Comments on: No sale for The Blairs complex

By: IHateYuppies

IHateYuppies — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:12:01 +0000

Some people come to America to escape persecution or dictatorship. Some people like my ancestors came to America to live off the land and make money. Others have dreams of massive riches or fame by coming to America. Whatever floats your boat to our great country.

I have my own set of American Dreams and they don't include making $$$$, buying property, seeing fame in Hollywood, or buying a Mercedes.

Editor's note: This comment was edited for content. -- JD (Mar 24, 2008)

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:14:46 +0000

Home ownership is part of the American dream.

Is home ownership a right, or is it a privilege? What role (if any) should local, state or federal governments play in making home ownership possible?

By: Springvale Roader

Springvale Roader — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:33:51 +0000

Let’s get real for a second. Housing in the D.C. area is far too expensive for far too many people, and that situation is replicated across the nation. This is not a condition which can or should be defended by anyone.

My wife and I make a combined income that puts us in the top 10 percent bracket, nationally. We bought our house in Silver Spring in 1999, and our very lucky that we did, because now we could not afford to do so — or at least, do so and afford luxuries such as new underwear and the occasional fast food burrito. Among the many, many ills facing our nation now is the unaffordability of owning a home; remember when the used to be part of the American dream?

By: trekkie

trekkie — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:25:16 +0000

Kathy J, “When the NOAA complex was built – they were to connect their garage to the other side of the tracks – don’t know why that never happened.”

The NOAA garage is connected to the other side of the tracks. there is an overhead walkway that leads over the tracks into the taxi waiting area right by the entrance to the Marc.

By: Kathy J

Kathy J — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:34:19 +0000

When the NOAA complex was built – they were to connect their garage to the other side of the tracks – don’t know why that never happened.

Also there is talk of reconnecting King Street when Mont College TP/SS constructs on both sides of it – that will give us one more convenient crossing in South-East SS.

As to affordable condos – just saw advertised ones yesterday next to Takoma metro on the DC side of the border for $200K — at current market rates your mortgage would be $1000 a month – check into it.

By: SSHomeowner

SSHomeowner — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:28:03 +0000

Chaz: you hit the nail on the head–owning a single family home IS a very significant lifestyle change. It is one that seems quite daunting if you’ve always rented apartments (as I did previously). You feel like you’re never going to have enough money and there are endless things that need replacing or you want to improve to your standards. Every new homeowner goes through this, but what most of them find is that after 6-12 months, things settle down, they adjust to a new budget, learn to do household repairs/improvements and they start to fix things as they can. Fortunately, not everything falls apart at the same time, but having to fork out cash is the nature of owning a home (hence the term “the money pit”). Frankly, there are lots of aspects of the “lock and leave” lifestyle that I sorely miss. But the benefits of homeownership outweigh the downside, for me at least. Like “At The Beltway” said, if you want your own place at a price you can afford, buy in another ZIP code outside downtown SS. If you don’t start somewhere and continue to try to time the market, you will always be on the losing end and never build equity.

By: at the beltway

at the beltway — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:20:01 +0000

SShomeowner has good points, but you can stay in Silver Spring, maybe just not in downtown.

With the collapse of the housing bubble, there are homes in good neighborhoods which are waiting for new ownership. Not all of these are foreclosures, many are long-time owners needing to move on and caught in a down market. I suggest that folks take a fresh look at any Multi-List (like L&F) and search zips 20903, 20901, 20904 and others. There are tremendous housing bargains which are affordable--inside and outside the beltway.

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:33:28 +0000

Chaz wrote:

"And Jennifer, how about a Penguin living status survey? or did you already do one? Rent vs. own, avg cost of living/month, length of time living in Silver Spring, etc."

The US government has comprehensive data on stuff like that. (The data represent below-the-Beltway Silver Spring, plus Four Corners.)

But if you're looking for info on how people feel about their living conditions, I'll see what I can do.

By: IHateYuppies

IHateYuppies — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:33:46 +0000

Picking up on Chaz’s point…Hyattsville and College Park are already out of financial reach for first-time home buyers. Your best bet for affordability lies in western PG county and southeast DC. If you don’t mind dodging bullets or having your car stolen…no problem. Even the Silver Spring of the 1990s was nowhere near as crime ridden as many parts of DC and PG County are today.

Another solution…leave the DC metropolitan area. I have been sending out resumes to organizations outside of DC because the cost of living here is getting ridiculous. Sometimes you have to leave behind a good job and friends in order to find better living conditions in other parts of the United States.

My days in Silver Spring and the Washington DC region are numbered thanks to gentrification.

By: chaz

chaz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:17:48 +0000

Ha, where’d the rest of my comment go? The Penguin must automatically cut off rambling rants :)

My point was, basically, that I DO want to buy locally and live here for 5+ years, but it’s not easy when so much property is overvalued and the general economic outlook is pretty bleak.

And Jennifer, how about a Penguin living status survey? or did you already do one? Rent vs. own, avg cost of living/month, length of time living in Silver Spring, etc.