2021 Real Estate Observations (Boston, Georgetown, Sherborn: college, casinos, inspection)

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Perhaps. But I don't know anyone that does it with anything but what is, effectively, play money. It's not in lieu of traditional retirement investments and never seen anyone I trust to advocate for it being for anything but play money. Its a side game.



It's really just a hobby for some. I don't know how they keep up. Make $3k on Oasis, drop it in Safehaven, pull out, spread it on Bonfire, and half a dozen others.... its like a fun little game. Just like playing with those tokens. It's not for me, but each to their own.

I mean, so were international reply coupons. The problem isn't for the people that turn some throwing-around money into a house, it's for people that turn a life's savings into a pittance. In order for some people to turn $10 in $100k with no other tangible change, someone eventually has to turn $100k into $10.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

I mean, so were international reply coupons. The problem isn't for the people that turn some throwing-around money into a house, it's for people that turn a life's savings into a pittance. In order for some people to turn $10 in $100k with no other tangible change, someone eventually has to turn $100k into $10.

Sure. That's the way it works.. Sounds like currency exhanges and plenty of other markets. Yay Capitalism.

Please don't comeback with wealth creation and expanded economy tropes. That has always, in our system, only applied to the few, and even then there were losers.

I have no interest in playing in crypto. Nor the cbot commodity markets. Lots of people don't do the stock or bond markets (I just dollar cost average in broad index funds). That's ok. No one is forcing anyone.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Sure. That's the way it works.. Sounds like currency exhanges and plenty of other markets. Yay Capitalism.

Please don't comeback with wealth creation and expanded economy tropes. That has always, in our system, only applied to the few, and even then there were losers.

I have no interest in playing in crypto. Nor the cbot commodity markets. Lots of people don't do the stock or bond markets (I just dollar cost average in broad index funds). That's ok. No one is forcing anyone.

I agree with you that there are lots of (much older) markets that are essentially similar in that they produce nothing much beyond taking money from some people and giving it to different people. That's not the crux of capitalism, though, it's just the consequence of people being able to make their own choices.

There are still lots of investments where things of actual value are created. If you think that those are all just "tropes" then I won't try to convince you otherwise.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Inventory seems to be creeping up.

I've noticed that too. Still, the same games are going on. I have peers who are losing out bidding $50K over ask.

Originally Posted by msRB311

where?

I've been keeping an eye out in middlesex/essex county mostly since early this year. Generally the area east of I-93 over to gloucester, inside 495 but outside 95/128. Last couple weeks i've definitely noticed a few more houses on the market. Nothing significant though. Instead of 5-10 houses of a specific criteria per week, now it's 10-15 houses.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

I agree with you that there are lots of (much older) markets that are essentially similar in that they produce nothing much beyond taking money from some people and giving it to different people. That's not the crux of capitalism, though, it's just the consequence of people being able to make their own choices.

There are still lots of investments where things of actual value are created. If you think that those are all just "tropes" then I won't try to convince you otherwise.

Relatively few, and most not accessible to the vast majority of people. I'm not likely to get in on a pre series A biotech startup, or new battery technology, as I don't have anywhere near the disposable wealth to risk for such things and 99% don't. Even in most of those situations, when they create wealth (when successful) other technologies or industries lose (there may be some net creation overall). And those games are higher risk / reward than even crypto. Plus I saw LOOOADS of shenanigans in the clean tech field... outright manipulations.



We're off topic. But the age old adages were "don't invest more than you can afford to lose" and something along the lines of "past results are not indicators of future results". But with our every increasingly conservative government over the past 70 years, and the systematic dismantling of the progressive tax system (which fascinatingly was at the core of the era harkened back to (50s-60s) by the "maga" crowd), and endless attacks on labor and defined benefit pension systems ("we can't afford it" (cough cough, especially if we need to feed the ultra wealthy))... its literally forced the middle classes to invest in the stock market to have any chance of beating inflation. I'm sure its just a coincidence this benefits the same ultra wealthy .


Still, even to this date, a relatively modest percentage of people can afford to have anything more than a few bucks in the stock market.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Relatively few, and most not accessible to the vast majority of people. I'm not likely to get in on a pre series A biotech startup, or new battery technology, as I don't have anywhere near the disposable wealth to risk for such things and 99% don't. Even in most of those situations, when they create wealth (when successful) other technologies or industries lose (there may be some net creation overall). And those games are higher risk / reward than even crypto. Plus I saw LOOOADS of shenanigans in the clean tech field... outright manipulations.



We're off topic. But the age old adages were "don't invest more than you can afford to lose" and something along the lines of "past results are not indicators of future results". But with our every increasingly conservative government over the past 70 years, and the systematic dismantling of the progressive tax system (which fascinatingly was at the core of the era harkened back to (50s-60s) by the "maga" crowd), and endless attacks on labor and defined benefit pension systems ("we can't afford it" (cough cough, especially if we need to feed the ultra wealthy))... its literally forced the middle classes to invest in the stock market to have any chance of beating inflation. I'm sure its just a coincidence this benefits the same ultra wealthy .


Still, even to this date, a relatively modest percentage of people can afford to have anything more than a few bucks in the stock market.

Actually, 53% of American families own some form of stock. Sorry to bust up your narrative there, Mr. Alinsky.

https://usafacts.org/articles/what-p...ans-own-stock/

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Actually, 53% of American families own some form of stock. Sorry to bust up your narrative there, Mr. Alinsky.

https://usafacts.org/articles/what-p...ans-own-stock/

As the article states that's mainly due to 401(k).

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

As the article states that's mainly due to 401(k).

Uh, well yeah. Kind of a given.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

As the article states that's mainly due to 401(k).

Yeah, I know this number. But our reading comprehension challenged followers don't get into the details of that number (nor actually read what I wrote). Most own a tiny amount, almost insignificant. Basically, a few bucks (which I said). Some employer contributed funds, some stock they got from grandma. Paltry. A few insignificant bucks.




AND EVEN WITH those paltry few dollars, only about half. If you get into the details (which I have), a very modest percentage of people have anything of note. Which is exactly what I said. And, what do you know, what I said was correct. And right wingers, who can't or don't read try to "correct" me and make fools of themselves.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Yeah, I know this number. But our reading comprehension challenged followers don't get into the details of that number (nor actually read what I wrote). Most own a tiny amount, almost insignificant. Basically, a few bucks (which I said). Some employer contributed funds, some stock they got from grandma. Paltry. A few insignificant bucks.




AND EVEN WITH those paltry few dollars, only about half. If you get into the details (which I have), a very modest percentage of people have anything of note. Which is exactly what I said. And, what do you know, what I said was correct. And right wingers, who can't or don't read try to "correct" me and make fools of themselves.

If you are going to keep moving the goal posts, I guess that we will have to agree that $103,700 is a "few bucks".

"A 2019 analysis of more than 30 million retirement accounts by Fidelity Investments found that the average balance in corporate-sponsored 401(k) plans at the beginning of 2019 was $103,700"


https://www.investopedia.com/ask/ans...20%24107%2C100.