Posted by Gerry_VT on 4/23/08 11:16pm
Msg #244795

Public Radio: Commuting and home prices

Sorry I don't recall the exact show, but Monday I was listening to public radio, and an interview guest explained that while on average, home prices are going down a bit, people are also concerned with the expense of long commutes. So homes close to major work places or close to public transit stations are going up a bit.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 4/24/08 6:46am
Msg #244806

I work for realtors as an assistant and am filling in as an office manager of one office while the regular is on maternity leave. I am in an area that the biggest town is around 100,000 people and is surrounded by a lot of rural areas with "subdivisions" which means there are commutes of 5-20 miles to this city. This area has mainatined a positive value (barely) on home prices But all to often the optimistic prices on the homes are reduced. This still is an increase in value since the last time a home was sold. The ones that haven't sold are the ones that way to much money has been borrowed against. The majority of the foreclosures are lower end homes. I see a lot of very affordable homes in the foreclosure announcements $125,00 or less owed to the bank. Even saw one that they owed only 30,000. Now that was a shame!

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/24/08 7:04am
Msg #244807

Glad to hear that....but then there are property taxes.

I live 2.5 miles from my job. The homes in my neighborhood have increased in value by 15% between Jan '06 and April '08.

The largest employer in my area is five miles away; a mid-sized employer (hospital system) is 2 miles away. Hope we don't have too much of an increase because that will kill us on property taxes.

If I just go from work to home and don't do any extended driving, a tank of gas literally lasts me three weeks.

Having had the "crud" and not feeling like doing anything I didn't have to I have only gone from home to work, to a store on my way home, and home again so I am sure of this. I filled up on the 8th. I still have a half a tank. I can easily see this tank of gas lasting through the 29th.

Reply by Philip Johnson on 4/24/08 9:46am
Msg #244839

Especially if you only go on Sunday. :) n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/24/08 10:09am
Msg #244841

Re: Especially if you only go on Sunday.

No, no, no...PJ!

That's a whole other issue.

Now you're just messin' with me.