patrick.net

Isn’t that a little high? Even in the US most colleges don’t charge in the millions.

don't? won't?

*unlurks*

I've got my issues with the PETA. THere are these Toronto Vegetarian Association ads that offer to send you a free vegetarian cookbook if you email / write an address. But what you get is not a cookbook. Nooo it's a booklet with graphic articles / picture of animal cruelty, with maybe a few random vegetarian recipes at the back. No useful articles on how to make the switch, or what protein sources can replace the essential amino acids in meat (most vegetable protein sources will not give you ALL the amino acids you need).

Said mailout also contained a CD. I'm sure, with PETA docu-footage on more graphic stuff which I did not view. I guess their idea is to SHOCK you into vegetarianism and maybe some activism. Well, all good and fine, I guess, if you're into animals. I wrote them a pissed off email because I didn't like the deceptive nature of their ad and their tactics. but of course they never bothered to write back.

My primary interest in going somewhat vegetarian was to have a smaller ecological footprint and to be healthier (less fat intake). Ironically, I think PETA / Toronto Vegetarian Association set me back a few years.

Oh, and more U.S. housing bubble-trouble articles appeared in the Toronto newspapers this week. With more disclaimers that "it could never happen here". Yes yes, Toronto housing prices rose faster than inflation for the last five years, but not as fast as in Bubblicious California. Of course, the authors didn't bother to realize that housing prices do not have to shoot to the sky to fall -- they can just as easily fall from a not-very-high-plateau because it is already very difficult for median young family to buy a house, or even a townhouse, unless they move far out to the 'burbs.

*relurks*

My primary interest in going somewhat vegetarian was to have a smaller ecological footprint and to be healthier (less fat intake).

You can begin by eating more veggies. I love veggies myself, although I do not like lettuce.

I guess their idea is to SHOCK you into vegetarianism and maybe some activism.

I doubt I can be shocked into vegetarianism by any graphic video.

Many private schools are already at about $160,000 for four years.

And that is before sushi.

HARM Says:
My apologies if someone has already posted this, but… wow!
Scroll down to “Reported Attacked!” link.

http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/
_____

I would have whacked that chick if she hit me with the water bottle.

I would have slapped her so hard on the left hand side of her face, she'd still be fricken' seeing stars.

Plus, my big-ass palm print would be permanently emlazoned on the side of her face in crimson, glowing red infamy!

I would have taken that dude to the ground, choked him out, then slapped another big paw print on his chubby cheeks like that chick.

Then...then...

I woke up.

Yawn...what a nightmare!

I dreampt of this weird ass housing bubble in California and all sorts of weird sh-t. Thank god I'm back in Kansas Toto. There's no place like home!

The detiny of food is to be eaten.

Perhaps I should make this into a T-shirt.

I would have taken that dude to the ground, choked him out, then slapped another big paw print on his chubby cheeks like that chick.

Yea, maybe I'm just made of essentially dumbass, midwestern, redneck, farmtown boy stuff, but I'd have twisted that chump's head off like a rusty bottle top out of an old pop machine.

(One too many Ikura & Sake tonite. Pardon.)

Ikura & Sake

Which came into existence first: sake or ikura?

What we have here in Bend is a massive Bid/Ask spread.

And people berate me for uttering the word "sticky".

Yea, maybe I’m just made of essentially dumbass, midwestern, redneck, farmtown boy stuff....

I think that only effects the 'how' you'd take them to the ground, not whether you'd do it at all. I think most rational people would do something to neutralize the threat. Personally, I think it's more efficient to step aside and help them find their way into a nearby section of wall or pavement. Seems easier, less liability, repeat as needed.

Oh, and "Vegetables aren't food. Vegetables are what food eats."

requiem Says:

"...Personally, I think it’s more efficient to step aside and help them find their way into a nearby section of wall or pavement. Seems easier, less liability, repeat as needed..."
_____

Ha, ha!

That's what I'm talking about.

"Cats are just a front for the dolphins. Who rules? Who gets all the good sushi? There’s your answer."

