[Kieri]

Before we sold our home in February, our house insurance soared from $265 to $495 a year. I called the insurance company and bawled them out, only to be told that EVERYBODY saw double-digit house insurance price hikes.

We'll be building a new house this summer. I'm almost afraid we'll be taxed-and-insured out of it.

[TomServo]

Two folks working and they're having trouble with mortgage payments? Maybe they're living beyond their means. Nah - that couldn't be it.

[ClearCase_guy]

Credit cards with double-digit interest rates have eaten away at Linda Schrock's savings

Yeah. Sure. Blame the interest rates for eating into her savings. It couldn't possibly be the actual spending that this woman is doing, right??

[biblewonk]

It's amazing how many "educated" people have no clue how to balance their own budget. Does it ever occur to them that expenses are no different than they ever were, they are just buying more than they can afford?

[Nick Danger]

Your burdens are getting heavier. They are sooooo heavy. Never before have your burdens weighed you down so.

Times have never have never been worse. Your confidence is failing. You fear calamity. How will your children eat?

We are your media. We are here to protect you.

Vote Democrat.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Homeowners have little to no recourse about the constant increase in their property value appraisals. As their home goes up in value, their taxes go up to.

[Always Right]

Expenses on Rise, Homeowner Burdens Get Heavier

What a crook! If a homeowner hasn't refinanced and significantly lowered their "homeowner burdens', they are dumber than a bowling ball.

[Gabz]

We just (less than 2 weeks ago) moved from central Delaware to Accomack County, VA.

The property tax on my 2 acre mini-farm is only about a quarter of what we were paying on our town house. But the homeowners insurance premium is just over double.

We have a larger mortgage here than we did in Delaware, but our monthly paymjent is less.

And we have some credit card debt and a car payment and I haven't been gainfully employed in nearly 2 years - but we are making it.

[tsomer]

Recent indications that insurance rates are going up, combined with the likelihood the fiscal difficulties of state and local governments will lead them to raise property taxes...

During the raging 80's, when we bought our first house the mortgage rep encouraged us to "stretch", saying that we'd make more money and be able to afford more later on. That was the prevalent thinking among the yuppies back then.

They are now caught between the upper millstone of declining wages, and the nether, of rising "maintenance" costs.

This is the problem with the general wisdom about real estate as an investment: the bank or the government can take it from you.

[Koblenz]

Live within your means. I am in the process of reapplying for a mortgage, and I'm self employed, which has made it difficult. Yet the banker I spoke with was astounded that I'm 32 years old and that my mortgage is only going to cover half of the market value of the house (the rest is pure equity). I always have paid off my credit cards every month. Credit cards are awesomely convenient, but you've got to pay them off. I use the Amex Cashbuilder, which gives 1.5% cash back: last year I got about $800 in refunds (I charge frequently, often for my consulting business, which is subsequently reimbursed by clients). I got my first credit cards in college, and I made sure that if I didn't have the money, I didn't buy it. And that's worked like a charm.

[thepainster]

OK enough of the gloom and doom. I live in Austin Texas. I just got my latest tax appraisel on my home. Guess what it went down about 5%. Theoretically I lost a little equity, but realistically I will be paying less taxes.

We also recently refinanced our home. Guess what, I am now paying the same mortgage for a 15 year note as I was a 30 year note. Interest rates are that low.

Yes home insurance is up. In Texas this is mainly because of the lawyer induced "Black Mold" issue. However, If you can't pay your mortgage because your insurance went up, in my opinion you are living beyond your means.

I am tired of all these negative articles about the economy and inverviews with these crybabies. Americans are soft. We have been living high on the hog for too long. There are whole generations that have learned nothing from hardships. Everything has been too easy. All they know how to do is whine. </rant>

[RooRoobird14]

I have a hard time feeling sorry for homeowners who bought a home they could barely afford even with with both husband and wife working--that is how couples seem to do things these days.

There are too many middle class Americans living way beyond their means: living in huge houses, leasing huge gas-hog SUV's, running up credit card debt, and not being prepared for the possibility of one or both of them being laid off.

Financially speaking, the above is the equivalent to having promiscuous unprotected sex over and over again--eventually one's irresponsibility catches up with them in one way or another.

[OrioleFan]

Sounds like Linda needs a tax cut...

[sergeantdave]

In 1900, one could buy a well-built four bedroom home in America for $600. The average wage was $60 per month with no income tax payments, no SSI. A house cost less than a year's wages.
Today that house, built with less quality and craftsmanship, costs an average of $150,000. The average wage is about $30,000. Add compounded interest and you're paying $300,000 - 400,000 for that house.

America is being strip mined of its wealth. Guess who's behind the curtain manipulating this scam.