Wanna depress a Northern Virginian?

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura) 06/16/2017 at 16:27 • Filed to: None

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Go on Zillow and show them the mansions around the country that can be bought for the price of their Condo/Townhouse. FML.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:30

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See also: Torontonian

CB > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 06/16/2017 at 16:34

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:(

Ash78, voting early and often > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:34

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My coworker (also a remote employee like me) just moved from SF to NOVA. She was thrilled to have a semi-detached house and TWO bedrooms for the price of her studio apartment she shared with her husband back home.

promoted by the color red > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:45

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As a former San Francisco resident I am literally dead on the inside.

I have no idea what a house should cost. Every time I visit Zillow I feel like Lucille Bluth: “It’s one banana, Michael. What could it cost? Ten dollars?” except now I’m thinking “oh, $750,000 for a two bedroom house with major needs, yeah that’s reasonable.”

EL_ULY > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:46

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LOLOLOLOL

-Dallas/Houston/San Antonio/Austin home owner

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:46

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For $640k in Hong Kong you can buy this

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:46

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Similar to Chicago I’d imagine.

interstate366, now In The Industry > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:47

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Just down here in Richmond is a world of difference.

For Sweden > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:48

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I get wanting to live in California for lots of money, but Northern Virginia? Why?

For Sweden > EL_ULY 06/16/2017 at 16:49

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Don’t mention San Antonio the kids need to want to move to Austin

Ash78, voting early and often > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 16:51

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My parents lived outside Baltimore for about 15 years and it was (and is) all a bubble propped up by our tax money. In short, government workers and contractors maintaining the status quo at taxpayer expense. When good salaries are easy to come by, housing gets expensive. See also: Anywhere Californians move and say “Wow that’s a good deal!” and drive the prices way too high (like central Mexico, Costa Rica, etc)

Tripper > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 16:51

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I have a friend that lives there...I don’t get it either.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > interstate366, now In The Industry 06/16/2017 at 16:52

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An hour west in Winchester it was completely different.

For Sweden > Ash78, voting early and often 06/16/2017 at 16:53

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Move the federal government to Detriot

EL_ULY > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 16:54

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It won’t be too long after for them to make it to Austin anyways. One could only pretend to be a cowboy for so long.

Ash78, voting early and often > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 16:54

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Oppo COTD.

Textured Soy Protein > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 16:56

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$670k in Madison = giant McMansion, or one of the cool architect-designed mid century places in the 53705 zip code that’s the most desirable one in town, like this one that’s right by a nature preserve and has an indoor pool.

$675k in Potomac, MD 20854 = this house on a busy road with a 2-car carport

For Sweden > EL_ULY 06/16/2017 at 16:57

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That’s why you buy a horse , don’t be gringo city-slicker trash, and go chase cows like vaqueros should.

Party-vi > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 17:02

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No shit man. A lot of Maryland too. A 1,049sf house in a Baltimore suburb cost me $203,000. I’ve seen places in Georgia twice the size for the same price.

philipilihp > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 17:02

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Thanks. Now I’m depressed.

For Sweden > Textured Soy Protein 06/16/2017 at 17:04

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The Maryland house looks quite nice, no interior pictures though...

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 17:06

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That’s all I do for a living, compare houses and say how much I think they’re worth. If someone asks me “What kind of house can I get for $500,000 in N.W. Ohio/S.E. Michigan?”, I usually answer, what do you want? For that kind of money, hell, for 1/2 that amount, there are many, many options available. From new subdivision houses in the ‘burbs, to well established, older homes of high quality in the city of Toledo, or newer 2,000 sq.ft. condo’s in converted warehouses, to multi-acre properties with a nice house, pond and outbuilding. I just appraised a property that was under contract for $200,000. Mid 90's built ranch of about 2,000 sq.ft., on five acres, with pond and a finished 30' x 40' outbuilding that could support a car lift. It needed some cosmetic improvements, but overall it looked pretty sound. My kind of place, if I wanted a more rural property.

interstate366, now In The Industry > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 17:08

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Yeah, from what I understand some people commute from there down route 7. I know people who commute to DC from Fredericksburg, too, but that’s apparently quite common. Personally I’m allergic to driving north of the Rappahannock.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 06/16/2017 at 17:09

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Where I grew up in Alabama, there was a house, restorable house, shop/barn, +/-500 acres, over 2000' river frontage, an island, two ponds, and a creek, all for under $600k.

Svend > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 17:09

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Looked at Zillow. Changed the search to highest/lowest.

Some people are clearly high. VERY F***ING HIGH INDEED!!!!

EL_ULY > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 17:10

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lolz

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > CB 06/16/2017 at 17:18

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ikr

Vítor > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) 06/16/2017 at 17:29

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Isn’t Chicago quite affordable next to other major US cities?

