What in the heck is going on?

 There seems to be a seismic shift happening.

I am not sure how I feel about it, but here are my observations.

The housing market has turned to cash. Even the builders want cash. We are building and selling at the same time. In the past you could reasonably get a loan for a house. You could also put building supplies on credit or, even, buy over time. 

I think SO many middle income (80-150k) 30 somethings have been held up in their houses for so long that they have just stockpiled cash. And not a little cash. You hear it on Dave Ramsey. "I am 28 and am making 130K a year. We are going to get married. Together we will make 240k. We haven't been out of the apartment for a year- both working from home. What should we do with our left over cash?" OR "We just sold our family home for 1m in a Philly suburb. Where do you think we should go next? Do you think we should save to 3m to be comfortable?" Really? And the anxiety on their voices is palatable. 

 Never, have I ever. Those who were employed during this pandemic have built up a stash. Those boomers in the market have doubled and tripled their gains. What is enough? And what happened to credit?

And now that group is looking for a great house.They cannot travel-so a house with an office, backyard and space for a movie room is perfection!  It is crazy out there. Cash is king and flying out of the market and savings accounts into real estate. 

The other side is the building trades.  Refrigerators are three or four months backlogged. The normal "put in your new heater and 90 days same as cash" is gone. It is not uncommon to be charged 3% to use a credit card on building supplies at this point. Cash. Crazy. We have resorted to transferring money through Venmo or other such apps, because the post office is often unreliable (five weeks to get a check across country these days). 

Are you seeing your groceries rise like I am? I know gas is up, why is that? No tariffs are out there driving up the price? Supply and demand? I know our state put on a bit of a tax---but that was not like this rise. Is this a haves and have nots situation?

Less stuff, more experiences, but there is no place to go unless you score a shot. And who IS scoring shots? Will there be a pushback to those who start to travel because they are connected or old enough to get a shot? Hummmm- why do they get to live while everyone else gets locked down?

What is going on with solar panels? They used to be reasonable with cash back from taxes- now they are same priced, with no real rebate, and still flying off the shelves. Are we THAT worried that the entire nation will be in a "TexasWinter"?  Will it become the haves who can afford electricity vs the have nots who cannot afford expensive solar stuff?

No, I am not a great writer.  I am just putting my experiences and thoughts out there. To me there is a shift going on. I am not sure where it will go, but it is moving. 

And why is our border wide open. Who, in their right mind, thinks it is good to brain drain an entire area so kids can languish in foster care....in a white nationalist state? But that is another topic for another day. 

Yes, it is a seller's market!

 We don't want to move until the end of June

The listing was going to be in late April/ early May.

I heard an ad on Dave Ramsey for their brokers and gave in

Called an amazing agent in town- Andrew Bryan

He said, "Crazy market. Here are the comps. Ask to rent back until July."

We were skeptical, but prepped the house for pictures.

Remember, we have been doing one box packed, one thrown nd one given away since Jan 1.

 I bought flowers and vacuumed. Made the beds. Cleaned off surfaces. The Photographer---oh Lala!

The house went live on Thursday. 

We had almost 30 showings on Friday and Saturday.

We signed papers today to close on tax day. We can stay, for free, until June 30.

Suddenly we love the governors of New Jersey and New York....

Our heads are spinning!

That Idaho house better be ready by the end of June!

Passings

Passings

Grand children grow older and taller. They need you less, but want the contact. This type of passing gives move space for each to develop an individuality that is so important in life. My oldest grandson is in his teens now, and is over six feet tall. He does school at home, like the rest of my school aged grands, but his heart is with his friends. 

Mothers grow elderly and more frail. They need you more and want more contact. This type of passing takes more space for dependency to grow and develop, so important in life. My mother is 90 and clear minded, but her body fails her more every day. She moves to a care house tomorrow.

Aunts fall and become dependent, but fierce. Contact is important, but on the side since they have their own family to care for. It is a passing for memories. Favorite Aunts are integral in the fabric of our souls. My MiMi is 92 and broke her hip in California. Recovery is not going well. 

Homes become houses again. This type of passing becomes problematic because being unstable is time consuming and, at times, heart wrenching. It demands loads of time and interface with people who are busy while you have been settled. Our house goes on the market today.

Nephews pass to the next life. This type of passing is marked with fear, doubt, pain and hope. Strength and courage marks this type of passing. Exhaustion as well. Brad passed away at the beginning of last month.

Life is a series of slow, slow, quick, quick. My father told me that many years ago when he taught me to Fox trot before my debutant ball. I could not comprehend slow. My life was full of fun and travel and friends and family. Quick, quick season.

But, collectively,  we have had a season and now another emerges. 

Slow, slow. Rarely going out. Rarely interfacing with other humans besides my husband. Rarely finding joy.

Now it is quick, quick.

Passings