It's Just Money

I just hope it's not real

Being the glutton for irrational debate that I am, every once in a while I cruise over to the Craig's List housing forums.  Most of the content consists of participants anonymously posting links or observations to affirm their strongly held belief of a bursting housing bubble, or a rising housing market.  On rare occasion, participants will start a thread seeking advice, such as the quality of certain neighborhoods, or landlord/tennant issues.  Today, I came across a post that I believe to be a fake.  Well, I hope so anyway.  The post is written to the Los Angeles board, but available for all to read:

Okay, here's the deal: my wife and I have combined yearly income of $140,000, but we've always had a heavy expense load and only have around $10,000 in savings and maybe another $20,000 in an IRA. We figure buying a house will do two things: help us financially prepare for the future by building equity, and also force us to be a little more thrifty on our spending.

American Idol is Ruining America

I'll admit it.  I watched the opening night of America Idol on Tuesday.  But let's face it, if the numbers are accurate, so did you.  An estimated 37.5 million Americans tuned in for some nails on the chalkboard singing, followed by "What the bloody hell was that?" "No Dawg, wasn't feeling it" and "Sorry Sweetie, it's a no."

It's not Super Bowl numbers, but for a show where we already know what is going to happen, it's rather astonishing.  But it's not the fact that so many are watching that is ruining America.  I mean, perhaps there's a dumbing down factor, but I'm not so worried about that.  After all, I opened this post with my own admission that I watched.

There is another factor, and it has directly targeted America's youth, intentionally or not.  It is a condition that I think we can simply call "overblown expectations."  Today's 15-24 year olds may someday, if not already, be referred to as the American Idol Generation, or the Reality TV Generation.  They are a generation who grew up witnessing Kelly Clarkson blossom from American Idol winner to bona fide pop music star.  Survivor Alum Elisabeth Filarski Hasselbeck married NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, and currently co-hosts The View along side actual celebrities (like them or not) Barbara Walters and Rosie O'Donnell.  What about Bob the Bachelor?  Booted on the Bachelorette, goes on to be the man in the next Bachelor and hosts VH-1's "I Love the 90s."

How much did you get paid to attend your New Year's Eve party?

I made some chipotle Mac n' Chese as my potluck contribution to my New Year's Eve Party.  Macaroni, whole milk, a stick of butter, a few chipotle peppers and four cups of cheese.  Total, $8.76.  So, I guess I was paid -$8.76 to attend my New Year's Eve Party.

On the other hand, If your name was Paris Hilton you got paid over a million bucks to be flown to Australia and be a judge for the Bikini Babe contest at the Bondi Icebergs Club.  If you were the genius behind Popozao, and affectionately go by K-Fed, you probably made around $20,000.

Planning a big shindig?  Throw a million bucks at her, and Paris will be one of your honored guests.  And no, it doesn't have to be in the form of one dollar bills that you stuff in her undies.

Alternatively, for that same million or so bucks, you could snag Jessica Simpson, Alex Rodriguez or Aerosmith.  Too steep for you?  In the $100k-$500k range your guests can rub elbows Desperate Housewives stars Eva Longoria or Teri Hatcher (not a package deal).  Still not in your budget?  Mario Lopez will drink your punch for less than fifty grand.  Dancing not included.  Under $25k gets you Porn Star, Tera Patrick.  Dancing still not included.  Potsie from Happy Days will make an appearance for less than five grand!

But in the deal of the century, shell out $500-$1,000 and you can have Deal or No Deal models at your party!  You think Ursula charges extra?

My unbelievable conversation with a realtor

You wouldn't believe the conversation that I had with a realtor last week.  Here's the backstory.  My Fiancee and I love to go to open houses.  Our timeline to actually make a purchase is sometime around 2008, after we get married.  As readers of my blog know, I am of the opinion that housing prices in Southern California will not continue to go up.  In fact, I believe we will see a nominal decline in prices.  Whether you want to call it a crash, a bubble, a soft or hard landing, doesn't much matter.  Although those terms seem to ignite quite a bit of controversy.

Even if prices drop 10%, that's a $50,000 saving on a half a million dollar place.  Anyway, the coming wedding and our outlook on the Southern California housing market are the two reasons we are not serious about buying at this time.  But our favorite thing to do on weekends is to visit open houses.

Two weeks ago we were in South Pasadena and saw the increasingly ubiquitous "Open House" signs.  We decided to stop at one on a very busy street.  It was a newly built four unit townhouse.  The front unit was being shown by a very lonely realtor.  Four bed, three bath with attached garage on a mere 1,400 square feet.  The finishes were not high end, and kitchen cabinetry was made from a cheap wood.  When I commented on that the realtor's response was, "well many buyers like to do things their own way, so the builder doesn't make it all finished."  Okay, that's fine if you are charging fixer upper prices.  This one was asking $815,000!

Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine Sells Out!

Southwest Airlines in-flight magazine, Spirit, is your typical in-flight magazine.  Letter from the Editor?  Check.  Crossword Puzzle?  Check.  List of beverages?  Check.  Slimy Advertising disguised as a legitimate article?  Check.  Wait a minute.  What was that last one?

That's right.  Southwest has completely sold out.  So, I find this article about real estate in the Spirit magazine.  It looks a lot more interesting that whether or not you should see Luke or Owen Wilson's movie coming out soon (if you are going to see either, see Owen's).

The article begins with this...

Gas Prices, Gas Prices, Gas Prices!!!

I'll tell you what we need.  We need yet another post about gas prices.  Yea, that's the ticket.

Look, I know that I have contributed to the madness.  And I'm glad I did.  It allowed me to examine how much I'm spending in gas, how much it is as a part of my total cost to commute, ways that I can reduce fuel consumption, and even whether or not I should take par in any boycotts.

So, I've come to the following conclusion.

Internet Ads I Hate

Have you seen this ad?

It's all over Yahoo Finance.  So, if you're here, I'm sure you've been there.  Sounds like a pretty good deal doesn't it?  Heck, if you're renting, you're just crazy!  At these rates, you could pay LESS and OWN!

Isn't that what they want us to believe?