Alexandra Clough
Jeff Ostrowski
Linda Rawls
Home > Real Estate > Archives > 2007 > February > 09 > Entry
Flying dirt, rising oceans and real estate
Just finished reading The Worst Hard Time, Timothy Egan’s award-winning chronicle of the Dust Bowl, and couldn’t help noticing the real estate angle. 
To summarize in three sentences: Uncle Sam kicks the Comanches off the High Plains and invites in farmers. Strong demand for wheat lures speculators (sort of like day traders in 1999 and real estate flippers in 2004) who plow under millions of acres of grasslands. Wheat market collapses, drought kills crops and the denuded earth takes flight.
Long after the Dust Bowl ended, Plains real estate remains a tough sell. Some burgs in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming are so desperate for residents they’re offering free lots to people who move in. Check out KansasFreeLand.com for examples.
And while we’re on the topic of environmental disasters that affect real estate prices, Business 2.0 offers this report on how entrepreneurs are girding for rising sea levels. Floating houses and underwater condos, anyone?
Permalink | Comments (49) | Categories: Jeff Ostrowski
Comments
By A.P.
February 9, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Just a little reminder that on February 12 (Monday), There is a special meeting being held at P.B.C.C. (Lake Worth Campus)regarding property taxes from 0900 a.m. to 1200 a.m. It will be held in the Duncan Theatre.
State Legislatures will be present and it’s open for EVERYBODY to attend.
SHOW up or SHUT up about property taxes!
It’s in OUR hands!
By CJ
February 9, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
Well I logged on looking for hopeful signs re: the real estate market, and now after reading the last two blogs by Jeff I think I’ll just go drink my dinner… hiccup. This is depressing.
By Fl Renaissance
February 9, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this
Note to Jeff: After reading your last two blog articles, even that Ohio paper doesn’t want you either. Suggest you read Rich Dad, Poor Dad instead. Palm Beach is no Kansas Dust Bowl. But then again you wouldn’t recognize good buying opportunities if one jumped up and bit you on your keister!
By not maxmoose03
February 9, 2007 11:55 PM | Link to this
You know how I sometimes say — we sometimes ALL say — I wouldn’t live there if they paid me?
Well, here’s living proof.
000000000000
How’s it going, FL REN? We need more of your vision and less of Easy’s paranoid delusions.
By Godzilla Next?
February 10, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this
Jeff will start reporting that someday in the future, sea monsters will eat up oceanfront condos.
Editor of Toledo Press
By Handwriting on the Wall for Jeff
February 10, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
The handwriting is on the wall for Jeff. He must have been put on notice by his job or something. Taking bets that Jeff will be gone from the Post within 3 months. Have I got any takers?
Jeff, even though the Palm Beach Post has increased their advertising rate for real estate over 50% since the fall and you have not gotten any of this increased revenue in your paycheck, do not take it out on people who own real estate here.
BTW, don’t like the way POST has their online ads anymore. You have all the properties lumped together by price. I am looking at $500,000 shacks at El Cid and luxury condo in Jupiter with single family home in Boca all on same page. I don’t want to look at tear downs at El Cid for $500,000. Maybe you should hire Mike Fink to fix up that website of yours, it is atrocious.
No wonder less people are placing ads in the Palm Beach Post. Between the higher prices and their crummy website, why bother?
By chow ping
February 10, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this
i no trust mike fink fix his hair
mike fink all talk, no money
By Rich R
February 11, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
Another nail in the coffin of SoFla residential RE.
As reported in today’s Sun Sentinel.
“Sub-prime loan market shaken up”
Here’s the link:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/la-fi-subprime9feb09,0,417655.story
WOW! I wonder how many loan originated from ‘02 to present fall into this catagory?
I suggest the snowball is just starting to roll downhill.
Very far from any bottom.
By CJ
February 11, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
Rich: No one knows for sure re: End of RE fall, but there are as many positive reports out there as there are negative… I’m going to try to focus on the positive… (apparently a novel idea on this blog…)
By Marking Time
February 11, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
Just wondering how many others here are in the same boat?
Am very seriously looking for a local retirement home in a 55+ development; no hurry to buy; somewhat educated with many past real estate buys and sells; and, a cash purchaser.
The way I see the market, am expecting to have to wait for six to ten months, then start making offers, … probably lots of offers.
But then, only need to find one motivated seller to make both of us happy at that point in time.
Reality is, with my luck, I will have to buy two houses – the first, and then a second one that comes along a couple of months later that is more desirable and $20.000 less! Usually the way I do business!
You agree?
By Time is not on your side
February 11, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
I have had too many friends and relatives who died in their early 50’s. They say that if you can pass your 50’s, more than likely you will get to your 70’s.
