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The private sector has the technical expertise to do it, but greed and government regulation get in the way.
The private sector could make a fortune by building tiny homes at high density - if government would let them.
They already do, which is what makes this whole whiny thread so pointless. They are called trailer courts. Most every town has one, and they are inexpensive.
They already do, which is what makes this whole whiny thread so pointless. They are called trailer courts. Most every town has one, and they are inexpensive.
Trailer = depreciating asset (which often cannot be resited at a different trailer court)
IMHO - American housing is overpriced, underperforming, ephemeral grot.
And it was deliberately made so, to insure profits and power to those who control access to it.
Just look at factory built "mobile homes." In every other industry, there are a range of models from bare bones to luxury (RVs, boats, automobiles, etc). But you won't find "luxury" mobile homes, with highest quality fixtures and materials. Mobile homes and double wides are relegated to the bottom rung of home owners, with quality to match.
. . .
Housing is overpriced.
Concrete is one of the cheapest and most durable construction materials. The trick is to get it to cure in the shape of a house.
To illustrate, a 32' x 32' x 8' (1024 sf) cottage made from a concrete shell 4" thick would require:
[] 4 walls, 32 x 8 x .33, (12.51 cy)
[] 2 slabs, 32 x 32 x .33, floor and roof deck (25.03 cy)
37.54 cubic yards of concrete
If concrete cost $100 per cubic yard, that comes to $3754 for the concrete shell.
{Of course, we can modify this basic recipe ... split the 4" concrete into two 2" skins surrounding an insulation core.}
Adding stories, saves on materials, too. You can omit one slab, cutting 33% .
37.54 + 25.03 (2nd story) + 25.03 (3rd story) = 87.6 cy, or roughly $8760 for 3072 sf house (with an optional 1024 sf roof deck).
Wrong. Buildings depreciate. It's the land that appreciates.
Yes, but in a trailer court you get no land, hence your purchase only depreciates. When you buy a house, it is customary that appreciating land is included.
Yes, but in a trailer court you get no land, hence your purchase only depreciates. When you buy a house, it is customary that appreciating land is included.
Yes, but not always the case. I'm a stickler for accuracy, that's all. Don't want to misinform our fellow members.
Lots of mobile/land combinations around here, and I do know of a house built on a rented lot.
I do agree with you on downsizing. It's probably a trend waiting to happen.
Same size house in the hood is 600 a month to rent, that same house on the "good" end of town or even smaller is 2 or 3 times as much.
The same goes with property values. the most expensive thing you will own for most people is a House, but in the hood or simply a not so wealthy part of town, it may be your car.Most individuals build wealth for their families by selling their homes. Their are some houses in my town that are for sell for less than 30,000.
How exactly does one build wealth on that ?
I've never seen a house for anything remotely close to $30,000. I wish this was the case in Los Angeles...
I find it very sad when the new-rich blow their money on a mansion and then go bankrupt, losing practically everything.
It might make more sense for new-rich to invest in an owner occupied apartment building. What is not used, is rented out, providing a cash flow when things go wrong.
Unfortunately, zoning and codes impede such practices.
Yes, but in a trailer court you get no land, hence your purchase only depreciates. When you buy a house, it is customary that appreciating land is included.
I have two....both with land.
Although I told myself I was not going to indulge your ridiculousness anymore, one thing that never seems to get pointed out to you.
Even IF, you could do what you think is the solution for you, a small home on a small lot, the next 3 years worth of posts from you would be how you can't afford the taxes, utilities and maintenance costs of homeownership, not to mention the mortgage payments.
I've never seen a house for anything remotely close to $30,000. I wish this was the case in Los Angeles...
In 1996 I saw online a Bay Area house listed for $122,222 (easy number to remember). Photo taken at a weird angle, I think it was a hovel.
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