From Yahoo Finance:
Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Detroit holding out as the last affordable housing markets
Priced out of your local housing market? It might be time to consider a move to the Midwest.
As home prices and mortgage rates remain high, just three US metropolitan areas — St. Louis, Detroit, and Pittsburgh — have homes for sale at prices that are, on average, comfortably affordable on a median income.
In all three cities, the median home was listed for under $300,000 as of May, putting a purchase in reach for households bringing in $70,000 to $80,000 a year, according to Realtor.com. Generally speaking, spending 30% of one’s income or less on housing is considered affordable.
Incomes haven’t kept up with home prices and interest rates, meaning the number of cities where most of the homes for sale meet the “30% rule” has shrunk.
Uno
A majority of Pittsburgh residents are students with negative salaries. The average Ph D earns about 40k.so there’s that.
“While the department acknowledges the difficulty inherent in school district budgeting decisions, the state and the public hold their school district leaders to the highest standards and expect them to rise to this challenge,” the state Education Department said in a statement. “This is not only an expectation, but is required under state law.”
Guess which districts they are not talking about.
Kerrville police, the Kerr County sheriff and other official pages did not mention looming weather and its risks on their social media profiles, posting on July 3 about the upcoming Fourth of July river festival.
Why would it. Too busy posting about ICE raids and all the pe0ple they deported.
You could have bought some stuff from Radio Shack to alert everyone (if it were in business)
Another preventable disaster if the people you paid to protect you did their jobs.
Make America Great Again.
This sounds great:
A number of senior citizens in South Florida are experiencing homelessness, forcing them to sleep inside their cars.
Soaring rents and a lack of affordable housing have forced some of those in the Sunshine State to spend their twilight years sleeping rough.
Carolyn Simon is one of those, having resorted to sleeping upright in the front seat of her car for two months due to not being able to afford a place to live.
She spoke with WSVN about her troubles in May, revealing she is reliant on social security for money and parks up inside well-lit parking to catch some shuteye.
Demonstrating her sleeping stance to the outlet, the 78-year-old said: ‘Since I’ve been here, I sleep here in this seat, scrunched down.
‘My ankles and legs are swollen from having to sit all the time. I buy jug water, it’s cheaper. And I eat one meal a day, for $2.02, and then I get a free senior drink.’
Carolyn resorted to showering at a nearby gym thanks to her Medicare plan which gets her inside the facility for free.
She added: ‘It can happen to anyone. Don’t think it can’t, because I never thought about it.’
Go fight for Russia, you too can own some land in Ukraine.
Probably better to take your chances with that vs trying to buy something in America:
The Hare family, devout Christians who ran a farm in Texas, describe themselves as a family of “moral migrants” and have emerged as the face of a small but growing trend of Westerners relocating to Russia in search of the traditional, conservative values they feel are eroding in the liberal West. Their journey reflects the ideological narrative Putin has spent years crafting: Russia as the guardian of family-centered traditions amid a Western world spiraling into moral and social decay.
Ten 436
“While the department acknowledges the difficulty inherent in school district budgeting decisions, the state and the public hold their school district leaders to the highest standards and expect them to rise to this challenge,” the state Education Department said in a statement. “This is not only an expectation, but is required under state law.”
Guess which districts they are not talking about.
At my last school, they laid off 40 teachers and are planning on moving to class sizes approaching 30. Meanwhile, your Abbott districts are making it rain with consultants and parties with the additional wealth they just siphoned off.
Cynthia Olivera is a Canadian who’s been living in the US since she was 10.
She’s in ICE custody, after being grabbed at her green card interview.
The 45 year old wife & mother has been moved between facilities while her husband begs ICE to let her get on a plane to Canada.
Her husband voted for Trump because he supported his mass deportation plans.
He didn’t think it would impact people “like them”. Only “others”.
We raised our taxes to cover the gap this year under threat of closing three schools a 10.1% tax increase.
There are three new developments going up ususal mixed use high density perhaps 1,000 more units?
Juice: Maybe not a lot ok kids in these new pods being built, no one having them.
Our school district sent a letter to parents with a list of teachers and staff that are “retiring” this year. That list is 4 pages long about 50 folks. Lost millions due to the opaque S2 formula and 5000 new students expected due to new housing. Construction is in the works for new structures to hold more classes. Not sure what the size is going to be – but it will be closer to 30s from the current 23/ 24 average.
But then, I was talking to someone in the Dallas, TX area, and she said there’s a new school being built every year to accommodate people moving into the area.
Juice: Tom’s River has had a big decline in student enrollment over the last few years, and it’s expected to continue.
Regarding TX flooding… from NYT
As recently as a May budget meeting, county commissioners were discussing a flood warning system being developed by a regional agency as something that they might be able to make use of.