There is no guarantee as to how long you will live in the life. You can wait all you want to purchase your next home but maybe your next home will be in the cemetary. In that development, there are all ages, it’s just not for the 55 and over group.
What I am hearing is that many properties are going off the market by April. Many people are deciding if they don’t have to sell this year, they can wait around until next year or so. More than likely, you will have less to choose from in 6 to 10 months. Good luck old timer.
By Marking Time
February 11, 2007 5:46 PM | Link to this
“More than likely, you will have less to choose from in 6 to 10 months. Good luck old timer.”
Sorry. No offense, but have to laugh at your spurious arguments, Grasshopper.
Currently live in such a development.
You know how many ambulances and emergency vehicles come in here daily? You ever think about that?
Plus, many retired people have many options and are moving away from this area for multiple reasons — not all bad, and just want to get rid of a minor problem.
By Marking Time
February 11, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this
“I have had too many friends and relatives who died in their early 50’s.”
WOW! Twer you, may want to choose a new circle of friends and/or a new gene pool?
“There is no guarantee as to how long you will live in the life.”
DUH! Let us all write that down!
“You can wait all you want to purchase your next home but maybe your next home will be in the cemetery(sic).”
TRUE, … but the real reason you said that is?
By Marking Time
February 11, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this
Sorry for dissing you, “Time is not on your side,” but your comments presented just too large a target.
By chow ping
February 11, 2007 6:45 PM | Link to this
every year florida real estate market go through cycle, February high, August low, year in, year out, year after year.
except for that, you try to time market, you big stupid like Mike Fink. Mile Fink make no money.
CW, EZ, MM people make money whole lives real estate. Mike Fink make no money. All talk. No money.
By Time is not on your side
February 11, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this
TRUE, … but the real reason you said that is?
My long time companion and best friend died a week ago. She was dancing Saturday night and was in fine health. She died a week ago of a heart attack. She just dropped dead at the dressing table while combing her hair. There was no warning.
I met my companion through a fellow worker years ago. He got decapitated while riding his motorcycle on the expressway on the way home from work. My buddy wasn’t married so at least he did not leave a wife or kids behind. Sorry, don’t mean to depress you, just thinking of the past. None of us know our fate or what life will bring us.
By to marking time
February 11, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this
i wouldn’t buy in an only 55+ development.
you are limiting yourself and resale values tend to not as good as a non 55 rule development. it also takes longer to sell in areas as that.
i would never buy in such an area.
By NCSUX
February 11, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this
“None of us know our fate or what life will bring us.”
Not always true. We know Mike Fink will never make a dime in real estate.
We know CW will be a cheap c-cksucker his whole miserable life.
We know North Carolina won’t be civilized in our lifetimes, if we all live to be 100.
By chow ping
February 11, 2007 7:17 PM | Link to this
person buy in 55+ community leave in box. No care about resale. Low resale price good for buyer.
By ncsux is a fool
February 11, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
ncsux, you are garbage with a foul mouth and nothing to say.
what a piece of work you are. please go to a yahoo sports or stock board and sit there are fire out meaningless trash at the other nut cases.
fink already probably has more than you will ever have, cw you seem very jealous of and he doesn’t seem miserable to me, and nc is better off you don’t live there.
you are a loser, a complete and balanced loser.
go away, loser.
By Marking Time
February 11, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this
“My long time companion and best friend died a week ago. She was dancing Saturday night and was in fine health. She died a week ago of a heart attack. She just dropped dead at the dressing table while combing her hair. There was no warning.”
So sorry.
In all honesty, better you than me, and hope you can now appreciate.
Real Bummer. Real Bummer.
You now have the very difficult task of growing beyond this.
I do not know you and you do not know me, but … . anything I can do to help … ?
By me so smart
February 11, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this
me like 55+ community.me can make money from dead in body bag. me so smart because me target dead owners kin to get me listing. me tell them they should sell low to pay for their dead in the box. me so smart cause me find the next of kin before undertaker receives the dead in the body bag. me so smart me smart cookie me smart broker.
Ching Ching Chinaman sitting on a fence.
Trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents.
No you dirty blogger No you dirty scum
You ought to have licken instead of bubble gum.
By chow ping is failing
February 11, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
your humor is not very funny, you are boring.
you are failing here.
By chow ping
February 11, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this
fail at what?
stupid man take blog seriously
whom are you stupid man, president of blog? you no even have name, big coward
stupid stupid stupid
By to NCSUX
February 11, 2007 8:21 PM | Link to this
NCSUX I’ll bet was dateless on Friday and Saturday night. I think he probably got tired of his hand and started yelling on a blog to relieve his dissatisfaction with his life.
