Monday, November 14, 2011

Housing Slump Leads to Some Unusual Outcomes

1. "Here in Merced, California a city in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley and one of the country’s hardest hit by home foreclosures, the downturn in the real estate market has presented an unusual housing opportunity for thousands of college students. Facing a shortage of dorm space, they are moving into hundreds of luxurious homes in overbuilt planned communities."



2. "Las Vegas has a pot home problem. And like many of the region's maladies, it's tied to the housing slump. Major cultivators spend tens of thousands of dollars turning cheap homes into greenhouses. Last year, authorities took down 153 indoor grow sites in Nevada and seized more than 13,000 plants, compared with 18 sites and 1,000 plants in 2005, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said."



10 Comments:

At 11/15/2011 12:31 AM, Blogger Methinks said...

Two perfectly productive uses for homes and only one of them is legal.

Think of how many people the pot industry could employ!

Why, even this idiot could find a way to pay off his school loans if pot were decriminalized (I'm pretty sure it's the only industry that'll take him).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SwKxUz7osM&feature=related

 
At 11/15/2011 1:53 AM, Blogger Ron H. said...

Methinks: "Why, even this idiot could find a way to pay off his school loans if pot were decriminalized (I'm pretty sure it's the only industry that'll take him). '

LOL he doesn't even know why he's there. Maybe he just has nothing else to do, and enjoys the festive atmosphere.

 
At 11/15/2011 3:18 AM, Blogger Methinks said...

Whaddaya mean, Ron H.? He's there to try to get stuff for free.

From each according to his ability to each according to his need, my dear. The clever chap is just out demonstrating his need and lack of ability.

 
At 11/15/2011 7:48 AM, Blogger Larry G said...

In some areas immigrants, will rent/buy homes in traditional subdivisions and rent bedrooms to other immigrant families.

there is a backlash against them because their lifestyle is very different from traditional American families living in subdivisions.

but their education level limits the kind of work they can do and in areas where housing is expensive - they adapt.

 
At 11/15/2011 8:23 AM, Blogger russell said...

this could have been part of your "markets in everything" series...

 
At 11/15/2011 8:39 AM, Blogger Larry G said...

" this could have been part of your "markets in everything" series... "

good ONE , Russell!

 
At 11/16/2011 5:29 PM, Blogger Ron H. said...

Methinks: "From each according to his ability to each according to his need, my dear. The clever chap is just out demonstrating his need and lack of ability."

Now that you mention it, I see that you are right, as usual. I never realized that "from each" and "to each" referred to different individuals.

The guy in the video is obviously a member of the "to each".

 
At 11/16/2011 6:12 PM, Blogger Ron H. said...

"there is a backlash against them because their lifestyle is very different from traditional American families living in subdivisions."

I'll say, and it's not hard to understand why. In neighborhoods where homeowners take pride in maintaining neat, attractive houses and yards, large groups of immigrants may have no interest in maintenance or yard care, and the property soon looks like s**t.

To further enhance the beauty of the property, any number of inoperable vehicles, in various stages of dis-assembly, may be parked in the yard and on the street, perhaps with one half in and half out of the garage, with the broken garage door resting on top of it for effect.

In summer, large tent like structures may appear in the front yard for visiting relatives to live in, and of course there are groups of people coming and going at all hours.

To avoid wasting money unecessary on trash collection, household trash can just be left in the yard.

Some immigrants prefer to butcher their own meat, so various hoofed animals may appear from time to time, never to reappear.

If you've never experienced a horse careening wildly about in a back yard, screaming in pain because the blow to its head, intended to stun it, failed to do so, you haven't lived.

But, hey, what's not to like?

 
At 11/17/2011 6:27 PM, Blogger VangelV said...

The market always comes through.

 
At 11/18/2011 3:37 PM, Blogger Ian Random said...

I heard something like the housing surplus is making more home available to the film industry.

 

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