Case Study in Progress by Pat Darnell along with the Two Sisters RE`al Est`Ate Sundries
I wish I could say that there has been progress over my lifetime. I wish the buildings we built back when there were master craftsmen walking the streets, in pre-one million population days Houston, had not somehow became land-locked.
Soap Box: It is a felling of wistful nostalgia that notices a soul can no longer see Lindens or Dutch Elms sewn in background of new yearbooks pictures, of our old school grounds. (Sayings lifted from Deadwood, fully plagiarized)
My Dad and our projects, those homes and apartments, are part of a totally differential [nearly unfathomable] demographic, and next to newer buildings. Some of the units are gone to seed. Later built edifices surrounding our beauties, are built on restricted hundred year flood plains.
However, as I think of after-1960's decades of framing out homes and apartments, with smashed and broken fingernails, using a 32 ounce framing hammer, Lufkin retractable tape ... and a four foot straight edge bubble level ... it is one time I actually am serious, and shed one large salty cheek burning tear, pitying my self and my righteous mindset.
In 1968, we build a house over the next 90 to 120 days. I know you know the kind of bedroom community house -- a two story on a slab, federal barn seductive to look like a conversion ... oooh yeah ... including some custom elements and plenty of curb face -- we spend a ratio of about one third cost for foundation, one third for doors, windows, and 'glazing.' The last third of construction money goes to subcontractors in the trades. 'Subs' who provide installations according to shop drawings, after code-checked necessities approved at the state of the art of the time.... have to be scheduled around other jobs they are doing.
Drawing on Short Money Market
Particulars of years '65 to '75 -ish, makes for a preamble to what was to be. It seems to me ... in a personally constructed opinion ... that a revolution began in our United States of America banking system in that twenty years from 1960 to 1980.
Money became less fluid for homebuilding die to restricted money supply overlapped starts on newfangled "master planned communities." P-shaw... I said back then, and blah-ba-blah-bah humbug to a defunct paper money mill, I still say today. Savings and Loans, and Main Banks in towns all over failed to keep up with 'know it all Bank owners.
What built America is no longer available to builders. It seems one needs a minimum US$250,000,000 in collected blood money just to borrow US$75,000 to build a house. That's a paper money system fer' ya'. YIKES, again!!
Soap Box: Give me back the old grind-house, gold, and silver banking system standards mills. Return USA's gold and silver from Swiss controlled money hostels. Don't take away our rights to bear arms; and we will look after it. (Sayings lifted from Deadwood, fully plagiarized)Eh'rr ... back to our stroppy home building, the old fashion way:
We list it. Realtor Annie Schatte comes back with a contract for 20% under our asking price. We wait.
90-120 days becomes 180 days -- and home unsold, stays listed even though many contracts offered -- but each is too low for our jewel of denial.
At 240 days, eventually the bank calls us and we must find a buyer. Most the time, we go back to the previous offers... YIKES!!
We end up making only 3% profit for all that effort, a margin down from 28% to 33% wishfully thinking when we started stick framing this modern WAHOO home, house, home sweet home. that is a house that we built on speculation someone would buy it and close no longer than 45 days after construction comple'.
file :: Unsolicited Opinions of a Dubious Nature -- by Barney Barnsmell Constructs and Buddy Decks
Next Week :: PART TWO -- "Don't be alarmed: those are the sounds of modern construction ..."
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