This slob should go back to his recliner, Schlitz, and old porn.
By Mike Fink
February 11, 2007 8:24 PM | Link to this
And the rest of the world laughs at us:
http://wallstreetexaminer.com/blogs/wheeler/?p=80
As well they should.
By ncsux
February 11, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this
For the record, I was not dateless.
I f-cked the wife of “ncsux is a fool” on Friday night, and the daughter of “to ncsux” on saturday night.
Better check where they were guys.
By to ncsux
February 11, 2007 8:52 PM | Link to this
somehow i doubt it.
big talk is always done by very little and weak minded boys.
try again, big fella.
yes, it is true. you are a serious loser.
By ncsux
February 11, 2007 9:03 PM | Link to this
“to ncsux”:
Since I’m nothing to worry about, what’s your name and address?
I’m not one of these fancy IT guys who can trace IP addresses. But I can flatten you in 10 seconds, fag.
By chow ping
February 11, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
mike fink question for you
you so smart, Mike Fink, why you have no money? Why you work for living in IT job? Why you no have resources? Why you no have house?
Why you no stop give money advice until you make money?
By to ncsux
February 11, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
Hahahaha!!
What a freak you are.
How many rusted out cars do you have up on blocks in your front yard. Is there any grass in your front yard? Do you even have a front yard.
What if I said I was gay and wanted to rub your back? Are you comfortable with your sexuality?
You are a fancy boy, a real pretty boy. Hahaha!!!!
I’ll bet you ate 2 hot dogs (boiled), a bag of Winn Dixie potato chips, and a warm Schlitz for dinner. The cheap beer was warm because FPL turned off your power on Thursday for lack of payment.
You are going to the pawn shop on Monday to pawn your favorite massage table to get some money to turn the lights back on.
Hahahahaha!!!!
You are a total nut case and a complete fool.
By ncsux
February 11, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
“to ncsux”: In other words you won’t tell me where to find you. You have no balls and you just proved it to everyone.
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHHAAHHAH AHAHAHAH A HAHAHAH
Faggot.
By ncsux
February 11, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
And lest we forget…..
North Carolina is the shithole of the nation.
By cw1900
February 12, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this
Ok, here we go again.
It is quite apparent the weekend crowd is full of a bunch of lonely, extremely bitter, idiots. It reminds me of the proverbial old, nasty, drunk at the end of the bar that’s fun to throw crap at to try to get him to wake up, so he could babble something else incoherent.
I must say our boy NCSUX doesn’t particularly care for me. Oh well.
Mike Fink, why do you bother wasting your time on the weekends on this? Any real dialogue on RE doesn’t happen on the weekend.
Hey NCSUX, I’m not miserable and I will always have more than you. Bitterness always fails. It looks like the high school kids were having fun with you last night. Fancy boy was a good shot at your manhood. Go blow, you miserable nut. You really do have absolutely nothing to say, and yes, you are a bore.
This chow ping dude I haven’t figured out yet if he is new or somebody here with another name. It’s probably like Signed. You either love him or hate him. We’ll see.
Not much going on here, and I’m going to try to get some work done. See ya.
cw
By chow ping
February 12, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
chow ping oriental dish. you want taste chow ping, you make money, no just talk money like mike fink. mike fink no make money.
HOUSING VACANCY RATIOS:
boca raton, fl 1.4%
new york city, ny 1.7%
raleigh, nc 2.1%
Jeff use same old trick. take national number, report as local problem.
much b******t
By easyasabc
February 12, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this
Morning Notes…..
Sorry, but “chow ping” makes me laugh….he is better than a box of chop suey….his taste lasts longer…..
Someone is jealous about “ncsux” …..watchout “nsux”, some woman is after your porn and beer!…..has to be that “carolina girl”….
Our boy Jeff was spotted in upstate NY….no, not for a job interview, he was picking up a few extra bucks by removing snow on roofs!
Who was that stupid person who said a few months ago “that roofs do not cave in from snow storms” ???????…….
What is the rate to advertise in the Post? Someone said they increased their rates to 50% !!!!!
One of the worst investments anyone can make is buying into a 55+ community…..so many limitations….
Mike Fink using up all his money from his house sale from two years ago…has to pay rent every month, buy gas to drive around and look at all the open houses, and have expensive pasta dishes at Cityplace or at Legacy these days to please his wife.
I remember a song that the little girls use to sing years ago….”standing on a corner, chewing some bubble gum….” ….the rest of the song would be political incorrect to say these days……
…hell, half the stuff that is being said here is political incorrect anyway.
Did anyone read the article about the state halting foreclosures for a year? It was in the Post Sundays’s business section.
Lets discuss around the coffee table on this subject……
Just like the “Dixie Chicks” who everyone said they were done….the real estate market will make a strong comeback…..
