Empty Houses

[Excaliber]

When I was looking for a house on the mainland for my anticipated move from Hawaii I found, in at least three states, whole nieghborhoods of empty houses. Vegas for sure! California, same and surprisingly Oregon as well. So many empty houses. I heard various stories about the folks that used to live there. Like the nice young couple who bought, were remodeling, put a lot of money in the house and then disappeared.

I only looked at three states but I'm sure you could find similiar results all over the country. Where have all these people gone? Hotels? Campgrounds? Moved in with family? Where do folks go when they've been foreclosed on and loose their house?

[Joe Wicked]

Some pack up and move back home. We have had 2 on my block. First one they split up and walked away from the house. She moved back in with her ex husband and he moved back north to Wisconsin. 2nd one they just packed up and went back to Mexico. That house is still vacant.

[Ron61]

Ernie,

Many from here are moving back to their home states. The people that lived in the house just across the street from my upper lot went back to Arkansas and I don't know where the ones that lived in the other two houses went as they just left over weekends. And yesterday I saw another For Sale sign being put up for a house a couple of blocks from mine.

Ron

[392cobra]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

I only looked at three states but I'm sure you could find similiar results all over the country. Where have all these people gone? Hotels? Campgrounds? Moved in with family? Where do folks go when they've been foreclosed on and loose their house?

It looks like people continue to move to Texas for jobs and homes.

Dec. 2009 Results...

The best news in the monthly report on pre-owned home sales was that median prices were up 2 percent from December 2008.

Some indicators in the latest North Texas home market numbers show continued improvement.

The number of homes listed for sale in the area dropped 12 percent in December to the smallest number in more than three years.

There is currently a 5.6-month supply of pre-owned homes listed for sale with real estate agents. Six months is considered a “balanced” market.

Also, condominium sales continued to boom in December, soaring 31 percent from a year earlier.

[Excaliber]

Could be some states in particular are seeing an increase in population? I myself considered Texas, but "politically speaking" I thought that might be problematic. I'm sure you understand...

In California and here in Oregon I'm also seeing a LOT of interest is "getting off the grid." Which I suspect for many folks is motivated primarily from a financial resource point. They simply don't have the money to rent a house and play by societys "norm". I've heared RV sales are quite brisk for used models and a large percentage of buyers are looking for a place to live! Not "travel". Some RV parks are filled with long term folks.

[392cobra]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

I myself considered Texas, but "politically speaking" I thought that might be problematic. I'm sure you understand...

Texas is not a welcoming place for thieves,murderers,hostile Indians,scoundrels & liberals.
You made a wise choice.

[Excaliber]

Austin looked nice, thought that might be the ticket!

[Excaliber]

During my journey from Hawaii to the mainland whilst waiting for a new house:
I lived in a 35 ft motor home for a bit, an older one, parked at a friends house. I was there long enough to figure out that was not the lifestyle for me. In fact, I grew to hate it! Then I bought a travel trailer and "hit the road" with that and my big azz 7X14 box Van E-350 (that was my "garage" you see). Man that got old in a hurry as well! I would really hate the idea of having to "live" like that on any kind of long term basis, it pretty much just sucks all around.

Sure was glad to get back into a HOUSE!

[Cobrabill]

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/764.html

[Ron61]

Well there were some nice looking homes there. A shame to see them just set and rot.

Ron

[Dan40]

Even before the bubble burst, the wife and I wondered about the THOUSANDS on new developments going into our small town. This is a retirement community. The hospital and the county Gov't. are the largest employers. One industry, Piper, and they are laid off more than they work. So who is going to buy 3000 new homes????

Nobody did.

New vacant homes abound. New developments stopped in mid-hammer swing! Some could be used as a classroom on building. From prepped lots to poured slabs, to partial to completely framed. Every stage shown and STOPPED in its tracks. Now instead of struggling but working orange groves, we have fallow houses. No juice in them.

[Black Mamba]

One of the assistants that I work with had been out of work for about 8 months so he just loaded up the wife and 3 kids and did a bit of camping from California to Arkansas where he had family. He didn't just walk away from a house he owned though, they were renting so I guess it was a bit easier. I've read stories where people have just walked away with their clothing and maybe a few items while leaving behind the family pets, photo albums, and enough possessions to think these people must be so punch drunk from loss that they're like zombies walking the earth.

