American Dream, Downsized

The Nation ^ | February 6, 2007 | Andrew Lam

[Malacoda]

Damn. We got a six-bedroom Victorian on a half-acre for literally 1/4th of what they were marketing that little house for!

[windcliff]

ping

[RightWhale]

If we want to restore America we need only repeal the Treaty and open the land office for recording claims to homesteads, homesites, and mineral resources.

[Texas_shutterbug]

"Today a condo is what most in the middle class can hope for in places like San Francisco or New York. I suspect that in another generation or two, middle-class homes in American cities will look like those of Tokyo today--which is to say, the size of a train compartment."

Yada yada yada

Poor, poor person. Too bad he doesn't recognize a world outside "places like San Francisco or New York." I hope he stays where he is.

[capitalist229]

I have downsized as well.

Moved from 145 acres to 100 acres then to 25 acres.

BUMP

[peggybac]

Heavens no, I'm not in Mass. I'm in the KC metro area (on the Kansas side) waiting to begin negotiations for a home I have a contract on. I recently returned from Los Angeles where there was no way in hell I could even afford a one bedroom condo. I'm hoping to get into this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home for around $165,000, if not lower.

[peggybac]

In what part of LA are those homes for sale? I'm surprised the 3 bedroom wasn't snatched up by a buyer.

[Cogadh na Sith]

I remember when a middle-class family could own a Victorian home in San Francisco. Now such a home would be divided into three or four units, each remodeled and sold to an upper middle-class couple.

That's what it is to be Gen-X

This should be a Gen-X ping.

[Cogadh na Sith]

There are plenty of places where the land is cheap, the air is clean, and there's plenty of space to roam.

And there are no jobs....

[cherry]

you don't have to live that way......you could move out to tiny towns or villages or move to a farm.....

trouble is its out in fly over land and you won't get your fancy, smancy big paychecks nor will you be able to go to the sushi bar.....

these whiners make me sick...

[qam1]

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

There are plenty of places where the land is cheap, the air is clean, and there's plenty of space to roam.

Are there jobs in these places? As the writer of the article mentioned, that option is available, but at the expense of a long commute.

[CDHart]

You are absolutely correct on both points.

Carolyn

[onedoug]

"It's a shack!"

"I have no maid, you know. Probably never will have...."

[flashbunny]

There may be, but in different area.

Life is a series of choices. He made the choice to live where he lives and work where he works. He can't use his own choice and make a blanket claim that "the american dream is downsized."

But I'm all for him staying in his concrete paradise.

[JerseyHighlander]

Ask this silly writer some pertinent questions:
1. Does he support unrestricted immigration, or not?
2. Does he support rent control, or not?
3. Does he support environmental laws that restrict available land to build near metro areas, or not?
4. Does he support a large city government, with all it's services, and all of it's heavy taxation, or not?
5. Does he support high density skyscrapers in San Fransisco or not?
6. Does he commit his column space to any of the above arguments?

Whining little bitch can't figure out the basics of life. He has a platform to speak out, and can't get past the narcissism stage.

[HungarianGypsy]

I, for one, was born in a big city. We would love to live in a smaller town with a bigger house. The problem is finding a job in a smaller town that will support seven people. Until then, we're stuck in the city.

[CANBFORGIVEN]

BIG HOUSE ON LOTS OF LAND THAT COST VERY LITTLE TO BUY=
typically less wages, must own car and all expenses related to that, cost more to heat and cool as compared to smaller place, cost more to maintain (garden, yard, upkeep, etc..) Typically if it cost less, it doesn't gain as much in equity very quickly. Must spend more on furnishings and "stuff" to fill up the home. Neighbors that you see once in a great while. Only if they happen to be driving by when you are outside working on the yard maintenance.

SMALLER PLACE, WITH NO LAND, COST MUCH TO BUY=don't need a car because public transportation is reliable and cheap. Can usually walk to many places which will keep you healthier so less in doctor's appointments and medications, don't have yard or garden to maintain, cheaper to cool and heat, values tend to rise faster and at much higher percentage when located in big cities, lack of space = less to buy to fill up that space (saves money). Lots of cool neighbors that you actually would see on a daily basis. You actually interact with real people daily.

In the end they both probably equal out. Because in the end you can't take either one with you!