WatchRecreational drug usage is commonplace amongst the Boomer crowd. It seems two of our fav. resident trolls are partaking a bit themselves. With comments like these surely a trip to the Betty ford center is in order.
1st from the mysterious name changing troll who posts sfmls listings showing SF hovels AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
CuriousCat Says:
May 27th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
hey surfer-x, there is no shame in renting. seek help. don’t feel bad. only 35% of people in SF can own.
And then 2nd from his lube jockey Zephyr.
Zephyr Says:
May 27th, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Just stopped by. Nice to see such polite intellectual dialogue.
Charming. You are the silver tongued one.
However, the correct stat is 35%. Here is a rundown on various stats for SF:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0667000.html
I'm speechless I didn't know that over 1/3 of SF can afford to buy a house. Who knew?
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I'm thinking about writing a book entitled: THE GOLDEN AGE OF CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE!
On the cover I'll have a picture of Surfer-X smiling as he's riding a wave
onto the shores of Santa Cruz, as the warm sun sets over the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean, and its golden, lambent rays gently kiss the horizon.
It'll look like a cheery, fun book. A period piece, like PUMPING IRON, which showcased the golden era of Southern California's bodybuilding scene.
Only this book will take a turn for the worse...
I'll start out with 25 success stories of how, in 2005, Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Joan average, Gen-X'er were able to get into that $900K dream 3/2, late '60s ranch home on the east side of San Jose with a no doc, stated income ARM on a two Pizza Hut job family income. Of course they'll be pictured smiling in front of their golden ghetto digs.
That will be the pre-crash section of the book.
Then I'll have a post-crash section with all of the same people shown three years later...
It won't be pretty. But since everyone's to into being up-beat and not negative, I've got to market it as a happy book & try to fake the reader out.
Think it'll sell?
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Ha, ha! Here's one Surfer-X is gonna' love!
This sh-t reads like satire. Read it and weap...
Then again, maybe these guys are on the cutting edge of the new reality, and we'll all be living--post real estate crash--in RV's just to get by.
Maybe it's the new "hippy" thing?
BABY BOOMERS PUSH RV OWNERSHIP TO RECORD:
By KELLI KENNEDY
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Russ and Jean Glines have picked the theme music to herald their transition from living in a 3,000-square foot country club home to full-time roadies in a 400-square foot recreational vehicle.
The Glines, MORTGAGE BROKERS, are among a growing number of Baby Boomers who have pushed the number of RV owners to record levels, including some who hit the road full time while continuing to pursue their careers.
``There's two CDs by the Allman Brothers. We're going to put them in and turn the volume all the way up,'' Russ Glines said.
Baby Boomers have money, a sense of wanderlust and enough technology to run an office or stay in touch with family while on the road, said Rachel Parsons, spokeswoman for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association.
Thanks to Wi-Fi, satellite Internet hookups, e-mail and cell phones, the Glines will continue to run their California-based mortgage company from their Country Coach Intrigue.
``We're looking forward to sitting in the Keys in Florida with our satellite dish hooked up and working like we were in our office in San Jose and going out for walks on the beach at night,'' Russ said.
Nearly 8 million households owned at least one RV in 2005, according to a study by the University of Michigan Survey Research Center. That's a 58 percent increase from 1980. About 384,400 RV's were sold in 2005, according to the RV Association.
More often than not, today's RV'ers are not the type who prefer sipping beer in front of the campfire, roughing it in communal showers in lieu of a nine to five job. Now it's all about luxury, said Bob Livingston, editor for Trailer Life Magazine.
``Older generations saw it as people who were escaping from society, who didn't want to hold down a job,'' Livingston said. ``It was a substitute living, a cheap way to get by in parts that weren't very nice. It's totally different today. It's a luxury.''
Pop culture has even caught the road tripping bug. Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie drove a chic silver travel trailer cross-country on ``The Simple Life,'' the sexy cast of MTV's ``Road Rules'' has a Winnebago and even Robin Williams is sporting one in a movie released this month, aptly titled ``RV.''
