Is today’s housing and economic crisis mainly about greed and selfishness?

[IHaveRespawned]

I support private ownership, entrepreneurship, and the ability for a private sector to exist and thrive. I denounce socialism, communism, and a distribution of weath as a go-to, defacto solution. However, I also do not believe everything should be privatized, as I support a mixed economy.

I do, however, believe there is a greed issue, and our youngest generations are not stupid. The "Own nothing: be 'Happy'" initiatives are predatory. Even Charlie Kirk said himself the lack of being able to have homeownership and real assets will radicalize a generation. In addition, when big tech companies conspire to spy on their customers while partnering with the federal government, this should send chills down everyone's spines.

I agree with Tucker Carlson that the Boomer generation has failed everyone. I agree with one of his guest speakers that everyone wants to grow their piece of the pie, but growing your piece by expanding your pie is the approach rather than consuming the rest of the pie (destroying everyone else's wealth at one's gain).

In addition, criminalizing homelessness when people can barely afford rent as they work multiple full-time jobs is inhumane and abhorrent. Enacting and enforcing strict zoning ordinances and preventing others from seeking alternative forms of housing, whether that be RVs or tiny homes, is disgusting. You either put up and remedy the housing issues or shut up and let people survive the way they see fit. I don't care how much of an eyesore it is to open your curtains in your McMansion and see a mobile home planted on the lawn next door. Your greed doesn't allow you to screw with others' living situations.

I agree

I disagree

See poll

[WindAtMyBack]

There is not an economic or housing crisis. So I'm not sure what you are talking about.

Vacancy rates are low right now, and that drives housing prices. But it's self adjusting. Housing can never go higher than what people can afford. Housing starts have not been keeping up with new immigrants. So the vacancy rates are low. Vacancy rates have started increasing. If that continues, it should help with prices.

We also have not fully recovered from the COVID screw up. Building materials got hit hard by COVID. Prices have fallen quite a bit since the peak, but are still higher than they were before COVID. Higher material costs make the price to build housing higher. It also means builders are less likely to build.

But again, it's self adjusting because housing prices can't go higher than what people can afford.

I have no idea where all this nonsense that "boomers" are somehow responsible for everyone's woes. That is total idiocy. If anything, it's just the opposite. Or perhaps you would like to return to how things were 50-70 years ago? If you did that you'd realize just how good you have it now.

Yes, home ownership has dropped a little. But it is still higher than when I started working. But you need to consider something else. Homes, both apartments and houses, are much bigger now and have far more amenities than they did before. There are also a lot less people per house than before. The average person today has almost twice the square feet per person as they did when I was young. If you want to compare housing costs today with the past, get a room mate and then compare costs. It would be a more fair comparison that way.

If things aren't going your way, do something about it. Complaining and pointing fingers won't do any good.

[IHaveRespawned]

Coming from a 69 year old... you have lost touch with reality when it relates to younger generations. No wonder! Entry level work, job stability, and homeownership especially is out of reach for many of us, yet with rent and home prices skyrocketing, we have been priced out with minimal options. The real word is UNDERemployment more so. If a software engineer trying to get off the ground running is shoved out of his field and picks up a convenience store job because no one is hiring, submits 100 applications a month competing with 1000+ other applicants that are submitting their applications with AI (and evaluated by AI), then must shift gears into some other career path from square one hoping to get his foot into the door while paying $1800/month for rent, paying off student loans, and trying to save for a starter home priced at $350k or more, of course that person is up shits creek. A boomer himself is trying to downplay the situation, go figure!

[IHaveRespawned]

Bottom line, a poor US citizen is just as much American as the Billionaire US citizen. We are Americans that shall have our dignity and right of pursuits. No government shall exploit or infringe on an American's rights and pursuits because he/she is in a lower income bracket than another. No government shall turn a blind eye to justice just because one has status, money, or fame. We are seeing pedophiles running free, protected, and not facing justice because of their status or wealth. We are seeing veterans and heroes laying on the sidewalks, threatened with arrest, or shoved out of their only form of shelter because it does not meet code or they are homeless. This is absolutely unacceptable, and don't sit here and deny it because I will call out your bullshit. At the end of they day, people seek to survive, prosper, and have a niche and purpose. Young Americans are not "lazy" because you feel they do not meet your standards of what they should be.

[WindAtMyBack]

It sounds like you should move someplace else where you can get a better job and find lower housing costs. Instead of complaining and blaming everyone else for your problems, start packing and move.

[IHaveRespawned]

Or, even better option, why don't I buy that eighth of an acre near your home and plant my shed home with 1 bedroom, bathroom, and a small kitchen? Wait, no I cannot because you selfish bastards don't want to open your curtains of your McMansions in the morning to see an "eyesore" as what you would call it. How about I park my RV along the curb in front of your home? That is a public right-of-way isn't it? No I cannot because local ordinances forbid both of these options. Why not have an RV park open on your street? No because you McMansion folks will flood the next town board meeting to bitch about it. You are the same asswipes that would turn a blind eye to a $2000 a month high density apartment complex, but God forbid someone parcel their land into eighths or sixteenths of an acre so their children can build tiny homes on it. Why am I being compelled to leave my hometown and my family because you believe that is the only viable option DIPSHIT?

