I know where we went wrong in America

It started in the year 1949, the rise of the American mortgage market.

There was a time when you purchased land, built a house from scratch or kit and you had affordable stable housing.

Take a look at housing costs back then: In 1950 a new house cost $8,450.00 and by 1959 was $12,400.00 More House Prices.

Now you can't pound a nail without a permit. Many neighborhoods now even have size restrictions for houses, starting at 1800 sq ft.
Isn't it funny that these houses that our grandfathers and great grandfathers built (without permits) can last a couple hundred years, but these houses with tons of permits are made like garbage!
Not only are they made poorly, houses are way too big, too expensive and are out of reach for a lot of people, especially young folks.

We are the land of the free, but what exactly are we free to do. We can't fish, can't build, can't take care of an animal, in my town you can't even have a fire in your backyard without a permit.

a reply to: JAGStorm


You are right. By the way. Great Idea for a thread.

We are the land of the free, but what exactly are we free to do. We can't fish, can't build, can't take care of an animal, in my town you can't even have a fire in your backyard without a permit.

That is why I hate living in towns.

originally posted by: JAGStorm
It started in the year 1949, the rise of the American mortgage market.

There was a time when you purchased land, built a house from scratch or kit and you had affordable stable housing.

Take a look at housing costs back then: In 1950 a new house cost $8,450.00 and by 1959 was $12,400.00 More House Prices.

Now you can't pound a nail without a permit. Many neighborhoods now even have size restrictions for houses, starting at 1800 sq ft.
Isn't it funny that these houses that our grandfathers and great grandfathers built (without permits) can last a couple hundred years, but these houses with tons of permits are made like garbage!
Not only are they made poorly, houses are way too big, too expensive and are out of reach for a lot of people, especially young folks.

We are the land of the free, but what exactly are we free to do. We can't fish, can't build, can't take care of an animal, in my town you can't even have a fire in your backyard without a permit.

My first home I bought in 1980 in Fontana California cost me $44000 on a 1/4 lot. Being my wife is Asian, we went to a night club there and all eyes were on her, kind of scary as I remember.

a reply to: JAGStorm

One could also argue the creation of the federal reserve in 1913 was where we went wrong.

Either way they're issues I don't expect to be fixed any time soon.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Good points Jag. 1949 and all the warriors were home from the foreign wars. All had fought to save us from tyrants and had won the day. All were promised a piece of the pie when they got home. The American Dream.American industry was the only industry in the world that had not been bombed to smithereens. Jobs were plentiful and we supplied the world,

My folks and all their friends got Cal-vet loans. Our neighborhood was newly built and the houses were small with big back yeads. The price you quoted was spot on to a couple of hundred dollars. Every neighbor in our ''hood'' were vets of that war and the party lasted for two decades.

originally posted by: JAGStorm
It started in the year 1949, the rise of the American mortgage market.

There was a time when you purchased land, built a house from scratch or kit and you had affordable stable housing.

Take a look at housing costs back then: In 1950 a new house cost $8,450.00 and by 1959 was $12,400.00 More House Prices.

Now you can't pound a nail without a permit. Many neighborhoods now even have size restrictions for houses, starting at 1800 sq ft.
Isn't it funny that these houses that our grandfathers and great grandfathers built (without permits) can last a couple hundred years, but these houses with tons of permits are made like garbage!
Not only are they made poorly, houses are way too big, too expensive and are out of reach for a lot of people, especially young folks.

We are the land of the free, but what exactly are we free to do. We can't fish, can't build, can't take care of an animal, in my town you can't even have a fire in your backyard without a permit.

Interesting thread. I work in mortgage banking and would tend to agree with you. Government subsidized lending has inflated housing costs...

On one hand, politicians complain about the high cost of housing, but on the other hand their policies are what drive up prices.

When we abandoned GOD, and in 1957 when G. D. Searle invented birth control.

a reply to: JAGStorm

30 year loans turned us all into slaves to the bankers.

It is fine for a man to borrow money for a home. But anything over 10 years is vampiric and inhumane in my opinion.

We let the banks do this to us. We need to take the power of banking back.

