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This gentleman doesn't like taxes, but undoubtedly he wants to be near a top-notch VA Clinic. My sense of irony is simply overwhelming me. The VA system is as extensive as it is and does as much as it does because its costs a big chunk of tax revenue.
This country is just of full of people who want the benefits of government, but don't want to pay for them. This guy would probably tell me that he is a veteran and has earned the right to excellent medical care. Excellent medical care doesn't grow on trees. It has to be paid for by ordinary citizens who struggle to pay their taxes.
Though perhaps phrased in a manner that might prompt criticism, the above is an important point.
Theoretically equal contributions, can in practice be vastly unequal. Some veterans can't walk, can't concentrate for more than 30 seconds, and have to defecate into a plastic bag. Others just spent a few years shuffling papers in an air-conditioned office in Vandenberg or Eglin. It all depends. Some people paid into Social Security continuously since age 16, busted their proverbial posteriors, worked until 70, took SS at 70, and died six months later. Others meandered into and out of the workforce, landed a high-paying job at 60, worked for a decade, retired at that same age of 70 with generous benefits, and went on to collect for 30 years. It all depends.
Everyone around the world insists that they're thrifty, studious, hard-working and upstanding; that they deserve every dollar, or peso, or euro or ruble or yuan. America has no monopoly on that. But what's quintessentially American, is to insist that input = output, that we reap exactly what we sow, that hard work always gets rewarded and laziness always gets punished, that life is entirely contingent upon personal decisions. This is so abjectly idiotic, that my hands shake in fury just trying to type this out. Look, people: life is what it is, just because of what it IS! Sure, we have a role, but only a portion of life - and a small one! - is "what we make it"!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Submariner
$75k got us 150 acres of land, and $50k built a 2400 sq ft 3 bdrm house. Ten years later, an additional $15k got our house onto solar power.
$500/acre? I have difficulty imagining how this is possible in the wastelands of Libya or Mongolia, let alone somewhere in the United States.
I found this website the other day, oldhousesunder50K.com. Here's something interesting for the OP. It may not tick every box, but it sets you thinking about the possibilities.
Basically you are buying the land as by time you fix up the house, you will have spent almost as much as building a new house. Often it shakes out to an expensive lot. Sure there is water and sewer there but even that might need some work.
Though perhaps phrased in a manner that might prompt criticism, the above is an important point.
Theoretically equal contributions, can in practice be vastly unequal. Some veterans can't walk, can't concentrate for more than 30 seconds, and have to defecate into a plastic bag. Others just spent a few years shuffling papers in an air-conditioned office in Vandenberg or Eglin. It all depends. Some people paid into Social Security continuously since age 16, busted their proverbial posteriors, worked until 70, took SS at 70, and died six months later. Others meandered into and out of the workforce, landed a high-paying job at 60, worked for a decade, retired at that same age of 70 with generous benefits, and went on to collect for 30 years. It all depends.
Everyone around the world insists that they're thrifty, studious, hard-working and upstanding; that they deserve every dollar, or peso, or euro or ruble or yuan. America has no monopoly on that. But what's quintessentially American, is to insist that input = output, that we reap exactly what we sow, that hard work always gets rewarded and laziness always gets punished, that life is entirely contingent upon personal decisions. This is so abjectly idiotic, that my hands shake in fury just trying to type this out. Look, people: life is what it is, just because of what it IS! Sure, we have a role, but only a portion of life - and a small one! - is "what we make it"!
$500/acre? I have difficulty imagining how this is possible in the wastelands of Libya or Mongolia, let alone somewhere in the United States.
They were selling acreage out in west Texas for 50 dollars! This was back in the 90s.
America has no monopoly on that. But what's quintessentially American, is to insist that input = output, that we reap exactly what we sow, that hard work always gets rewarded and laziness always gets punished, that life is entirely contingent upon personal decisions. This is so abjectly idiotic, that my hands shake in fury just trying to type this out.
Except for about 4 years of my life, I have lived in the U.S. and I don't know anyone rational who thinks hard work always gets rewarded, but I know that it gets rewarded most of the time and laziness gets punished (in one form or another, except when the government steps in to provide a hammock) almost all of the time.
Secondarily, there are things you can do to put the odds in your favor. Those who decide to risk getting killed or disabled by standing guard, so that we can live in peace, is a trade, an exchange for certain benefits we provide them after they finish doing that job. And it is a job that can have you "shuffling papers in an air-conditioned office in Vandenberg or Eglin" one month and the next month you are clerking for some Capt in the desert who never thinks his location is close enough to the enemy. It happens.
Basically you are buying the land as by time you fix up the house, you will have spent almost as much as building a new house. Often it shakes out to an expensive lot. Sure there is water and sewer there but even that might need some work.
You're right. We essentially paid for the land our house sat on plus about $10K for the house itself according to market values at that time. It was a small but sturdy brick rectangle of a house with windows all around it, so we knew it would be energy efficient and easy to heat and cool as well as maintain once we got it up to speed.
It was an excellent option for folks like me and my husband who wanted to retire early and own a home without having to come up with a heap of cash all at once or be burdened with a big mortgage in our golden years. We got the essential stuff done at the outset like electrical/plumbing/roofing and, yes, an awesome new water line and then fixed up the rest project by project over several years as we were able to afford it. The property is still worth significantly more than we paid to fix it up. It's worked out beautifully for us. We needed to have that time and breathing room to settle into our home and our new phase of life.
We had a vision and were able to realize it. This option is not for everyone, but it is doable. For those who believe buying a home (mobile okay) on a couple of acres for < $75K isn't feasible, then for them it will never be so that's that. To those who do believe, especially the OP, I say don't let anyone discourage you from going for it.
I would gladly give you a tour, next time you are in the area.
So did you do all the labor?
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