El Paso is in Top 10 Least Affordable Cities (real estate, how much)

[mistabinks]

Originally Posted by DesertDog

I've heard the term "Juarez-Elite" used in several post and was curious what this means and who are they?

I am not saying anyone hear thinks this and I am not trying to put any words in anyone's mouth.

That being said...

A lot of people like to assume that Juarez in general is dirt poor. Therefor anyone with money is "Juarez-Elite," the exception to the rule. No one can doubt that there is problems in Juarez and there are a lot of very poor people. I am not saying there aren't poor people there. For some reason though, people want to label the entire Ciudad as dirt poor. That is not the case at all.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by DesertDog

I've heard the term "Juarez-Elite" used in several post and was curious what this means and who are they?

At least on this thread, I referred to them as the Juarez wealthy -- they are the people from over there who don't blink an eye at buying a house or two over $300K.

The Club Campestre types. They've got plenty of money. Lots more money than the average El Pasoan and when people wonder who is buying up all those big new houses, it's obvious they will be mentioned because they are included in the group that can afford those houses.

[malamute]

And as maquila workers are doing good if they make $0.50 an hour which is above Mexico's minimum wage (which is about $4.30 a DAY) and the middle class in Juarez would be those who make $2-4 an hour, it's not the Juarez poor and middle class who anyone means when using a term like "Juarez elite".

You should see some of the houses over there. They make most of the ones here look quite shabby. Go inside one sometime. There is some big money over there.

[Caltep]

I think we would think of moving to a larger house in our neighborhood but the thoughts of more property tax precludes that discussion. I know I don't argue too much about prop tax as some, because I see some of that going back to our schools. I don't use EPCC or Thomason, but it's a community so maybe that is the part I pay to be part of it. I don't know if not paying state income tax balances my property tax, but from where I come from, I'll take my over 2000 sq feet and less than 200K house over not being able to even afford one.

Originally Posted by 1979

This list looked very odd at first glance. First, I was wondering why Boston is not on the least affordable list, since that city has always been ridiculously unaffordable.

Quote: The National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo have put together an index of the most and least affordable metro areas. The index was created by calculating what percentage of a city's residents making the median income can afford a house in that city.

After thinking about it, this really confirms my point that El Paso is a city of minimum wage earners. Yes, there are some good jobs; but apparently far and few between, and perhaps, Fort Bliss residents are helping keep the city afloat. Even to purchase a home at $131,000 (assuming this is an accurate median price) takes a considerable amount of income, especially when you consider the enormous property tax residents here have to pay.

[DesertDog]

Thanks for the info and I'd love to some day see how the better half live.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by DesertDog

Thanks for the info and I'd love to some day see how the better half live.

You might not really want to, not right now anyhow. The super rich aren't necessarily "the better half". I think it's better to be happy with a nice comfortable middle class income than face what some of those ultra rich are facing now. Luckily for the average person here what's going on affects us almost not at all.

They had it very good at one time, servants to wipe their noses, make their beds, clean up after them. But there's problems with some of that big money.

207 dead; army storms warehouse in Juárez - El Paso Times

Soldiers seize 7 tons of pot, 9,800 rounds of ammunition outside Juárez - El Paso Times

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs)

[luplor]

Gary and Mista, you both have great reference material. Could I interest either both or one of you to do some occasional volunteer work for Carlos Rivera Mayor campaign? If yes, lets arrange a meet. If not, thanks and keep up the good information. I certainly review it.

[Gary Siete]

does Carlos Rivera have a website?

[br7or13]

Originally Posted by DesertDog

I've heard the term "Juarez-Elite" used in several post and was curious what this means and who are they?

The Fronchis, they're everywhere. Just look for a late model SUV with a trophy wife behind the wheel talking mindlessly on her Telcel, while her husband works (somewhat) hard to launder monies derived from a dubious source. Either that or go to Cielo Vista Mall on a Sunday afternoon.

[luplor]

Gary, MYSPACE.COM/CARLOS4MAYOR. His IT man is setting up an actual web site now but the myspace will be good. If we can find a way, w/o comprising personal info, I could email you a covenant with El Paso, he developed. He is setting up a Veterans and small business conference on the 28 of March. this by the way is open to the general public. We will have other election info and organizational meetings in between. Meetings are usually on saturday mornings. He STICKS to the agenda and schedule and then does an open floor session. Anyone else is welcome to JUST visit and listen, no obligations.