I've mentioned it before and I'll say it again, a fool and credit are a terrible combo. It's just sad that some friggen loan monkey probably suckered 70% of the people into taking out as much as they can so they could enjoy themselves. My guess is there aren't many left sending out postcards saying "having a wonderful time, wish you were here".

[CowtownCobra]

...people two houses down bought at the peak, gutted the house (a 2 story with no stairs?) with grand plans, then the crash came and they each went their seperate ways, leaving a dog in the back yard. Lucky the neighbor in between noticed a very hungry dried up mut before it was too late and ended up keeping it. Don't know what became of the crazies, but thats one fine dog

[Excaliber]

New developments stopped in mid-hammer swing!

Yup, THAT rings a bell! The house I bought here was "almost finished" with an extensive remodel. When I finally took possession (man did that take forever) I found the "worker bee's" radio, complete with paint stains in a closet. Then I found the 6 ft level in a back room. MANY electrical boxes, covers, screws, etc. in various drawers around the house. Half filled buckets of paint and painting supplies, newly installed cabinets with the handle knobs INSIDE the drawer, not mounted. Various tools, screw driver, wood chisel. ALL the interior doors were still in a storage shed out back, new paint on them. Construction debris all around the outside of the house (mostly clean inside). It was weird, like the construction guys left for lunch and never came back???

I made sure to get it in writing that any CONSTRUCTION LOANS or LIENS would be covered, that was like pulling teeth. I'm slowly finishing the remodel.

[Ron61]

Ernie,

They closed down a pretty good sized development just out of Anderson some time back. Some complete hoses, some in the building stage and others just being laid out. No water or power to the sub division. Contractors were from somewhere in the Bay Area and just took all of their stuff one weekend and never came back. Not sure what they are going to do as a few of the houses had already been sold or had down payments on them so I guess those people are just out of luck as the city can't even find the contractors to get back what they loaned them to get the development started. A bad situation and now a lot of would have been pretty nice homes just rotting and being camped in by the homeless.

Ron

[Dan40]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Yup, THAT rings a bell! The house I bought here was "almost finished" with an extensive remodel. When I finally took possession (man did that take forever) I found the "worker bee's" radio, complete with paint stains in a closet. Then I found the 6 ft level in a back room. MANY electrical boxes, covers, screws, etc. in various drawers around the house. Half filled buckets of paint and painting supplies, newly installed cabinets with the handle knobs INSIDE the drawer, not mounted. Various tools, screw driver, wood chisel. ALL the interior doors were still in a storage shed out back, new paint on them. Construction debris all around the outside of the house (mostly clean inside). It was weird, like the construction guys left for lunch and never came back???

I made sure to get it in writing that any CONSTRUCTION LOANS or LIENS would be covered, that was like pulling teeth. I'm slowly finishing the remodel.

Sounds just like here during hurricane reconstruction. Junk [new junk] left everywhere. I tossed 6 partially used, dried up buckets of the same color paint. We lived in a 8X27 foot camper in the yard for 10 months while the house was rebuilt.. The paint crew would show up about 10 to 10:30AM Take at least 30 minutes to set up, Break for a long lunch at about 11:45 and knock off for the day around 3. One crewmember, not a boss, never did any work at all. He wandered up and down the street talking on his cell, ALL DAY. The contractor asked for more money. I laughed at him. 3 weeks to paint what should have been done in 2-3 days.

I went over the yard with a big magnet as sometimes I'll pull a car into the yard. I filled 2 coffee cans with bent nails. But with thousands and thousands of homes needing repaired all at once, professionals were in short supply.

[Excaliber]

...contractor showed up today, the garage is starting to take shape. I went out to check on him about a 1/2 hour ago. Gone, guess that was a days work. With luck he'll show up tommorow?

I'm really missing my car Ron, can't wait to get that building finished, any "week" now.

[Joe Wicked]

Ron was worried about your car with all the rain so I offered to "Take Care" of it for a while. All is good

[Ron61]

Ernie,

Your Cobra is safe and just as you left it except I cleaned it a little. I still don't know what that crap on it was, but it is hard for me to figure out what in a ship would be like that. With the next months weather forecast, if they are correct there won't be many days that you would want to have it out in the weather. I know that you miss it and want it home, but don't hurry on my account. I still have a couple of parts that I haven't sold yet.

Ron

[Excaliber]

Heck at this point I'll be glad to just SIT in it and make vroom vroom noises!