Top Professions of Renters

So, when it comes to homes, who rents and who buys?  The answers might surprise you.

You probably think that people who own make more money.  And that is partially true.  But what about lawyers renting more than firemen?  And why are ballerinas renting so much?

Fortunately for us, the Wall Street Journal is on the case.

Part of the reason may lie in the fact that a lot of fireman have second jobs in some type of home improvement business.  Being handy, it is easier to own a home that you can DIY yourself.  At least that is my theory.

What do you think?  Any other results surprise you?  Feel free to leave your comments below.

Link:
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/10/15/optometrists-to-dancers-which-americans-are-most-likely-to-own-homes/

Meanwhile in a Parallel Universe

A Barn in Detroit?

No, this isn't the Detroit location.

The married owners of a Detroit landmark restaurant want to move a barn from her parents rural farm to Midtown Detroit.  Actually, it has already been disassembled and trucked down here awaiting a plot of land to put it on.  Best guess is that a  barn has not been built in that area for over 100 years.

It sort of makes some sense after you read about it in the Freep.  It may not be the best idea, but it has some possible value.

Link:
http://www.freep.com/article/20140330/COL44/303300051/detroit-barn-traffic-jam

Property Inspection Weirdness

The Bigger Pockets blog recently posted "20 of the Weirdest Things Documented During a Property Inspection."  I wasn't sure if it would be interesting, but it turned out to be pretty darn funny and interesting.

I'll put up a couple of pictures as a tease, but save some of the best ones for you to discover by clicking on the link.



Link:
http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/02/14/weird-property-inspections/

NJ Realtors Use Listing for Hookups

Sometimes you can't make this up.  Two New Jersey real estate agents are accused of using a listed home for their own dalliances.

Our two lovebirds.

What is apparently ethically objectionable about that is they apparently deliberately listed it at a higher price so that it would continue to be available to them.  Oh, and apparently there is a rule about doing anything with a client's property outside of business purposes.

Robert Lindsey, who actually listed the house, is a former former president of the Passaic County Board of Realtors.  He left the firm he was at when the alleged conduct occurred.  At the time of the move, he was described as:

“a rarity in real estate – he’s not only among the very top producers, but he does things right.” 

No word on if Jeannemarie Phelan agrees with that or not.

Link:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/NJ_agency_plans_to_investigate_realtors_alleged_to_use_clients_house_as_play_pad.html?page=all

Homes for Ron Burgundy

This would impress the ladies, eh Ron?

If only Ron Burgundy were alive, and not a creation of Will Ferrell, these are the homes he would probably live in.  Of course, it would depend on which city news station he was the star news anchor at, but still.

We're talking classy places with rich mahogany, cultured marble, and other awesome materials.  Somewhere you can throw a great party, but also somewhere to bring home that special someone for the night.  Stay classy.  HGTV has some great places for us.

Cool Halloween Light Show--What Does the Fox Say?

The song that has been burning up the internet has spawned this great house lighting display for Halloween last week.  Enjoy.

Boo! Buy a Home in a Haunted City

Feeling brave?  Thought Ghostbusters was not based on a true story?  Then maybe you should look to relocate to some of these haunted houses.  These homes are for sale in cities that have a murky past of one sort or another.

For example:

A French Quarter condo is available on Dauphine Street, which is also home to The Sultan’s Palace. The Sultan was a wealthy businessman who rented an estate in the 1800s and came to be known for his lifestyle of partying and holding women against their will. But the creepiest part of the story is how The Sultan died. Some say it was a pirate, while others say it was his brother vying for the sultanate. Either way The Sultan was reportedly buried alive while his family was hacked to pieces.

Maybe you would be more interested in the house where an axe murderer was, or a former lunatic asylum.  Apparently the possibilities are limitless.  Celebrate Halloween by checking out what is available and scarily intriguing at Zillow.

Happiness

Happiness is a listing you are interested in, and a picture of the basement pops up with a furnace still there.

 

How Not to Sell a House

Anything wrong in this picture?



To me, it looks like a house with major foundation issues, a house that is falling down on the left side.  But it is in a good neighborhood in the suburbs, priced a little high in my opinion, and is described as "excellent condition" and "well-maintained."  I can only surmise that the photographer put the camera crooked when he took the picture and nobody cares about what the listing looks like.

Realtors, don't try this at home.

The Russians are Coming! (Again)

Reviewing the traffic statistics for this blog, I see that there is still significant traffic from Russia.  Clicking on what is the identified source sends me to a spam site.  Therefore, I can only conclude that the Kremlin is gathering information about the United States and their real estate trends and using this blog as a source.

Therefore, since these apparent bots are going over my blog, allow me to supply some information to the Russian government:

1.  If you own any real estate Downriver, like in Taylor, Flat Rock, or Lincoln Park, you should sell it to me for $1 as soon as possible.  Just trust me on this one.

2.  The kid who picked on me when I was ten is now a key strategist for the CIA.  Word has it he specializes in assassinations of Russian agents.  I will forward his current residential address in a future blog.

3.  The write-in campaign for Mike Duggan for Mayor of Detroit is a secret covert operation which will transfer assets to Uzbekistan for deployment in Chechnya.   It is coordinated through a data file in their campaign headquarters computer labeled "voter contact."  Destroy or corrupt this file and you compromise the entire operation.

4.  Ed Snowden is a double agent.  Do not believe him.

5.  You should send all of your premium vodka to Brownstown, Michigan.  Address will be posted in secret heading of next blog post.

6.  It is in your country's interest to arrange for Oksana Baiul to vist me.  I heard she is really hot after she grew up.  Do not send that pouty blonde gymnast from the last Olympics.  If Oksana is not available, Olga Korbut might be a good substitute, but I would want to see a recent picture.

Floating Homes

Some days, you don't want weighty discussion of the issues of the day.  You don't want news about gasoline prices or Kayne West and his baby North West.  Some days you're happy looking at pictures of homes that float.  I hope this is one of those days.  Click the link below for all 11 of them:

http://homes.yahoo.com/photos/11-floating-homes-really-deliver-slideshow/

Houses to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse

When the zombies come, you obviously need to be prepared.  You can try fighting them off from your house in the subdivision, but that is kind of hopeless.  You can buy Nigella Lawson's old place (see our recent post on this) and hole up in the basement, but then you have to fight zombies and neighbors.

Here are some places that might work:

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-06-18/homes-to-survive-the-apocalypse/


Yes, our missile silo house is here.

Horrible Landlords Going to Jail

A friend sent me a link to this article.  Apparently these two were more concerned about ruining their tenants' lives than anything else.  Although nobody would think these two despicable people are representative of all landlords, the profession does not have a good reputation.

But is that because of how they act or is it because of what they do?

A landlord provides a place to live in exchange for money.  They make a profit on the deal, usually.  They also put up capital to buy the place, fix and clean it between tenants, and risk losing money.  It can be a good bargain for the owner, but it can stink if the wrong people get access to your property.  I've already had my share of deadbeat tenants, renters leaving before their lease is up, and damage to my property.  And without renting to Axl Rose, yet.

If it were as easy as flicking a switch, everyone would be doing it.

Anyways, here is the link to the article.  It is kind of crazy what these people would do to mess with their renters:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/20/us/california-landlords/index.html?sr=fb062013landlordshell1p

Real Life Monopoly Prices

So what if you had to pay the real-world prices for those places on the Monopoly board?

Click on the board to see the answers.

Home Depot

Too cute!