By that logic, I think sea otters are the real masterminds. They're the ones scarfing up prime sea urchins and abalones.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/classifieds/real_estate/15468887.htm

San Jose home prices fall.

austingal Says:

Also, saw three comentators on FOX this am, making fun of people who own rental properties. Saying things like, “yeah, I still own my rental properties, how ’bout you?” Something about being the last to know.
The tide has turned.

When Fox commentators are acting like the bubbble's a done deal, you know it's been over for a while. They're as much a lagging indicator as you can get in the MSM.

It's also typical of their high school bully-like attitude, making fun of people on the air (see O'Reilly). What a bunch of yahoos.

"Just thought I’d mention that they need more hot men on CNBC."

I haven't watched CNBC for years, but I recall that their male reporters were all quite easy on the eyes and ears.

Stephen Colbert is very mesmerizing. And Hugh Laurie (English or "American") and Kiefer Sutherland voices are extremely mesmerizing. Those three could read a phone book and put it on a loop, and I could listen to it all day long.

newsfreak Says:

> At present I like cats because they do not talk,
> they are all eyes, and prefer to sleep and eat.
> At least cats do not bark.

But they smell, leave hair all over and destroy furniture...

P.S. If anyone wants a free couch I spotted one this morning on the California Street sidewalk (around 8th St.). It was either owned by a cat owner or some guy that tried to rip it up with a claw shaped knife...

"yeah, I still own my rental properties"

Anybody TIVO that? What a sign of the times! If we think it will be bad with SFH's wait until they begin to delve into the "condo flipping" mess. They'll have a hard time figuring out who owned what and who owes who! Any time there seems to be "guaranteed profits" and "can't lose" propositions people start "going in" with co-workers, relatives and total strangers. When I peruse the closings in our area I see a lot of properties being flipped by "Sunshine Happy Happy Good Times L.L.C"!

(Good luck getting to the bottom of that)

Has anyone made a prediction as to how much house prices will drop by in Mountain VIew, Los Altos - Silicon Valley? I'm thinking 20-40%, but at the prices they want, that could be a lot of money, so I want to narrow the range down so I know when I see a bargain.

My companion feline Noelle is the boss I've had her for over five years. She has seen plenty of boyfriends come and go. Cats are far superior they know intinctively when your having a bad day and come by and brush up next to you. She has moved with me several times even across the country. She keeps grounded and she care less whether we are living in a 1/1 or a 2/2 condo.

Cat's rule

My friend who is putting her house on the market in Cupertino is arguing with her realtor. Apparently the realtor wants her to price it $30k less than my friend feels it is worth. She's not going to listen to the realtor, she's listing it at the price she believes it is worth. I'm curious to see if she can get her asking price or if the realtor is right in this case.

mike,

Thanks for your comments. I agree with your reasoning, although I'm not sure it's a specifically political-partisan phenomenon. I believe our lack of leadership in general by both parties has led us into this spiral.

I'm also not sure that the "Mexico" outcome is inevitable. The US has been much further along the road to ruin in the past, and yet has managed to emerge stronger. So long as we are able to balance free-market capitalism's "creative destruction" with common sense (stopping that destruction before it's irreversible).

I definitely agree re: price reductions. I think a lot of folks waiting to buy into neighborhoods inhabited largely by those who have benefited from this economy will be disappointed by how little prices fall. Maybe only 20%, which puts the area I'm in now only back 12-18 months in value.

The junky house says that it's: Pending: Continue to Show

This past 3 day weekend we decided to drive up to Seattle and back. After reading a lot about Bend, OR on Patrick.net, I thought we will drive up 97N ( also wanted to see Klamath and Crater ) and see for myself what this Bend in Oregon is all about. : ) I dont think 97N runs through the best parts of Bend but if it does, I dont understand why anyone will want to move there after living in California especially the Bay area. Other than white trash, I didnt find decent people living there, trailer park homes and manufactured houses. Whats the median income and housing price in Bend again?

I think a lot of folks waiting to buy into neighborhoods inhabited largely by those who have benefited from this economy will be disappointed by how little prices fall. Maybe only 20%, which puts the area I’m in now only back 12-18 months in value.

Or... they see a 30% reduction but they do not want to buy any more.

Or... they see a 50% reduction but suddenly they cannot afford even the new price.

