I received the following in an email from a reader:
I’m writing to thank you for your tireless work keeping my wife and I informed and entertained about the Seattle housing market.
I specifically remember asking my real-estate agent friend in 2007 if she thought there were legitimate concerns about the housing market and her response was that “it’s ALWAYS a good time to buy” in Seattle so it was refreshing to discover a contrary opinion in the Seattle Bubble.
My wife and I have done countless calculations and the results have always been the same… Seattle is not the market for us. Because we have been serial renters and have lived below our means, we were able to absorb a downturn in my work and a failed business venture without a significant impact to our lifestyle. Because we didn’t have a mortgage, we have been able to spend the past six months traveling the world and we have since relocated to the Midwest to be closer to my wife’s family.
We will be looking at homes in our new state in the $75,000 – $150,000 range and we still have enough for 20% down. Had we bought in Seattle, we would have never been able to embark on a trip of a lifetime.
Thank you for all of your hard work!
This is the kind of story I love to hear—someone who was able to avoid the hype, make wise financial decisions, and now that the insanity has died down, will be able to make a prudent housing choice that will work for his family long-term. Kudos to you, sir!
Thanks for the note, and best of luck to you in your new journey!