Mark and Crickett Gregorich rely on satellite Internet and cell phones from their National RV Seabreeze to keep their businesses going while they live on the road full time with two kids and a dog.
Mark, a 41-year-old Web site designer, and Crickett, a 32-year-old MORTGAGE BROKER, sold their Orlando home last year and incorporate trips to historic sites, museums and state capitols while they homeschool or ``roadschool'' their sons, Adam, 11, and Lucas, 8.
They've learned more from us visiting places and going to different museums and parks,'' Crickett said. ``They're incredible with geography and history. It's just really cool.''
The family started from the Florida Keys, driving up the East Coast to Maine last year. This summer, they're in the Southwest, where they recently visited the Bendera Volcano in Arizona and pueblos in New Mexico. Next they'll hit Canada and Alaska.
Although experts say Boomers are largely responsible for the sales spike, there is also a surprising number of young families buying RVs in hopes of squeezing in more quality time with the kids.
Comment: WTF?
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Michael,
From my perspective, it's actually a nice trend. As long as these people sold their landlocked homes for the roadlocked homes, they've freed up an inventory of traditional homes for people who actually need them most - young families with children.
RVs do consume a lot of diesel, but I assume their small size relative to homes still make them a more energy efficient option. Furthermore, RV owners have the option of cutting back travel when gas prices go up, something not available to daily grind commuters.
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Good points astrid!
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Michael,
I am very jealous at these lucky RV owners, especially those undeserving mortgage brokers (why are they being paid big money for a service that a piece of software can automatically do?). I would love to pursue an RV lifestyle for a couple years, I'm even willing to do without *luxuries* like cherry cabinets and multi-head showers. However, occasional roadtripping with a plumbing free passenger car is all I can currently afford.
I guess I can take comfort that those mortgage brokers will soon be out of a job and forced to seek more gainful permanently affixed employment. I will be happy to pick up a deluxe model for 10 cents on their dollar.
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LILLL,
Couldn't agree more! I've oft noted a sense of intoxication and downright "giddiness" in the intentionally distracting troll posts. With fantastic salutations like "Go ahead all you jealous bitter renters, I'll be too busy celebrating with my top notch booze in my "manse" to be bothered with this silly notion of RE being priced beyond the reach of any future generation!" Then we all have to stand by and watch as the troll encounters the inevitable realities of truth and logic, self destructs and becomes a general pain in the ass. Like *astrid* I invite and encourage statistical proof that we may in fact "have it all wrong". Unfortunately I now visualize this morass that we're in like an open sewer. Yeah, there might be some values in there, but who among us is willing to "bobbing" for those apples? Even if you "find the pony" in armpit deep manure you still surrounded by sh*t!
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astrid Says:
May 28th, 2006 at 8:39 am
Michael,
"I guess I can take comfort that those mortgage brokers will soon be out of a job and forced to seek more gainful permanently affixed employment. I will be happy to pick up a deluxe model for 10 cents on their dollar."
That's what I'm talking about.
But what if your worst nightmare comes true, and those bozo mort. brokers are able to pimp the situation for all it's worth & actually ride it long enough to accumulate a $even-figure $tash before the whole thing implodes.
That would really suck.
Where would be the justice?
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On the "utility value" of "owning" a home:
In yet another futile attempt to challenge Randy H (at the risk of self impalement) I'll assert that for MOST Americans the very real possibility of getting one's self EVEN FURTHER in debt via their home simply isn't worth the risk. The endless cycle of "cash out re-fi to pay off a few things" and the expenses incurred to access the never ending house ATM has only left most of us broker than ever. Renters are precluded from having access to this endless pool of liquidity. Constantly draining the equity out of one's primary or 2nd home in my mind pretty much negates any "utility value" one might derive from owning it in the first place. I have to run Mrs. DinOR to the Memorial Day Sale and fully anticipate to be put in my place upon my safe return?
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LILLL,
That photo "study" was actually done by a Multnomah County Deputy that was tired of arresting the same people over and over! Welcome to Portland OR!
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LILL, I've seen those meth faces before.
Now that's some scary sh-t!
I think the title is great: THE GOLDEN AGE OF CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE!
