Retiring to Colorado, western slope (Grand Junction, Paonia: theater, allergy, rooftop)

[brightdoglover]

If you're celeb-rich, I'd think mammoth houses aren't necessarily an investment at all. Will they rise in value? Are they liquid? Do you hire a staff to keep the place going all year, or leave it empty and up for vandals and burst pipes?
I think it's more like buying an oversized diamond ring or something- although that might be more liquid than a mega-house. Saw one "log home" on HGTV with a three-story entry "living room" that was less welcoming than the worst motel, antlers and all. No one would ever want to sit in any of the seating areas. They are Stalin-esque in scale, and genuinely ugly.
But then, I'm always interested in the smallest living space that has a shower in it. (14' Casita or Eco- pull trailer, so far, or maybe any studio apartment in NYC).

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

If you're celeb-rich, I'd think mammoth houses aren't necessarily an investment at all. Will they rise in value? Are they liquid? Do you hire a staff to keep the place going all year, or leave it empty and up for vandals and burst pipes?

I'm talking about the entire property including the land and the location. Keep in mind that Investment doesn't necessarily mean something that is expected to rise in value. It means assets, things that you own. It's a good idea to spread around your wealth, whether you're rich or not, and not keep all your eggs in one basket. It's certainly good to have title to property.

I think it's more like buying an oversized diamond ring or something- although that might be more liquid than a mega-house.

If you've got your money spread around in different things, including property, who cares about the liquidity of the property.

[jim9251]

It's snowing...on April 22nd. WOW.

[CALIFRE]

Jim...
Your now getting the series of cold storms that blew through here Tuesday and Wednesday. Torrential rain here in the valley, Lots of snow for the Sierra snow pack. Ahhh....Springtime! Weekend forecast looks beautiful though :-)

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by jim9251

It's snowing...on April 22nd. WOW.

Wait 'til it snows on you on May 22nd . . . or June 22nd. Not unheard of. I've been snowed on in the Colorado mountains in every month of the year. Even on July 4th! It happens.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by jim9251

It's snowing...on April 22nd. WOW.

Not just a Colorado phenomenon. That type of thing happens in AZ and NM too.

[jim9251]

I just think it's really cool. That's why I always have a jacket with me. Yesterday I'm in Delta planting trees it's 78 degrees and everything is green. Today in Ridgway there's snow and it's 35 degrees. I love Colorado!

[brightdoglover]

I was driving across I-70 on July 4 once and there was a 2-hour whiteout snowstorm on one of the higher passes. Of course, it melts quickly, but you can see the new snow glittering on the big peaks for some time.
Where I live in New England, I remember a snowstorm on May 10 one year. I was driving somewhere unfamiliar and couldn't find my way, because all the trees were in full leaf and blossom and hanging with snow. Still, it's rare in New England, but not at altitudes in the West.

[CosmicWizard]

jazzlover wrote:

Wait 'til it snows on you on May 22nd . . . or June 22nd. Not unheard of. I've been snowed on in the Colorado mountains in every month of the year. Even on July 4th! It happens.

I was travelling up the Alaska highway in the mid 70s with my girlfriend. We were passing thru the Yukon on a very pleasant 70 degree day. We camped in our tent overnite and awoke in the morning to 3 inches of snow. This was in early August! I'm not sure if that was a late winter snowstorm or an early winter snowstorm.

Even is southeastern PA, less than 50 miles as the crow flys from the warm Atlantic coast, it is not unusual to have an intense early May snow flurry from time to time. In the PA Poconos, I can remember seeing a thin coating of ice on Lake Jean at Rickets Glenn SP on 4th of July. It happens.

[jim9251]

I discovered something I do not like about living here. The dust storms. Everything is brown, the sky, the air, and there's this dirt taste in my mouth. Yecch.