[daviddennis]

All I actually want is a dramatic, sweeping ocean view, even with 2br 1ba. And something not in an identikit subdivision. I don't want to be bored to death with my house, even if it is overlooking the dramatic view(*).

Unfortunately, even that modest, humble need is pretty darn expensive nowadays. Like $650,000 expensive, if you're lucky, $850,000 if you're not. If you can even find one.

What I really need to do is increase my earning power. (I'm working on it, honest!) Or wait until the crash.

D

(*) Surprisingly, the identikit subdivision is not only boring, it's expensive. The general market obviously doesn't agree with my love of 1920-1950 "character" homes or sophisticated architect-designed contemporaries. See ArchitectureForSale for cool houses.

[speekinout]

And something not in an identikit subdivision.

That's another way to run up the cost. My investment house is 200+ years old (sometime before 1795) and only 1,100 sq. ft. It's charming, but it costs more than the McMansion in the identi-kit subdivision.