I can picture Surfer-X on the front cover, smiling as he's ridin' a wave in, flashing a hang loose sign with one hand and sportin' a Dos Equis in the other, as the sun sets on the horizon of another lazy day at the beach.
The average Boomer Barnes and Nobles shopper would be like, "Honey, look at this book on the golden era of California real estate. Groovy! Dude looks like he's coolin' out on some tasty waves. Reminds me of Woodstock. Let's buy the book as a keepsake to remember the golden era of real estate!"
And then when the Boomers get home, crack open the book, and see Chap. 2: "This is Your Mortgage on Drugs" and the bubble wreckage & human carnage of the before and after photos: "Gee honey, this book is really f'ed up! Look at all these horror stories. This sh-t is screwing with my Karma and giving me bad vibes. Lets just tear out the pages and roll some doobies and smoke 'em."
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LILLL, whoa whoa whoa wait just a moment, you mean it's not ok to have sex with children while talking about how much money you are making in real estate. This is crazytalk, there are no trolls, we are the trolls. Everyone is rich, the war is justified, Hilter was right and I make 160K a year.
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To the average toothless clod meth-head drooling on himself and playing in the dirt, any tooth--even a broken one--is a good tooth!
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Michael,
If these mortgage brokes managed to keep their boom time earnings, then I'll have to figure out a way to legally take all their money - maybe a class action law suits for their misbehaviors. As far as I'm concerned, all no-doc loans are unconscionable. Giving any fool an ARM without making them fully understand the implication of an ARM in a low RE price, high interest rate environment is also unconscionable. The amount of misconduct we've observed should make the asbestos claims and the S&L claims and the financial advisor claims look teeny tiny bycomparison.
And if that rare mortgage broker or realt-whore managed to make a lot of money while doing an ethical job, then good for them!
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astrid.
Personal accountability and mortgage brokers are seldom said in the same sentence. B/c much of the sales force there is just "migratory" they'll be on to "the next big thing" so I wouldn't count on seeing them swinging from the gallows anytime soon. Their EMPLOYERS however will not evade prosecution quite so easily! When our resident legal expert Joe Schmoe returns I would be curious to see how he feels this will most likely develop.
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Red Whine,
One aspect you may have overlooked is that much of the money boomer burned through in the "tech wreck" (like sh@t through a goose) was quickly replenished as they recieved a fresh transfusion of wealth/liquidity from their WW2 generation parents. Having "learned their lesson" in the stock market to diversify their holdings they bought homes in the BA AND Texas! Sheesh. Boomers have carefully calculated just how much the will/should getting from their more prudent parents and have already leveraged themselves up to amount and then some! There just isn't any "safety net" this time!
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astrid,
I'm not a better "judge" than you. Or anyone for that matter. What I can speak to is the sense of urgency that boomers are now attempting to conclude their financial/personal affiars. Be it Di-tech or E-Harmony boomers are very obviously scrambling to identify their "interim dance partners". While painfully obvious they just can't visualize themselves as old (let alone elderly!) one of my good friends now living in Portland (ex-bond trader from Chicago recovering alcoholic) casually observes what he and others refer to as "Coug's". As in "Cougars". 50 some odd divorcees that live at the gym and occupy some of Portland's most prestigous addresses carousing "hot spots" seeking out young guys. It's really pathetic. One last shot at youth. I've had victories in my life but mostly it's been disapointments and rejection. Even in my "darkest hour" it never occurred to me to "steal some unsuspecting victim's youth". Lest I be referred to as sexist the same goes twice for male "coug's".
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Mountain View, CA
Sorry to go a little OT (although the thread seemed to be about drugs). I just bought some Sudafed at Target today, and it was unbelievable. I had to get it from the pharmacy counter and they swiped my driver's license and made me sign the electronic credit card thingee even though I paid cash. I know the stuff is used to make meth, but I thought it is still "over-the-counter" medicine. I have a really bad cold this weekend which really sucks. I only bought one packet.