I would argue that the downfall started at the implementation of the Federal Reserve and the mortgage crisis is simply the result of private banking. But even with the private Federal Reserve sucking up our taxes unconstitutionally we still manged to have the greatest economic boom in the history of mankind.

First we need to audit the Fed, then we need to end the Fed.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Yeah all those permits are a joke, as government grows it needs more funding so hence the introduction of permits to fund the stupidity...

According to my husband,where this country went wrong is the day
women got the right to vote!

$87,664.61 is today dollars for $8450.

data.bls.gov...

This country jump the track with the creation of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913

Take a look at housing costs back then: In 1950 a new house cost $8,450.00 and by 1959 was $12,400.00 More House Prices.

This is amplified by better material, and more labor to produce both.

Also amplified by more technology.

The year 2017 is vastly different than 1949.

Apples and Oranges.

35-Year Fixed Interest Loans
35-Year Fixed Rate Main Street Banks
Range 1.090 ～ 1.630%
Average 1.308%
35-Year Fixed Rate Internet Banks
Range 0.690 ～ 2.360%
Average 1.228%

These are our rates here in Japan

I'd like to point out about something that is different here then in the States.
1. As the owner ages, the property taxes go DOWN, not up.
2. Our (cost) home is 18 years old now and it's value (I don't know now) but our property taxes are about 60 USD a month. If we were to put the house on the market I'd list it $300,000.00 USD market value

I think property in the States is that you are just actually renting the land from the US govt. Nothing more then that. So I really don't blame people for wanting to flip there properties today with the tax deferred exchange program. A 3 party tax deferred exchange is a way to go. I wonder how many foreign investors are using this law and banking the money and leaving the country. I know (used to know) escrow would have to hold a percentage of the profit, not sure how that is all working out with many escrow companies owned by foreigners these days.

I can agree with this.

Very bad cultural things manifest during the 1930's under FDR. The school system was taken over subversively by communist, the majority of our socialist programs were implement in a blueprint essentially following the Nazi's and then after ww2 operation paper clip brought all of their scientist and propagandist to the US.

Look at all the 1950's propaganda. Stepford housewives, blah blah blah.

And housing cost today is totally out of control. In the majority of places in America as a single person you can barely survive on $15 an hour. 2k a month will obliterate you if 1 thing happens medically or to your car or at work or something.

The situation is dire currently and it's manifesting deeply into our once perceived cultural norms.

a reply to: JAGStorm

I am in the Trades , a Painter /Mech , and I Know Exactly where you are coming from Brother ! I see so Many Remodels of Antiquated 90 to 100 Year Old Homes simply because they were Intentionally Built more Structurally Sound from Foundation to Rafter than Any other Home Built in the Last 60 Years . The proponents of Designed Obsolescence have been Controlling the Housing Market in this Country since the Late 1940's as you Surmised . Rules , Laws , Ordinances , are just Tools of Control Designed by the Powers That Be to Influence , Program , and Control the Average Joe's Lives from Cradle to Grave . How to Combat such an Intense Pressure on an Individuals Life , well let me know when you Find the Answer to that Doozey of a Question , and I will be All Ears ......)..

a reply to: musicismagic

wow 60 a month is a great deal compared to what they pay in the hood here in the where I'm at

they are paying around 5k a year

1913

a reply to: Zanti Misfit

I'm working on a house right now replaced some flooring on old hardwood and refinishing the rest of the house. It was built in the mid 1850's by old coal barrens it a huge gorgeous house. They really built things back then.

They used thick solid wood and brick. Nothing built today is even comparable, what we build today is made with paper and sticks, almost literally.

originally posted by: toysforadults
a reply to: musicismagic

wow 60 a month is a great deal compared to what they pay in the hood here in the where I'm at

they are paying around 5k a year

5k a year in property tax, are you kidding that's robbery so another couple of K for rates and you have 7 to 8 K a year to own your own home..... That's screwed up.

a reply to: JAGStorm

We are the land of the free,

I could never figure out that statement. There are many other countries just as free, but I dont remember other countries calling themselves that.

Just like the president of the US, being the leader of the free world, yet he's only the leader of the US.
Confusing.

a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

that's what you get when you elect Democrat's who think the only way to solve problems is to raise taxes and give more handouts to schools and wonderful great benefits packages and pensions for all

free stuff yay