell out especially if you’re of white persuasion.
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