But in a recent interview, Rob Kelly, the Kerr County judge and its most senior elected official, said that local residents had been resistant to new spending. “Taxpayers won’t pay for it,” he said, adding that he didn’t know if people might reconsider now.
The idea of a flood warning system was broached in 2015, in the aftermath of a deadly flood in Wimberley, Texas, about 75 miles to the east of Kerrville, the Kerr County seat.
Who needs kids when we have drones and AI
3b – You aren’t wrong….
We had 11,379 students in 1980
10,000 students in 2010
8,993 students in 2025
The parents were up in arms and protesting about closing the two small elementary schools…and combining them etc so we raised taxes instead. Lots and lots of small families, mostly 1-2 kids with 3 kids would be the exception.
3B – Schools size will grow with more development. In my town Toll Brothers just built 2800 sq ft cookie-cutter three-story townhouse condominiums with the garage on first floor. Largest 3 BR condos are listed now for $1,039,000.
Town just approved another development of 300 Apartments near the parkway that was an old office complex etc. There are a few more scattered lots on the highway etc under development as well.
Ugly as sin, no yard etc….high density…..tiny boxes are the future I gather…
One of my client announced a big lay off. My team was spared but only a matter of time.
I could tell they were overspending to begin with.. and now they will underspend. I don’t understand how some decisions are made.. spend because your competitor spends and cut because your competitor cuts?
Corporate Amerika has no real leadership. Just opportunists.
NJ appeals court just ruled against our town again for a developer again, builders’ remedy lawsuit under the Mount Laurel obligations.
Developer is seeking to build 937-units on the highway. They bought property recently an old shopping center approx 52 acres. The highway is mostly commercial…why not cram in a whole additional town inside that lot?
School pop is dwindling in Montclair even with all of the new development. Truth is, people who live in apartments don’t have kids. When they do, they move into a home which is most likely a recent empty nest by the time the kid turns 5. So no growth. Decline in pop is do to people having less kids and increase in private schooling due to shitty Montclair municipal management.
Lib: I agree, the new development won’t really impact schools any more. People simply are not having any, or are having less. The birth rate in the USA is rapidly declining, along with most of the rest of the world. Throw in the ridiculous cost of even a modest house and NJ s deliciously high property taxes,and not a whole lot of young/ younger people can afford kids or the house or both. Even for those who have a kid , if it’s a 2 bedroom, they can have one child.
As for school closures in Bergen County, I know Franklin Lakes was considering closing one of its grammar schools at one point. I don’t know what happened with that.
went to Vic’s in Bradley on Sunday. Haven’t been there in 20 years. Still the same menu chairs/tables all this time. Same great pizza too.
If anyone is a fan of Tool, a pro recording from Black Sabbath’s show dropped. It’s been impossible over the past 30 years to get any nice recordings of this band live.
https://gofile.io/d/pMQV3h
America has 2 labor markets.
https://www.axios.com/2025/07/06/unemployment-job-market-education-health-care
If you are unemployed you will likely be unemployed for a while.
Why was Trump voted in again? Strong what?
Oh right. I know why people voted for Trump. It’s for funding ICE that is now bigger than the FBI, US dept of prisons, DEA and others combined.
Did you post as Dream Theater for a while about 15 years ago?
BRT says:
July 7, 2025 at 3:20 pm
If anyone is a fan of Tool, a pro recording from Black Sabbath’s show dropped. It’s been impossible over the past 30 years to get any nice recordings of this band live.
nope
Cancun Cruz says “Hold My Beer!”
https://x.com/CalltoActivism/status/1942375043532517607
“I did not have sexual relations with that woman”
– The White House, 1998
“There is no client list.”
– The White House, 2025
VSG: Biden could have released the client list if there was one, but he did not.
I was at the Indy race in Ohio this weekend, I see the world is still spinning back home. Pittsburgh, Detroit and St. Louis are holding out? Perhaps they missed out is more accurate. Or, they were never told.
What to say about the towns around the Mid Ohio race track… hmmm… it’s not Paramus or Clifton or Hoboken. We truly live in the most concentrated and condensed area of the country. Good? Bad? I suppose it depends on your preference.
Ten 442
7:51 – Everything is Biden’s fault!
Everything is Biden’s fault!
None of it is his fault. There was a lot of damage done in four years but Obammy, Schmucky, Nancy and that crew were running the syndicate. Most days, joe wasn’t sure if it was a real person or the wall talking to him.
The demolition of the Francis Scott Key Bridge begins today.
Wow, I can’t believe how fast they are moving on this
BRT
Chinese would have had the new bridge in place 6 months ago.
What did they ask AI to do, imitate a clown?
A Marco Rubio impostor is using AI voice to call high-level officials
The unknown individual contacted at least five government officials, including three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress, according to a State Department cable.
There was a lot of damage done in four years but Obammy, Schmucky, Nancy and that crew were running the syndicate.