In a way I'm glad they're tracking this stuff, but it feels like my privacy was invaded. I wouldn't be surprised now if I got a visit from the cops. WTF? It wasn't like I was buying 40 packs. This country is no longer the land of liberty. It is becoming a land of fascists.
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Red Whine Says:
'...And if I remember all the Bay Area Boomers back in 2001, they were making the world’s tighest fucking U-turn ever, from saying “it’s the New Economy!” to “I knew it was going to end badly all along!!”...'
Ha, ha! Good way of putting it. How true!
'...Boomer checking Yahoo stock in 1999: “Look at ME. My Yahoo stock is worth THREE FUCKING HaHas!! Goddamn I’m smart!”...'
'...Boomer checking Yahoo stock in 2001: [Silence]..."
Ha, ha. Yeah. The camera pans in on his face and all there is is a blank stare: a vacuous glaze-eyed shock of reality. Ears slowly turning red...hands visibly shaking...ego slowly beginning to crack like dried paint in the sun.
Fastforward:
'...Boomer reading Zillow in 2005: “Look at ME. My Bakersfield shitbox is worth THREE FUCKING HaHas!! Goddamn I’m smart!”...'
Boomer reading Zillow in 2007: [Silence]
Once again the smile slowly turns to a frown. Dude leans forward to look at computer screen. Retypes in the address into Zillow. Hands begin to shake as the shocking, undeniable truth sets in. Accidently knocks over coffee. Wife calls out, "breakfast's on the griddle babe! Boy, we're gonna have some pimp times with all the money we scored on our investment houses!" Dude's knuckles become white and face flushed with rage at his outrageous misfortune...voice audibly cracks up two decibles, like his nuts are in a vice as he responds to his wife, "ahhh...yeah, babe. We're gonna party like it's umm...1999 & sh-t!" Wife walks in with a plate of hotcaks and a fresh roasted cup of coffee...sees him, detects an odd note, and asks "what's wrong?" as dude buckles over the front of his computer collapsing in a cardiac arrest...his wife glances at the Zillow price on the computer screen and screams!
So there you have it. For every Boomer that pimped the Nasdaq bubble and then the housing bubble, there's five that got raped!
Rough justice, baby. Rough justice! :-)
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I am very jealous at these lucky RV owners, especially those undeserving mortgage brokers (why are they being paid big money for a service that a piece of software can automatically do?).
yeah, my american mate in washington DC is a mortgage broker, works from home, never has to worry about peak hour traffic jams, and pulls in $250K a year from the business doing sub-prime lending... has bought $3 mill in property in DC BEFORE the boom with all the loot...
but she never finished college, is ignorant of all world affairs, and generally isn't all that bright...
note mortgage brokers in Oz only make 0.7% on the loan, vs 5-7% in US...
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Shmendrickus Says:
the next big thing will be an American populist movement. Lots of unemployed, angry people coupled with politics so corrupt that were making asian banana republics look good.
you've already got that now... it's called republicans and democrats... and the CIA likes to shoot democratically elected presidents in s. amer. banana republics, but prop up drug moguls... a populist movement 'for the people, by the people' might just be a good idea...
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Mountain View, CA
hmmm… there’s always phenylephrine i spose….
Yeah, the "substitute" for pseudoephedrine. I wasn't feeling like trying something new yesterday. The fake stuff was right there beside the tags for the real stuff. I'm sure if they eliminate the sale of real sudafed, all meth production will stop, and the war on drugs will be won. Right. And housing prices never go down either. ;-)
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it's a shame, really, pseudoephedrine is a good mood elevator and psychostimulant by itself, without conversion to meth...
its only mild side effect is that it dries up nasal congestion...
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The fake stuff was right there beside the tags for the real stuff.
hmmm, methinks he doth protest too much...
it's funny how 'pseudo'ephedrine is real, and phenyl is fake ;)
kind of like 'genuine naugahyde'...
the REAL ephedrine from ephedra got banned first, too addictive -- the Coast Guard cocktail... but you could grow your own ma huang in the basement next to the weed -- 'it's for medicinal purposes, officer, i swear!' ;)
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35% is the percent of people who own their own home in San Francisco, not the precentage of the population who can afford one now.