Hallmarks of the Bubble Era
What are some things that in years to come will be seen as a trademark of the roarin' 2000's? Some things I thought of:
A lot of the above definitely were not invented during the bubble, but came into popularity or wide use during the bubble.
- Granite countertops
- Hardwood floors
- Stainless steel appliances
- Luxury Trucks and SUVs (this is my favorite, the whole idea of a luxury truck is absurd, the only reason to get one is to show off how much money you can waste)
- Postage stamp sized lots
- Condo conversions (and then repartments)
- Designer pets
- Big screen TVs
- $600 phones that aren't even very useful, but look pretty
- Pottery Barn Kids
- Expensive teenage clothing stores (American Eagle, Hollister, etc.)
- HGTV
- The Secret
A lot of the above definitely were not invented during the bubble, but came into popularity or wide use during the bubble.
Comments
Meanwhile, the book entitled Work Hard, Save More, Spend Less has reportedly not sold enough copies to cover publishing costs. Book-writing expert Reid Mohr from the Textual Institute of Technology, in a recent report to publishing executives, states that the best way to achieve a profitable book is to tell others how to get rich quick. Reid notes that there are many subcategories in this genre, including investing in real estate, internet technology firms, and even the more obvious category of books which detail how to write and market books about writing and marketing books. Reid gave an example of one such book entitled How To Succeed in Publishing Without Really Trying, by noted author Rhom Dier.
The author of The Secret wants to make a lot of money so she does.
The author of Work Hard, Save More, Spend Less wants to work hard, save more, and spend less and so his book doesn't sell well forcing him to do just that.
Simple common sense, people. This is how the world works. Get with the program.
Incidently, real estate prices are starting to fall because Tim has been blogging about it.
Correction, this is how the Universe (the self aware entity that gives to those who envision) works.
Not to worry - Team Reba at RCG is fighting Tim's evil influence - from her column at Realty Times:
"Excellent employment news and growing wages continue to help strengthen the local real estate economy strangling the "bubble" talk around these parts. We're likely just to stabilize, not start a downward trend."
http://realtytimes.com/rtmcrcond/Washin ... ebeccahaas
I hope you all consider yourself strangled...
She has dropped an earlier claim from March, however:
"As a Seattle real estate agent I get asked all the time by my clients about what's happening in the market and if there is a slow down coming (can you say bubble?). So far there are no signs that this issue is about to hit the Seattle market place like it is in former high flying markets like San Diego."
http://web.archive.org/web/200704280834 ... ebeccahaas
Curses! I've been exposed as a fraud. I guess its back to selling cheap violins at huge markup.
kpom, Great quote! I especially like the reference to stabilizing prices. Pop quiz for all the armchair physicists out there. What's the most stable position of a moving object? Is it a) an ever increasing high, b) a permanently high plateau, or c) the local minimum? I'll give you a hint, it's where the kinematic energy and potential energy are lowest.
- Prices on 60's Chevy and Mopar muscle cars
- The resurgence in Poker
Oooh, that's a good one. I remember wondering once why poker had gotten so popular.
- Tramp Stamps
- 0% financing
- i-everything
This was probably a pretty kick ass room back in 1977.
http://www.thekitchendesigner.org/stora ... hen124.jpg
You say that now, but I bet if you ripped the linoleum off, you would find solid oak underneath it harvested from virgin pacific north west timber. Sand it and refinish it, and the overall rooms effect moves down a notch from fugly to pug-ugly.