[Modernman]

It constantly amazes me that people will pay $200,000 for a "townhouse" in the suburbs, when the same thing in the city in a nice neighborhood, labeled a "rowhouse" goes for $80,000

Interesting. The exact opposite is true in DC. The most expensive housing is generally closer in while the cheaper housing is further out. A decent single-family home in Arlington runs in the $600,000 plus range. You get a lot more for your money if you're willing to move out to Fairfax County, but then you add at least another hour to your commute every day.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The exact opposite is true in DC. The most expensive housing is generally closer in while the cheaper housing is further out. A decent single-family home in Arlington runs in the $600,000 plus range. You get a lot more for your money if you're willing to move out to Fairfax County, but then you add at least another hour to your commute every day.

You are comparing suburban townhomes to rowhomes in upper class/upper middle class white areas of DC and Arlginton - not a fair comparison. DC no longer has a working class/middle class white residential area. So think of the price of a rowhome in a middle class black neighborhood in DC, and you'll get the picture better. Elsewhere, think of northeast or south Philly, the northwest of Chicago, northern Baltimore, northside or southside of Pittsburgh, etc.

[grellis]

DC is an exception to the downtown housing costs. I live in downtown Lansing. My neighborhood association has been very active in trying to better our community so we often look to similar downtown areas for ideas--what works and what doesn't work. One thing we have found in studying other downtown areas is that housing is always more affordable the closer to the epicenter you are.

I had our house appraised last month--a 4br, 2 full bath, eat in kitchen, formal dining, updates too numerous to name, on a "postage stamp" property. $109,000. In other Lansing neighborhoods, my house would be valued at $150,000 or more.