The Housing Market is Less Than Fun

Apparently, when some mid-1800s era folks got upset at their landlords, they up and killed them as you can read about in this scholarly account.

Housing Woes

Recently, I began dipping my toes into real estate market.  This is not a kids game, folks.  Real estate is a grown up business.  Last week, I scheduled a meeting with a guy who wore sagging jeans and sneakers and arrived more than ten minutes late.  Standing on the street outside the place I was looking at potentially moving into did give me a feeling for the neighborhood, which did not help his guy's chances of interesting me in the property.  But enough about that... 

My list of things that I want in my first home are reasonable.  It's not as if I'm going to hold my breath until I turn blue until I get a place like this:

These photos give you a small taste of the fancy home shown above.  Go here to get your full fix.

I expect to deliver more Halloween goodies next time.

TL;DR: Searching for my first home is going to be far more of a challenge than I anticipated.   

Anger Over Housing

Everything that is Wrong with America and San Diego

I am sick and tired of paying money to someone else who provides me with little in return.  Housing in particular bothers me.  I want to own, not rent, my own home.  I do not need a large home. I would like to own a home that is within a reasonable commuting distance of where I currently work in San Diego, CA.

I value my independence a great deal.  I do not want to share a living space with people who are not members of my family.  I do not want to live with one or more roommates.

I can sum up everything that is wrong with American in general and San Diego in particular with this one link.  Here is a 420 square foot studio apartment, not even a one-bedroom mind you, that would cost me $925 a month to live in.  The unit itself is OK and while the neighborhood isn't the worst, it is not a place I would feel comfortable walking around at night.   The monthly rental rate for this apartment is fairly standard around the city of San Diego.

$925/ Month Does Not Buy Paradise

Since the listing does not mention parking, I imagine that street parking is the only thing available with this unit, which means that whoever lives here has to deal with the hassle of dragging their things to and from a different location each day.  Groceries are a pain to deal with in this setup plus there is the constant threat of someone smashing your window and stealing whatever is inside your car.

I don't like to discuss finances.  I will say that given my financial situation $925 is a lot of money to charge someone to live in a studio in a sub-par neighborhood.

I am incredibly grateful to have found a job this year after searching for longer than I would have liked to find employment.  I worked for four years at the same company after graduating from college and did well at my job.  I am intelligent, hardworking, have no felonies on my record nor have I had any serious run ins with the law.  I received good grades throughout my time in school. while earning both a high school diploma from a public school and a bachelor's degree from a good university.  I could pursue a post-graduate degree but I don't like the idea of bribing smart people to get them to hand me a piece of paper that says I am one them.  If I could see some real value to having another diploma, I might consider going back to school.  What I have seen of the job market tells me that paying to put another diploma on my wall might not help me.

Summary of My Problem with Housing in America
All the money I could spend to rent this or any other apartment does not actually help me to own anything.  I personally do not have the money to buy a condo or single family detached home in cash at the moment.  If I was to buy such a thing with the help of a bank, what would happen if I lost my job?  Would a bank laugh at me if I was to approach them with my level of income and a desire to own, not rent, a piece of property?  Why does America or any other country use such a bizarre system of borrowing and credit to get people to move into their own homes?  This is the post-industrial age we live in.  We have an abundance of goods and people to supply services so why is it that a need as basic as shelter in an area where there is work to be found so difficult to obtain?

Thoughts?