Leroy Jenkins has a point. Maybe these are just America’s slowest-shrinking towns that don’t also have abysmal real estate markets. I know I’m not the only one scratching my head at this list.

The facade of the “AMERICAN DREAM”, as it fades, brings to light a rude awakening for American families–reality!

Shelter is a real necessity as are the furnishings that go with it.

Transportation and expenses related to it are also a real necessity.

Family and children are also a cause for reality spending.

An affluent society thrives as a result of servicing demand for processing raw materials–production.

Our affluent society prospered when we supplied the world with products; now the world supplies the U.S. with products that we seem to be purchasing with the perceived equity in our assets.

Without a strong production base, we can’t sustain asset growth. We must revert to asset deficits–spending our assets.

During the affluent society people gravitated to prosperous pockets in the U.S. leaving the areas that had low or zero growth.

Today the “BOOMERS” choose to take their assets back to the places that ar “RETIREMENT FRIENDLY” with zero growth.

Demand creates increases in asset costs while zero demand may cause deficit spending.

“SUCCESS” results in how well one plays the numbers!

Yeah, you don’t have to look too far in order to find a good deal here in Virginia. Unfortunately, it’s still about balancing price with desire. I crave a shorter commute and better repair so that I get to spend more time with my family instead of getting to/from work or fixing the damned house.

If I drive one hour to the west, I can get SFH that has at least twice the square footage and 1/2 acre of land in a new (construction) development — for less than the price of my 30 year-old dinky townhouse. The problem is that I would have to tag an hour on to my commute every day (which may not be so bad because I’m gradually getting my boss used to the idea of telecommuting 2 days/week) and lousy schools. But, heck, I’m college educated. I can teach my kid at home. And with gas headed towards $4 and $5/gallon, that extra hour could at $50/week to an already expensive communte.

Wow, think about it. I get to drive an hour in my car, then a half-hour by bus, then another half-hour by train, one way and get the pleasure of paying more than $400/month (after gas, tolls, fares and parking).

Screw that. It’s time to dump the hacienda and become a greeter at WalMart.

Hey Bing, you don’t have to live there to own land there. If an investment is all you want, why not buy anyway? Then pay part of your $1.25 million mortgage with the rent.

I mean, think about it - do you have to go to work for Google just because you want to invest in them?

Yeah, I know what you meant, you want a place to live that also appreciates. Are you saying the $1.25 cottage won’t appreciate, ever, over the next 10-20 years?

If you look back in time, the “growing” markets you’ve referenced were the stagnant markets during the recent real estate boom. Back then, 2% growth was “stagnant”, today 2% growth is “hot.”

I would surmise two things from this:

1. No matter what is going on elsewhere in the world, Scranton is Scranton.

2. There is consistent 2% growth in the real estate market in Scranton because there is a consistent 2% increase in people being born in Scranton and failing to escape. Make what you will of this.

I hate to be a geography-nazi but Tunkhannock really isn’t considered to be a “suburb of Scranton”. At least the cows and I didn’t think that growing up there. Then again, what do I know … I thought it was a good idea to buy a condo in Cleveland (that I can’t sell now). Who knew?

Bing: people forget that they make more people they don’t make more land.
These places that don’t seem so active today may change later, so they can be considered as a good investment for the long term as in retirement.
Paying mega dollars for a broom closet because there is work there is a necessity due to circumstances and we all know that circumstances change.
Buying a large dream home is just that a dream, any dummy can get one, but how many can pay one off.
Best to bite off what you can chew and have it paid for.
People that dream the dream and live beyond their means create their own problems.
Check out Warren Buffets life style, he lived in the same place for years and drove the same old car for years. Not a dreamer.

Of all the places to go in Texas I wouldn’t pick Irving as the top place to visit, but then I guess you didn’t get much of a choice on that. If you do ever head down to Texas check out the Hill Country for non-flat lands. San Antonio is great too! You can’t have too much on the riverwalk!

Good stuff Bing, unfortunately the only thing “booming” in Buffalo is the Wings.