We may not want to underestimate the newly-created wealth but we definitely cannot underestimate the fatality of human actions.

Phil,

Our "resident expert" on all things Bend, OR is Michael Anderson. Perhaps if we can pull him away from daytrading for a minute he could insert his thoughts on the matter?

As I live closer to Salem, OR I can only say that the "appeal" regarding Bend has always mystified me. There are A LOT of really great towns in Central and Eastern OR, so why Bend? What exactly does it have over Silver Lake (or Paisley) for that matter? What could possibly be worth dealing with all the speed traps and traffic out in the middle of NO WHERE? Is it nice? Sure, but there's no employment (of course outside of building, selling or financing real estate). I have so many friends that grew up there and their memories are not of the fond variety. The described it as "poverty with a view". IMHO.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates 17 times since mid-2004 in an effort to curb inflation.

Yes, blame the Fed. Were they cheering when interest rate was lowered to 1%? It would not have needed 17 hikes if they were not at a measured pace.

Now they can start lowering prices at a pace that is "likely to be measured".

Actually the Fed has been quite proactive this time. The bubble could have been much, much bigger.

Peter P,

Excellent point. Mass psychology was extremely important in creating the housing bubble and odds are it'll be extremely important on the way down.

People will be much less eager to buy when their FB friends are $150K underwater on their mortgages.

People will be much less eager to buy when their FB friends are $150K underwater on their mortgages.

I think they may even puke, literally.

Frank,

Very "quaint" listing you have there! "Cozy" some might say. I have a term for the type of people that put this kind of filth on the market; "Rip Van Flipper". I swear it's like they've been asleep for a hundred years, woke up, found there WAS a housing "boom" going on and decided now was a good time to cash in!

Earth to Rip!

(Go back to sleep and try in another 100 years)

Is this pathetic or what! I almost feel like feeding the squirrels my damn self when I hear some HB or realt-whore go on about the SEVETEEN int. rate hikes and how it's derailing their "feedbag"!

Had the Fed the courage to do what was necessary and institute some MEANINGFUL increases much of the damage could have been avoided!

The bottom line was that everybody and their long lost brother KNEW the Fed was going about this thing with kid gloves and had absolutely no fear they would accelerate the cost of money. Happy now?

DinOR,

Well, the realtors need to find Some way, any way, of jump-starting their income. I hear of solidly experienced realtors who haven't had a commission in months. Did you see the Fed minutes from the last meeting? Only 2 members wanted to raise rates. Everyone else was sanguine about current inflation, and wanted to wait to see what the previous (paltry) rate increases would do. Boy, we're in for a mess.

Could someone remind me what the rent to house price ratio should be? I am trying to figure out from our rent what houses should really be selling for.

Could someone remind me what the rent to house price ratio should be?

You should compare only post-renovation price and rent. It makes a big difference.

The price/rent ratio for fixers are very high because one can always renovate a purchase but your options for a rental are very limited.

Thanks DinOR for the info.
I saw flatlands there so I am not sure what is the view that all are talking about. I dont understand people wanting to move from California to live in OR. I stopped by at OSU to meet up with a friend who is doing his PhD there so I assume he has been in OR for a while. He told me that the weather there is such that you have drizzle all the time. It just does not rain and stop and thats the kind i really hate. And so is Seattle. I saw a lot of propaganda that Seattle is not the wettest place in the US and such.

It just seems that rent is much more sensitive to renovations/appliances/amenities than price.

Could someone remind me what the rent to house price ratio should be? I am trying to figure out from our rent what houses should really be selling for.

Claire,

I recommend you read through the March, 2006 thread: Housing Price Rules-of-Thumb. It covers this exact topic extensively.

Phil,

I believe Hilo, HI is the wettest place in the U.S and although many places in the "lower 48" get more rain than the PNW we have the most days with rain! I can't remember the exact year (I think it was 1997 or 98) Seattle didn't HAVE A SUMMER! It rained up to and through mid-August, they had a few clear weeks and the dreaded rain started the day after Labor Day! Great place huh?

That is an interesting question, whether rent is more sensitive than price to frills?

More interestingly, this varies from person to person.

If you absolutely do not need newer bath, kitchen, and other frills, it is LESS sensitive to you.