[WindAtMyBack]

You don't even know what the fuck you are taking about. Stop fucking whining.

If you don't think you have enough money, then start working 80 hours a week. Whatever you do, stop blaming everyone else for your problems.

[IHaveRespawned]

Of course that is the solution of the Boomer geezer: just work 80 hours and you'll be fine. The typical bullshit. You and I both know it didn't require working 80 fucking hours a week to purchase your first starter home when you were young. Yes, you may have had to put in hard work and time at your normal, full-time job. Go back to the 60s and 70s. Did it require working 80 hours a week with both spouses working to afford a small starter home with a family? Easy for you to say to tell younger generations to just work 80 hours. Go fuck yourself!

[IHaveRespawned]

... and you think you had it easy? Why don't you go conjure up your dead parents and/or grandparents who survived through the great depression and let them tell you how easy you had it. You were able to coast through that boom immediately following the depression era when they spat out your sorry ass. Speaking of Great Depressions, it sure as hell feels we are approaching that, but maybe after you fuckers die off finally things will cool down. But I shouldn't count on it considering you all will likely fuck us beyond the grave too.

[WindAtMyBack]

Yes I DID work 80 hours and a lot more. Why the hell do you think the economy boomed in the 80s and 90s? It was because everyone was out hustling.

No it was NOT just my generation, or my parents generation. I see people in their 20s and 30s buying houses all the time. The kid next door is 20 and works at a fast food place. He may be buying a house soon.

You don't know what you are talking about. Companies are practically begging for employees here, and have been doing that for several years. Typical minimum wage type jobs are paying double and triple minimum wage.

You can buy a house in a decent safe neighborhood for under 100K. If you take your time to look, and are willing to do a little work on it, you can probably get one for under 80K.

There are traditional single income families with a man working, and supporting a wife and kids, and owning a nice house in a suburb - while still in their 30s.

Like I said, you can move. You don't need to live in a high cost of living location. This is something you have total control over. If you don't do it, that is on you.

[IHaveRespawned]

Lol, let me get this straight, so you are a senior US citizen residing in the United States claiming a 20 year old fast food worker somewhere around the 2020s was able to purchase an actual home being a fast food worker and residing in a safe neighborhood, that it was normal to work 80 hours a week when you were young to purchase a starter home, and that 20 and 30 years old are just straight out buying homes right now? Where the fuck is this magical land because I REALLY want to know! I can for certain say it definitely isn't Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, or Florida. Ironically, you would think many of these southern states would be the best states, but somehow this isn't the case anymore.

[IHaveRespawned]

... I am waiting for at least a name of the state. No need to share a city or zip code.

[WindAtMyBack]

Correct, except the part about it being normal to work 80 hours a week. I said that *I* have done it, and so have a lot of other people.

The point is that no matter what generation you are, the harder you work, and the more you save, the better off you will be "on average". It's just common sense. Of course it won't work for everyone, but it's a damn good formula with a high success rate.

Yes, the 20 year old next door may be buying a house soon. He's in the process of looking. He started working at 16 at a fast food place, starting at $15 per hour. He was at $19 when he left there for a warehouse job for $25 an hour. Then he went back to fast food. I don't know what he makes now. He saved 30% of his money. He bought a Dodge Charger at 17, and a hemi charger at 19 (both used).

That is normal around here for people who go out and work.

Yes, there are at least four couples just on my street who are one income households and bought a nice house in one of the best suburbs. It's not a long street either.

One thing that happened was the two-income households. That drove house prices up. Like I said, housing prices can't go higher than what people can afford. With two incomes, they can afford more, which means house prices go up.

Another problem is that "they" have been pushing college too much. "They" keep telling people that going to college is the solution to everything. So now we have too many people going to college. A lot of college grads have a hard time finding work in their field, especially if they chose a crap major. This results in a shortage of employees in other areas. There is a severe shortage of trades people. Right now, the trades are the best way to go for someone currently in high school or just graduated.

[WindAtMyBack]

There needs to be a proper balance. Too many people going to college has upset the balance.

All the people going to college affects another thing - age. As more and more people go to college, and more and more get advanced degrees, they are older and older when they get out working. Instead of working full time at 16-18, they aren't starting until mid or even late 20s. Of course they will be older when they buy their first home. They are starting later. Same with getting married later.

[IHaveRespawned]

Yes, college has become the biggest scam. Again, what state? Will this be in an area with first responders if I become injured or critical ill? Are there at least hospitals nearby or can I be airlifted in an emergency? I don't mind growing my own food. In fact, I have started sprouting seedling this year. Any strict zoning or building ordinances?

[WindAtMyBack]

I'm in Ohio.

Yes, the first responders are great. When I called 911 for my father, I was really surprised how fast they got here. One of the local hospitals is one of the highest rated in the country for some things, like it's neurology center and stroke treatment.

Zoning is pretty reasonable here, but not as good as it used to be. Too many yuppies have moved in.