I bet those New Yorkers are not laughing now about their winter or the cold……115 inches of snow in a week…..
Was it me or did I think all of New England was here this past weekend?
Clouds and rain today….but it is better than 115” of snow and cold!
easyasabc
By cw1900
February 12, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this
to Chow ping, Max, is that you? Is this your new gig? I’m seeing some similar info formed a different way. What’s up Max?
cw
By chow ping
February 12, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
chow ping is pretty girl. you stupid. you want chow ping, you take me chow-ping at mall.
one more 12 inch of snow again in new york. chow ping confused, not used see anything 12 inches and white
By blog dead
February 12, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
This has turned into pointless drivel. It’s akin to fake wrestling on tv.
and chow ping is easyasbc
By easyasabc
February 12, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
Chow Ping is not me!
But it is funny.
max went to the woods……just like rich r. ?????
By we are leaving
February 12, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this
I just wanted to let everyone know here that we are moving. We are breaking our lease and moving to Dothan, Alabama. We just got back from there late last night and it is wonderful.
My husband is going to get a job at a car dealership as a mechanic, and I can stay home because our rent is going to be $425 a month instead of the $875 we are paying here.
The little man just can’t get a head in these parts of Florida and we are just fesd up with the nasty people and how much everything costs. We stopped going to the beach. The sand just blows in your face anyway. My husband gets tired of looking at all those boats that must cost $50000 with those big engines. I for one cannot wait to stay home with my kids. We plan on growing some food too. We tried that here acouple of years ago, but it all burnt out and the neighbors I think trampled our beans.
Good bye south Flordia. I hope your happy that the working man can’t get a head dowen here.
By rich r is ncsux
February 12, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
I think Rich R is Ncsux. Rich is trying to create a little buzz to get us talking about NC again.
No adult can actually be as stupid as Ncsux. It’s Rich R playing us.
By My China Girl
February 12, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
Hiya liang nui! Hi liang jai! Want to ride in my Honda? Sure liang jai! Jump in!
Come on bb, let’s go drink tea.
I’m a Chinese girl, in a Chinese world Playing mahjong, nothing is wrong I have tons of flares, tight shirts everywhere Looking cocky, just can’t stop me.
I’m Chinese, Asian girl, in a white-people world Egg foo young, just for fun, I do laundry.
You’re so tall, Chinese doll, eat some jook and chow mein, No FOBS here, egg rolls there, fortune cookie.
Eat cha siu, eat bok choi, you can say I love Sam’s club.
Repeat *
Come on bb, let’s go drink tea. Ai ai ai yah. Come on bb, let’s go drink tea. Ooh ooh
Make me cook, make me clean, do whatever is mean I can do some kung-fu, I have loads of bamboo.
Come jump in, let’s play pool, cruise around just again, Look and stare, dye your hair, rent some movies.
Gung jai mein, I’m jook seng, I go to the library Bot paw girls are so jean, you can say I grow string beans.
Repeat*
Oh, that guy, kui tai mut gwai? Well liang nui, I’ll use my martial arts. Oh I love you liang jai!
By chow ping
February 12, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
Why Asian Women Should Hang With Asian Men
By we are leaving
February 12, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
and one more thing. my husband can park his truck right up next to the house unlike here where we have to park it in the parking lot with the other tenants. Do you know how hard it is to walk up too flights of stares carrying food and stuff.
in Dothan, we can park right next to the front door because its all grass and the owner said he deosnt care if we park closer to the door becuase its all grass anyway.
You try and do that in this place and someone will call the manager lady.
good bye again
By ShareyLand
February 12, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this
What is great about ES is you have the country/rural land, but you can go into downtown and feel like your in the city.. but a friendly city. A city were shop keepers remember you and call you in for a cup of coffee to chat over the “happenings” of the town and gossip.
I love reading the ES paper, as they list EVERY police report.. which comes around to being like five reports. “Mrs. So-and-so called to say someones dog dug up her roses”.
Also ES is not a dry county, so you won’t have to worry about that.
By CorpITGuy
February 12, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
I would personally want to be as close to Pahokee as possible for your commute. The culture shock will be enormous. Having a city with good eats and shopping malls nearby might make you feel a little better and you will not be able to get that in Boca Raton…
By to CorpITGuy
February 12, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
Stop….that tickles
By chow ping
February 12, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
chow ping no like little yellow thing. chow ping see lots of boast in column, no money. you want chow ping get mellow with yellow, you take chow ping chow-ping. chineses guy in column have big ego. only big thing. chow ping need big credit card, go chow-ping, be happy.
ni bu yoh mah? woh bu yah, shey shey. huay lai - come back with money.