Comments on: 3 Things I Learned from Watching Property Ladder: Lack of Fundamental Analysis, Misunderstanding of Construction Time Lines, and Too Many Real Estate Books. http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/ How I Learned to Love Southern California and Forget the Housing Bubble Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:11:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: the Heathen http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2683 the Heathen Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:28:45 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2683 I was always a big fan of home improvement shows back in the day ... you know PBS with Norm Abrams, This Old House, Home Time, the Victory Garden. The HGTV channel started out with these types of offerings but expanded into very Hollywood-y type of programming. I've noticed that with the housing bubble and it's effect on the average American/homeowner/flipper that all of a sudden what was once considered the boring stuff of hardware stores and contractors became SEXY. I was watching some show the other day which featured a hot babe and a hunky guy reporting on new home products from a builders show. I kept thinking, what on earth do these people know about building products? They even replaced that weird Amish-looking dude on PBS's "the Victory Garden" with some hottie Aussie guy. I just don't buy it. Whenever I see the hokey makeover shows (Decorating Cents comes to mind) I wonder if all of that cheap crap they rigged up for the cameras falls off the wall immediately after filming and the homeowner is left with a bigger mess than they started out with. The biggest disservice of these programs is that they never convey the stress, delays, and other unforeseen realities of remodels. There's one show where they actually build a home in one or two weeks. When I saw it I freaked out. This just isn't possible. It gives people a whole set of false expectations about building. I've never once seen a building inspector come out and shut down the project on the show. I was always a big fan of home improvement shows back in the day … you know PBS with Norm Abrams, This Old House, Home Time, the Victory Garden. The HGTV channel started out with these types of offerings but expanded into very Hollywood-y type of programming. I’ve noticed that with the housing bubble and it’s effect on the average American/homeowner/flipper that all of a sudden what was once considered the boring stuff of hardware stores and contractors became SEXY.

I was watching some show the other day which featured a hot babe and a hunky guy reporting on new home products from a builders show. I kept thinking, what on earth do these people know about building products? They even replaced that weird Amish-looking dude on PBS’s “the Victory Garden” with some hottie Aussie guy. I just don’t buy it.

Whenever I see the hokey makeover shows (Decorating Cents comes to mind) I wonder if all of that cheap crap they rigged up for the cameras falls off the wall immediately after filming and the homeowner is left with a bigger mess than they started out with.

The biggest disservice of these programs is that they never convey the stress, delays, and other unforeseen realities of remodels. There’s one show where they actually build a home in one or two weeks. When I saw it I freaked out. This just isn’t possible. It gives people a whole set of false expectations about building. I’ve never once seen a building inspector come out and shut down the project on the show.

]]> By: Bill http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2675 Bill Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:52:21 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2675 Another consideration, at least here in So CAL, is how overpriced construction has been. For the last 7 years, due to the (ex)housing boom, and wildfires, contractors have been able to jack up prices through the roof! I have friends that are contractors, and this boom has been so huge, they could name their price (they are good at what they do), and tell the customer that they cant even start for several months! And customers just said OK.... Now that the down slide has started in earnest, things will Change...Now that 80k kitchen may only add 30k to the price..... As for the shows....I never watch them.... Another consideration, at least here in So CAL, is how overpriced construction has been. For the last 7 years, due to the (ex)housing boom, and wildfires, contractors have been able to jack up prices through the roof! I have friends that are contractors, and this boom has been so huge, they could name their price (they are good at what they do), and tell the customer that they cant even start for several months! And customers just said OK….
Now that the down slide has started in earnest, things will Change…Now that 80k kitchen may only add 30k to the price…..
As for the shows….I never watch them….

]]> By: mikey http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2673 mikey Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:24:19 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2673 Tanya Memme has the kind of curves that could make a fella rush out to price diamonds, regardless of cranial air poundage. Tanya Memme has the kind of curves that could make a fella rush out to price diamonds, regardless of cranial air poundage.

]]> By: eric http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2672 eric Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:14:45 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2672 They'll just create new shows around the housing bust. Most of the show ideas vanity smurf suggested are good. They’ll just create new shows around the housing bust. Most of the show ideas vanity smurf suggested are good.

]]> By: Westside Bubble http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2671 Westside Bubble Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:30:13 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/3-things-i-learned-from-watching-property-ladder-lack-of-fundamental-analysis-misunderstanding-of-construction-time-lines-and-too-many-real-estate-books/#comment-2671 Good one. I get outraged at the flip shows that calculate "profit" based only on what the all-knowing real estate agent suggests the price could be, and omit real expenses like broker commission, closing costs, and financing carrying costs. After doing a quality house remodel a decade ago, knowing how much time, money, and decisions it takes, I talked about but never felt like becoming a flipper. Good one. I get outraged at the flip shows that calculate “profit” based only on what the all-knowing real estate agent suggests the price could be, and omit real expenses like broker commission, closing costs, and financing carrying costs.

After doing a quality house remodel a decade ago, knowing how much time, money, and decisions it takes, I talked about but never felt like becoming a flipper.

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