I can't dare dream that the Los Angeles property market will come within reach. One of the ways I know I was becoming LA was when I stopped thinking I'd ever own a house (some of the other ways involve Fred Segal). Now I think I may have a chance, just not here.

Skipping even the 50 posts that accumulated since I last checked Natter (yeah, I'm that lame, I can't even skim 50 posts), before I have to leave for the weekend, in which hopefully the amount of both grading and whining would be minimal, but so would the internet access, to post before I leave that, according to the Buffista Calendar, tomorrow, the 23rd, will be Steph L's birthday, and to send her lots of early wishes.

Have good rest-of-the-weeks and great weekends, everybody!

Steph is having a birthday? Who knew?

Steph? We have a Steph?

Steph is having a birthday? Who knew?

Just Nilly.

I have been remiss. Happy togethergettings for the Petes and the chs!

A friend of mine is planning on selling her $500K small one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan and moving to Philly next year, to try to approximate some decent atandard of living. This is why I'm glad I live in an unglamorous, but still convenient, part of Queens. Soooo much cheaper.

YAY for Fred Pete & Hubs!

YAY for amych and her Schrodinger husband!

I don't think I'll ever own. That's okay.

My building was built in 1929 as a luxury building (OK, not the best year for that, but there it is). It's high Deco - two-story lobby with marble floor, high ceilings, lots of closet space, many of the apartments have glassed-in porches (for sleeping in the pre-AC summer). Enamel over cast iron tubs and sinks in the bathrooms, some ... um, inventive ... color tiles in the bathrooms. However, the owner hasn't put any more than absolutely necessary into the maintenance for at least 30 years. As a result, the ca. 1929 wiring blows fuses at the drop of a hat, the plumbing clogs as often, there are cracks in the walls from where the foundation is settling unevenly, the pool went out of commission and is seemingly unrepairable, the one-time party room was stripped of everything salable and used for storage, the roof terrace blocked off, there's a constant leak in the parking garage that they don't seem to be able to fix.

The developer plans to split the circuits (but not replace the wiring), put in central AC (admittedly a blessing), leave the plumbing pretty much as is, strip off the crown moldings and old high basebords to put sheetrock over the walls, strip the fixtures and tiles out of the bathrooms and put in new, do new kitchens, carpet the hallways, put in an exercise room, a bike room, pretty the place up a bit.

So ... since I really think the place is going to turn into a money pit in the next few years, I'm not buying. I mean, if I was paying $300K+ for a one-bedroom condo, I'd expect to have a lot more functionality addressed and less of the superficial stuff. And I think when people move in and start plugging in their appliances and find that the circuit breakers get tripped easily (did I mention that some of the apartments' circuits are connected to something outside the apartments?), and they can't rely on the sinks/tub draining quickly, and the sheetrock starts cracking from the foundation settling some more, there's going to be a lot of screaming. And paying.

Toddson, you totally need to make off with the good fixtures and mouldings when you finally move out. Let them keep the security deposit!

Um, well, it is vandalism, but, um... I'd never advocate that.

In just about every antique barn in the area, you find a room full of stained glass transoms, beautiful mantles in need of a good stripping, mouldings, ceiling tin, old tubs, etc ... the sad part is, this is stuff that has been pulled because someone is actually doing something to the property, whereas there are parts of the city where that stuff is just rotting in situ.

happy day to both our anniversary couples.

and I am glad we bought when we didi - despite the slowdown in houseing sales - prices are continueing to sky rocket around here. I have no idea who could begin to pay for my house , even if I think the latest estimate is overblown.