I was out looking at commercial property and I ventured around Everett’s Silver Lake neighborhood where I bumped into a street (block and a half ) with five real estate signs, indicating five homes for sale. I pulled over and took a flier from a yard sign—a dated rambler, vacant with the yard a mess. $400K. Out loud, I said, “insane.” Hmm. What could it rent for? Gosh, just a rough guess would be that I’d have to come up with about $200,000 as a down payment to get the PITI to break even. Maybe more. Oh, and I’d need to put probably about $30K into it to just get it up to today’s modest standards.
Last night, I pulled into Top Foods to get some milk and other things for my kids lunch. On the way, adjacent to the store are a Chevron and Shell gas station. One gas price sign was illuminated, the other darkened, but both stations were open. Both stations increased their prices to a $4.03 9/1Oth. per gallon for regular unleaded. We finally hit over $4. in Snohomish. Diesel? $4.89/gal! I have a John Deere tractor to help mow my lawn and do other yard work. Takes Diesel. Does anyone know the per capita ownership of trucks in Snohomish Co? It is fairly high. A lot of F-250’s, SUV’s, Chevrolet Duramax Diesel’s. Lot’s of big rigs. I recently read that Ford was ramping down their SUV and Truck lines this July for a period longer than normal due to poor sales (evidently they stop the production each July for re-tooling purposes).
Ok , I’m now a bit grumpy pulling into Top Foods. I pick out four Gala Apples, my two gallons of milk and a couple other things.
I look over at what a gallon of Minute Maid Juice is going to cost. I do a double-take. I can’t believe it. $7.30! Seven dollars and thirty-cents!
I still can’t believe it when I’m typing this. I said outloud, to be overheard by two other patrons in the isle, “this is insanity!” For a basic fruit tray, they want $24.99! Do you think an agent in their right mind is going to buy a basic fruit tray at that price for their broker’s open? No chance.
Lawrence Yun, I have a message for you: the idea of your recent comment suggesting we are not in a recession is beyond me. Soon, you will be parody on Saturday Night Live. I’m still waiting for our 30-40% increase in median prices for 2007.
My father-in-law put his two kids through college and law school at Pepperdine. He is still working (driving local routes throughout Washington delivering potatoes, hay, apples etc…) although he retired recently from BP-ARCO doing of all things (for 30 plus years), delivering our fuel! I asked him what it takes to fill his big-rig up and he says about 15. That’s $1,500. But, he says he never keeps it full. Why? People are siphoning.
By the way, those Gala Apples….all four of them……a sliver under $4.00!!