There is truth in this statement.
Anyone in America with a minimum of two brain cells knows it’s a cover up.
This country is devolving rapidly thanks to it’s corrupt infected government.
A growing number of right-wing voices are calling for the resignation of Attorney General Pam Bondi after it was revealed no more arrests will be made in connection to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. Bondi’s Justice Department released findings this week claiming the disgraced financier and convicted child sex trafficker did not hold a long sought-after ‘client list.’ Far-right internet personality Laura Loomer helped lead the demands for Bondi to exit her post.
French President Emmanuel Macron was ignored by his wife Brigitte while he offered her a hand off a plane today as they arrived in Britain for their three-day state visit.
Again.
Ditch that thing already if you have any stones.
Grifter gonna grift:
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has raised eyebrows after using the deadly Texas floods to try and sell his products.
The executive encouraged customers to purchase his products and claimed a portion of the proceeds will go to non-profit Samaritan’s Purse, which is helping with relief efforts.
BRT,
I’ve tried to listen to prog metal but it just doesn’t click for me. The funny thing is that Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree (prog metal I guess) did a lot of great classic prog rock album remixes that I listen to a lot. I recently discovered some Tangerine Dream remixes (In Search of Hades) he did. But his own music, not what I’m looking for.
Seems like much of what I like best from that genre comes from the late 60s, early 70s. Premiata Forneria Marconi is the latest band I’ve discovered whose albums from that era are interesting (Beyond the obvious King Crimson, Yes, ELP, Rush, early Genesis (when I was young I thought the 1983 Genesis album was their first, and honestly they are for practical purposes two different bands, pre and post 1980s)
I adore King Crimson. Not a big fan of Yes. Emerson Lake and Powell for sure, but Rush too I don’t like. Everyone likes Genesis.
SOFI approaching 20.
Greetings from the most profitable city in America.
No One,
I discovered PFM in the 80s. I saw Yes four times in concert. The best lineup by far is Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman and White. I saw Rush too, sounded great but was never a hardcore fan like some. Never saw ELP but love them. Genesis was two entirely different bands. I prefer the Peter Gabriel version.
Found a big crack in my son’s 2023 hyundai sonata. The dealer is giving a quote of $2500 aying its pricey because it has radar detecter for brake assist.
I’m getting a quote from a non-hyundai collision shop.
*2023 hyundai sonata front windshield
Rentlord
Dealers are very expensive. I bet the collision shop is half of that quote.
Rent: Reading comprehension. My comment did not “blame” Biden as you say.
It was a simple matter of fact statement, that if there was a client list, Biden could have released it when he was President, but he did not.so it appears there is no client list, or if there was one, it was long ago destroyed, The rich take care of each other,
Income tax: I can’t remember a time when tariffs and the 16th Amendment (right to impose federal income tax) were discussed in length. Tariffs and excise taxes funded the federal government prior to 1913 so what were presidents doing for the last 60 or 70 years? Why weren’t they demanding an increase in tariffs? Here we are, in 2025, and the genius and will of Trump to increase tariff revenue substantially has been established. Funds from NATO fees, too.
$100 billion has been pulled in already. By the end of this year, we will have amassed a quarter of a $trillion dollars, relieving the working public and giving them more of their money. It all seemed so easy for Trump to implement. Where was Clinton, Bush I and II, Obomba, O’Biden and those back to Nixon and Johnson and JFK? Why were taxes the only option to fund the government? And there’s more tariffs to come. It was rarely discussed. Turn nothing into an asset. The guy continues to create assets out of nowhere.
Btw, did anyone catch Trump’s cabinet meeting today? Status’ given around the room and then a history lesson of all the presidential portraits and past presidents offered by Trump. Pretty cool. When you’re having a good time, you know you love what you do. He will go down as one of the best presidents in history. He already has the greatest comeback.
Just like in 2016 all the breadcrumbs come together.
Is it true? Cant be certain.
Is is plausible? Definitely.
Does it have the right players? Yes
Is is Stuxnet level? Its way beyond.
https://thiswillhold.substack.com/p/she-won-they-didnt-just-change-the
Received some quotes for the windshield glass.
Dealer quoted $2500 – that includes a $600 radar calibration.
The local shop quoted $650 – including a $300 radar calibration for non-OEM glass.
I asked for OEM replacement from the local guy and he’s looking into it. He is sounding a bit hesitant to go with OEM glass.. not sure why. If the labor cost is the same, why should it matter to him?
You don’t have windshield replacement as part of your insurance? Mine is a $50 deductible if it has to be replaced, free if it’s a nick and they can just fix it.
Hughes – I do, but concerned they will jack up the price. The policy says $750 deductible and $50 glass. Does that mean just $50 for the glass replacement? Sorry if that’s a dumb question!