I think the majority of people on my street have a vegetable garden. I just started my seeds as well. I got my first two germinations today. The guy across the street hunts, fishes and grows a big garden. He only spends about $80 a month on store bought food.

[IHaveRespawned]

Is this really for real? Damn... as the damn Yankees move down here and screw things up, maybe I will trade places with them.

[WindAtMyBack]

I think the big migration from north to the sunbelt was back in the 80s and 90s. Places like Atlanta grew like crazy because of it. Florida, Texas, Alabama, etc all grew a lot from Yankees moving south. I almost moved to Huntsville at one time.

I've lived in 15+ towns / cities in ten states. I've also traveled the country by land a LOT. So I'm pretty familiar with it.

[IHaveRespawned]

Knoxville, TN, my hometown (born and raised) sucks now. Too many damn high density apartments and rentals going up, traffic is insane, and locals are priced out of the home market.

[WindAtMyBack]

Last time I was in Knoxville was the early 2000s. Straight down 75 to 40 east. I crossed to western NC. I remember the highways in Knoxville were all under construction. Knoxville is not a place I hear about people moving to, but I know it's been growing.

[BonzoInBitburg]

Houses are no longer an asset in many places. Houses go up an average of 6-7% per year but mortgages are 6% which wipes out any gain. Add in property tax and insurance and home ownership becomes a liability because it becomes a drain on your net worth. That money is better off in an ETF with 8% returns. I just sold my house and will never buy a house again in the West. Greed and selfishness is what regulates an economy and keeps everything in balance.

[Anonymous]

This is an argument against illegal immigration, but people fail to mention it when fighting to keep illegal immigrants in the U. S., especially violent criminal illegal immigrants.

Why? They use up our money and resources, like housing, making it unavailable to Americans who need it, and driving up the cost to the point where it's unaffordable for a majority of people. And in most instances, their housing is paid for by taxpayers, a luxury most Americans don't have available to them. They also use up our taxpayer-funded healthcare and crowd our hospitals to the point where it takes 8 months to get an ordinary appointment.

We're supposed to be so conscious of climate change, but they crowd our roads and burn our fuel resources in heating and air conditioning and electricity -- by the tens of millions. The U. S. population has grown from 280 million in 2000 to 350 million today, just 25 years later, in large part due to open borders and illegal immigration.

So selfishness and greed has nothing to do with it. It's simple supply and demand, and we're giving our supply to the wrong people.

[Anonymous]

Largely socialism. The more socialist a country gets the worse the living standards get just look at Sweden or Venezuela

[lightbulb27]

It's about inflation and money printing and bailouts. Whatever you call that.

If they'd let the system collapse, the banks go bust, depression... probably still be in a depression, houses be cheap, just may not be jobs.

[Ariesman81]

Not even gonna attempt to gaslight you. The housing market is a joke. Has been since before 2008.

I can tell you this though, you're on the right path.

[Cidknee]

Yep, it's amazing how the rich are bloodthirsty toward those who seek fortune through working hard. How do they sleep at night?

[msc545]

Everything these days is about greed and selfishness in the United States.

[Dargil]

What else is there?

[exitseven]

it is capitalism and the law of supply and demand.

[IHaveRespawned]

Of course. So let me buy that eighth of acre behind your house and plant my tiny shed home there that has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, and a simple eating area. Oh wait, this cannot be done because municipal ordinances forbid it. Hmm... I will start a business directing traffic, handling crowd control, and painting lines in a parking lot... well wait, I have to have all these insurance policies, special certifications just to wave my hands and put down a cone, 3 different permits from 3 different governmental bodies, and all these licenses

It isn't about capitalism, it is about red tape, bureaucracy, liability, frivolous lawsuits, and a bar raised so high that not just any idea will work on those things alone.

[exitseven]

Vote for republicans of you want to reduce red tape.

[IHaveRespawned]

Lol, you kidding? Both Democrat and Republican politicians don't give a flying fuck about everyday struggling Americans. My state of Tennessee bans shed homes, my county sent threatening letters in the mail because my RV was hooked up to the house, and my state also recently criminalized homelessness. My newlywed wife would have not married me if I didn't have this downright lucky living arrangement I have in my parents' house only because my parent's are divorcing. We live in my parents' house with my parents separated and living elsewhere. Maybe you can say I shouldn't be complaining, but the only reason why this is happening is because of my unfortunate parent's situation. It is odd to say I became lucky because of my parents' marital issues, which is actually very sad. This speaks volumes how everything is economically and the downwards spiral young Americans are feeling.

[exitseven]

@IHaveRespawned There are zoning laws for a reason. Most people's largest investment is in their homes. Nobody wants to live next door to somebody living in a tool shed or having their once pristine neighborhood turned into a trailer park;
I really to sympathize with your predicament but you need to either find a way to get recertified to be a paramedic or else find another career that will allow you to make enough money to support yourself.

[strateguy632]

depends where. where are these crises?

[Mike_Hum]

It’s supply and demand.

[beefcakebradybatson]

D**N SKIPPY !!!