Textured Soy Protein > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 17:34

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There weren’t any on the listing. Here’s another in the same zip code for $660k. No garage, 2195 sq ft, no fancy architecture, etc. The Madison place is 4388 sq ft.

It’s not a bad house but it’s not nearly what you get for the same money in a similarly-desirable zip code in Madison.

For Sweden > Textured Soy Protein 06/16/2017 at 17:35

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No Badgers though

RPM esq. > Textured Soy Protein 06/16/2017 at 18:03

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Here’s the best I could do for the same asking price in Seattle, except that to actually buy it you’d have to bid 105% of the asking price, include an escalator clause up to 115%, waive all contingencies including the inspection, and pay all closing costs yourself, so the real price would be north of $700k.

Case in point: last spring a house on my street--a quiet street in an unfashionable but pleasant neighborhood--which needed a studs-out remodel to be inhabitable by humans, sold in 9 days for 20% over the asking price (which was perhaps 5% below the Zillow estimate), all cash, with no inspection. Almost exactly a year later, after the cheapest remodel ever conducted by unlicensed contractors and undocumented day laborers later, and still with so many issues that the only renters who ever moved in only lasted two weeks, it sold for $120k more.

RPM esq. > Party-vi 06/16/2017 at 18:05

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That would cost you $500k where I live. Unless it was on a big lot, in which case it would be $600k. View? $750k.

Textured Soy Protein > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 18:18

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Very true. I couldn’t resist this parking space while picking up dinner.

JeepJeremy > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 18:38

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My friends bought a townhouse in Fairfax and I seriously almost shit a brick when they told me what they paid for it

Sovande > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 18:55

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Yeah man. It’s expensive. That’s what you get for living close to DC. Shouldn’t be a big surprise. If you live near the airport you will hear planes too.

Sovande > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 18:57

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Because it’s the opposite of California. You can keep that coast.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > For Sweden 06/16/2017 at 19:02

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Proximity to D.C. and the ridiculously high salaries in the area. It’s all about the FedGov.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Textured Soy Protein 06/16/2017 at 19:04

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Would almost be willing to move to WI for that first house, but I couldn’t imagine I’d make enough to afford it there.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > RPM esq. 06/16/2017 at 19:06

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Roughly the situation where I live, too... I figure houses big enough for a family, close enough to town for commuting, and not in a dangerous ghetto start around $600k here.

DipodomysDeserti > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 06/16/2017 at 19:53

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A person?

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Vítor 06/16/2017 at 20:29

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Comparatively, yes - but still over priced. There’s also a huge disparity depending on where in Chicago that skews the numbers a bit. If you want a decent place, in the city, and a safer area, you’ll pay a handsome penny. Though it could be becoming more affordable due to a rise in supply over the last 2 years or so.

Textured Soy Protein > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/16/2017 at 21:28

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Madison has a very stable economy, extremely low unemployment, and the #1 most competitive healthcare market (both insurance and providers) in the country. Property taxes are kinda high though.

McMike > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/16/2017 at 22:42

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22153 checking in.

Every time one of my in-laws move in the Midwest, I’m shocked at how much less they paid for their five bedroom, 2.5 bath house with the three car garage.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Textured Soy Protein 06/17/2017 at 00:58

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Stable != High-paying

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > DipodomysDeserti 06/17/2017 at 13:47

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Parking stall No. 2.

greasemonkey235097 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 06/17/2017 at 14:40

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You have never checked the northeast. Have you?

Couggggar > Textured Soy Protein 06/21/2017 at 15:44

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Potomac is one of the wealthiest communities in the country. I have several friends who grew up there and the money is just absurd. One friend was a Bush cousin, another grew up spending summers swimming at the Shriver compound, a 3rd’s dad is CEO of Williams-Martini Racing (the F1 team), and the fourth’s grandfather owned the Redskins and the Orioles in the 80s. All grew up in Potomac, and all were pretty par-for-the-course in terms of the wealth in that town.

TL:DR you can’t reasonably compare prices in a large midwestern city with those of a super-wealthy DC suburb - it’s apples and oranges

Textured Soy Protein > Couggggar 06/21/2017 at 17:00

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Of course it’s apples and oranges, that’s the point. ;)

I grew up in the small slice of Rockville that has a 20854 zip code, and I live in Madison.

My parents still have their house in 20854 which they’ve expanded/renovated multiple times, and have two houses out on the eastern shore by St. Michael’s. But that’s temporary—they just bought a new one there and their original one there is on the market. But that’s temporary.

So yeah. I know all about rich people in Potomac.

I picked the most expensive zip code in Madison and one of the most expensive in the DC area, to show the relative difference of how far your money goes in each place.