Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Trading Sleep For Housing?

From the Star Ledger:

Trading sleep to beat housing costs and traffic

Years ago, taking a pre-dawn drive through the Lincoln Tunnel was a breeze.

There were empty seats on NJ Transit buses and trains at that hour, and highway construction crews could keep working until 6 a.m. without jamming traffic.

Not anymore.

New Jersey's rush hour keeps creeping earlier and earlier into the morning.

The number of people who leave for work between 5 and 6 a.m. jumped by more than 20 percent from 2000 to 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, released yesterday.

Meanwhile, the increase in the number of people starting their commute between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. was more modest -- just 3.3 percent -- while the census showed a 7.5 percent decline in those who begin their commute between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
...
First, they say, people who have moved farther away from their jobs in order to afford housing have had to leave for work earlier in the morning to get there on time.

"They decided that providing a good home and security for their families were more important than having a short commute," said Tom Dallessio, New Jersey director of the Regional Plan Association, a non-profit planning organization.

11 Comments:

Blogger Paul said...

When deciding on the "quality of life" you want for you and your family, shouldn't you consider actually being home to enjoy life with your family?

What a ridiculous way to live.

8/30/2006 10:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm tempted to print out and mail the following chart to greedy grubbing sellers:

http://tinyurl.com/e4so5

It may be effective, as many are depending upon realtors and neighborhood gossip about "who sold for $X six months ago."

Let them lose some sleep.

Should only take a few minutes and cost about $5 in stamps.

8/30/2006 11:13:00 AM  
Blogger Paul said...

Anon, What does that have to do with this thread?

8/30/2006 11:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not sure who Anon is, but if greedy grubbing sellers lose sleep, prices go down, and buyers can have shorter commutes.

8/30/2006 12:56:00 PM  
Blogger Metroplexual said...

The peak period for crossing the Delaware River bridges is very early at 5-5:30 am. BTW, I know Tom D. over at RPA, what he is saying is what everyone already knows.

8/30/2006 02:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It may be effective, as many are depending upon realtors and neighborhood gossip about "who sold for $X six months ago."

HAHA I had a realtor say someone bought a house in the area I am looking in and than said it sold a few months ago for a profit. I told her to open her eyes and to look at the prices decreasing in her area. Even with me knowing that markets she still lies and says the market is not declining. If you can avoid Remax they are liars and in denial.

I commuted an hour and a half to and from work everyday until I could move closer to work. Let me tell you commuting stinks. And what are our choices living in NJ..PA ha ha that state is a freaking joke. I lived there for 1 year its like living with the guy from Bugs bunny...which way did he go George which way did he go...It stinks that NJ has such high taxes but hopefully something will be done sooner or later.
People stop complaining about home prices being so high. Don't be afraid to offer 50% below asking price. The more people keep asking really low prices the sellers will have to come down and start accepting. Dont negotiate put in a 50% off list and state final offer. Just remember If they dont care about listing there property 60-70% over what is was worth a few years ago then we shouldnt have problems hardcore lowballing people. Dont be afraid. 50% LOWBALL is the way to go.

8/30/2006 04:37:00 PM  
Blogger chicagofinance said...

Mr. Oliver said...
Anon, What does that have to do with this thread?
8/30/2006 12:46:48 PM


Anon - watch out - the cat has claws! Meeeoooow!

8/30/2006 04:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Quality of life can be enjoyed if you live far from your job and commute and hour and half, etc. You may not have as much time during the week for your family but at least you are where you want to be during the weekends and Holidays. Where I grew up everyone's Dad (or Mom) commuted to NY at least an hour each way and family life was not impacted in a detrimental way.

8/30/2006 06:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon said, "PA ha ha that state is a freaking joke. I lived there for 1 year its like living with the guy from Bugs bunny"

Yeah, it dothz take me an hour to get to the Parkway and work. Yeah, we drove around our town on Sunday and had to thwiddle our thumbs while three deer walked thlowly up the sidewalk past the house we wanted to see. I'll grant you thethethe that.

$6 - 8k tax savings on similar house, NNJ vs. PA. Half the price.

Ah say, Ah say, Ah say, "tho me thuh money."

Pat

8/30/2006 07:22:00 PM  
Blogger Paul said...

Too funny, Chi.

8/30/2006 08:10:00 PM  
Blogger peaknic said...

Anyone who has to drive more than 1 hr to work is going to get slammed in the near future when gas prices hit $5 or $6 a gallon due to Peak Oil. If you haven't heard of it, Google it and be prepared to have your entire worldview of the future shattered.

Failing to prepare for Peak Oil is preparing to fail in surviving.

9/01/2006 01:02:00 PM  

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