Eddie, Look up what caused the great depression of 1930s.
You voted for Trump because of his campaign promise to reducing inflation and give a break to the common man. But he’s doing just the opposite – we’ll pay 25% or more for stuff.. and you are still applauding it?
Just because it hasn’t happened yet with Tariffs just kicking in.. does not mean we are not in trouble. It takes 3 months or so for empty shelves, jobless rates to raise and homelessness to skyrocket. Every other President cared for the guy on the street.
Rent
I’ve probably replaced 4-6 windshields between my wife and I, it’s always been a $50 deductible to replace. If they can repair it it’s free. They’ll send you to Safelite or something, or even have them come to you.
Doesn’t seem to have affected my policy, they weren’t even noted as incidents when I reviewed everything a few months ago.
Thanks Hughes. I always fear the worst (as is obvious from my other posts) ;-)
Yes Rent. Safelite is fine and $50 is all it should cost you. Avoid dealers for all repairs except for recalls.
Gary, don’t count your chickens or their eggs. Higher tariffs were just put in place (yeah, we always had them) and companies are about to raise prices like you’ve never seen before. As for NATO paying? I’ll believe it when I see it. So far, it is just a pledge. Try to read behind the headlines.
In local news, Gator’s old boss, who potentially was trying to hire her back as a consultant, just got the axe. She was there forever. I’m not sure I trust all of those numbers we are seeing.
On the bright side, I’m sure there are plenty of laundromats or landscaping jobs we can find.
Dude: You went a bridge too far…. tariffs are not genius. You are drinking too much Kool-Aid. Trump has a country club/real estate-distorted view of the American economy. He thinks that access to American markets is some kind of hallowed ground that should require a membership fee (i.e. tariffs). Pure hubris….. and there is plenty of prima facie evidence that he is pursuing the wrong path. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.
Fast Eddie says:
July 8, 2025 at 4:03 pm
Why weren’t they demanding an increase in tariffs? Here we are, in 2025, and the genius and will of Trump to increase tariff revenue substantially has been established. Funds from NATO fees, too.
Heard a commercial this past weekend from Lexus. The announcer said, come in by July 7th to receive pre-tariff pricing.
Things are about to go pop.
Libturd says:
July 8, 2025 at 7:18 pm
“…come in by July 7th to receive pre-tariff pricing. Things are about to go pop.”
Or it could just be a sales pitch aimed at turning fence-sitters into car buyers.
Libturd says:
July 8, 2025 at 6:31 pm
“I’m not sure I trust all of those numbers we are seeing.”
Yet you trusted the numbers coming out of SlowJoe’s BLS; almost every single one of which was revised downward at a later date — which had never happened before! As a guy that said on multiple occasions that you thought SlowJoe was ‘pretty good’, one thing that definitely shouldn’t be trusted is your political instinct.
Picked up a program from a Univ of Texas football game in 1997 and was struck by a full page add from Continental Homes, listing their developments in the Austin area. Prices ranged ‘From the 70s’ for their Park Ridge development to ‘From the 120s’ for Sendera Oaks. So if you were making ~20k and could cobble together a 14k down payment, you could get a new construction, ~1500sq ft home in Park Ridge (looks like they’re now ~400k). Just a reminder that the housing market used to be rational — before the .com bubble, before ~0% interest rates, before Countrywide and interest-only, no-doc mortgages, before Fannie started buying jumbo+ mortgages, before quantitative easing…
Every one of those housing things were developed to enrich politicians.
smallgov: exactly right. Everything got financialized, collateralized, and now tokenized. The fake ownership is becoming a tool of financial kingdom. Homes, cars, school tuitions, even Costco purchases, or fast food fare are financial products now. Cash out the door, buy now pay later, or finance your lifestyle. The folks who are pitching you a product based on financing the shit out it, are the true devil in my opinion.
The system will continue to rot. Left, right doesn’t make a difference. We are in a const serfdom of the current financial setup that is almost global now.
It wasn’t one thing
RentL0rd says:
July 8, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Eddie, Look up what caused the great depression of 1930s.
He thinks that access to American markets is some kind of hallowed ground that should require a membership fee (i.e. tariffs). Pure hubris….. and there is plenty of prima facie evidence that he is pursuing the wrong path. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.
What other country produces a billion dollar underground industry where people are selling anything and everything for access to America? And if I was president, I wouldn’t just believe America is hallowed ground, it IS hallowed ground. For all the good and bad we are, no one comes close to the might of America. And your last sentence above is filler… some symbolic gesture of emptiness that epitomizes the left. You’re above that. I was wrong about one thing though; it isn’t a quarter of a $trillion dollars we’ll rake in by years end, it’s a third of a $trillion.
And if I was president, I wouldn’t just believe America is hallowed ground, it IS hallowed ground.
Eventually all dicks go limp.