WHY ?

[Rudolf Reusse]

My wife and I decided to visit Nova Scotia. We therefore crossed the US border in Cornwall - and travelled last week secondary roads through Vermont - New Hampshire and Main on our way to the Maritimes.

Except for the beautiful landscape - many homes and buildings in the little villages and towns along the US route appeared to be in neglected or dilapidated condition - and countlessly collapsed and abandoned wood frame structures have simply been left behind to rot for years.

I would like to hear from home inspectors who are operating in these parts of the US to find out about the reason for the unpleasant observation.

Rudolf Reusse - Home Inspector since 1976 - Toronto / Canada

[Jerry McCarthy]

Our economy, or lack of it.

[John Arnold]

Why? Maybe because we're too busy pouring what money we have down the sinkhole of Iraq instead of taking care of our own country's infrastructure, people and economy.
Oh, sorry. That's not our money being spent in Iraq. It's China's. They're not going to make us pay it back, are they?

[Jim Luttrall]

I think also there is a disposable society mindset (at least around here) where it is cheaper, easier to just start fresh than to rebuild something old.
When is the last time you had an electronic device repaired? A watch?
There used to be "fix-it" shops in every town, but now it is cheaper, easier, and better by some standards to replace rather than repair.
JMO

[Jim Luttrall]

Why? Maybe because we're too busy pouring what money we have down the sinkhole of Iraq instead of taking care of our own country's infrastructure, people and economy.
Oh, sorry. That's not our money being spent in Iraq. It's China's. They're not going to make us pay it back, are they?



many homes and buildings in the little villages and towns along the US route appeared to be in neglected or dilapidated condition - and countlessly collapsed and abandoned wood frame structures have simply been left behind to rot for years.


John, I think you missed the point, he was not asking about infrastructure, that would be personal property that individuals are responsible for, not government. Big government can't solve all of societies ills.

[Rick Hurst]

As Jim said we live in a disposable society. It is amazing that people can go out and buy a brand new home and within a year or so, it looks as if it has been lived in 20+ years.

I see it in all price range of homes too. From the starter homes to the McMansions.

The days of people keeping up their lawns and the drive up appeal of their homes seems to be over.

We have an azzhole right across the street that the HOA has to keep his lawn mowed and maintained because he won't do it and he's the first home you see coming in the neighborhood. They bill him 150. each time, but you can't get blood from a turnip.

Everyone wants to blame it on "lack of funds" but I think it is more of a just don't give a sh*# attitude.

rick

[Michael Larson]

Rudolf Reusse - Home Inspector since 1976 - Toronto / Canada
Seems to be going around in Toronto as well (http://www.fraserinstitute.org/newsandevents/news/9999.aspx)

and THIS (http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/06/25/hall-monitor-toronto-a-city-in-decline.aspx)

and Public opinions (http://www.thestar.com/article/450391)

[Rick Hurst]

Michael,

Great investigative work there! :D

rick

[Michael Larson]

Michael,

Great investigative work there! :D

rickThe Internet is a wonderful thing Rick:)

[David Banks]

My wife and I decided to visit Nova Scotia. We therefore crossed the US border in Cornwall - and travelled last week secondary roads through Vermont - New Hampshire and Main on our way to the Maritimes.

Except for the beautiful landscape - many homes and buildings in the little villages and towns along the US route appeared to be in neglected or dilapidated condition - and countlessly collapsed and abandoned wood frame structures have simply been left behind to rot for years.

I would like to hear from home inspectors who are operating in these parts of the US to find out about the reason for the unpleasant observation.

Rudolf Reusse - Home Inspector since 1976 - Toronto / Canada


I live in Massachusetts but have family in Maine. Very familiar with New England. Most of what you see is the decline in the family farm. The Maine coast has some money areas mostly from New York and Mass people moving there or second homes. The Interior of Maine is very poor. Family farms gone, Maine potato's can not compete due to poor weather, shrinking lumber industry.
New Hampshire basically the same thing far North.
Vermont on the other hand is doing quite well do tho its beauty (Green Mountains) there is a good tourism base and farmers have adjusted and are successful selling natural/organic food. Tons of New York people with money have moved to this state permanently or second homes.
You can notice the difference in the shape of homes as you pass from Vermont into NH. It is like instant change.

[Ron Bibler]

Its a bic lighter thing. if it's old chuck it in the trash can.

Go buy a new one. I stop working on my cars 20 years ago. Send it to the shop if its 2 much to fix chuck in the trash. go get the new one.

But then im still driving my 1999 ford ranger 180k ml. just can't kill the dang thing.

Re: the homes in this post. No money in fixing them. The money is in other investments.

Best

Ron

[Deleted Account]

In his Peabody award winning series Alistair Cooke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alistair_Cooke) said "that if America been discovered from west to east much of New England & Canada would be uninhabited". With heating costs skyrocketing out of control this could come to past and you just may have witnessed the grand unraveling of the American dream.

[Richard Moore]

We drove around Maine and much of New England in 2004 and I don't remember seeing the conditions Rudolph describes. Of course, we were mostly at the coast and other touristy areas taking in the "quaintness" and scenary so were probably a bit blind to the uglier aspects.

It's sad to read the stuff about Toronto. I lived there from '74 to '80 at which time it seemed a vibrant, growing and diverse community. I got to sit in one of the big downtown towers and waste a lot of time watching a huge helicopter add the top pieces to the CN tower. Being much younger and single my attention wasn't really on the infrastructure but I do remember it as being a very clean place (compared to London) and without any "no go" areas. Seeing the transit system described as "grossly inadequate" is a real surprise as my recollection of the subway and connecting bus routes was that you could get anywhere very easily. I keep meaning to go back for a visit. I might now skip that and just keep my pleasant memories.

What's the old saying...Nostalgia ain't what it used to be!

[Ron Bibler]

John ArnoldWhy? Maybe because we're too busy pouring what money we have down the sinkhole of Iraq instead of taking care of our own country's infrastructure, people and economy.
Oh, sorry. That's not our money being spent in Iraq. It's China's. They're not going to make us pay it back, are they?

Can I make a point and demonstrate absurdity by being absurd.

"Blood for oil. I need the gas for my Harley".:D

Ron

[Jerry McCarthy]

Good show Rick and proves again that negative observations should begin with oneself and in this case, at home. People are people and there is no shortage of morons on this planet, country aside. :(

[imported_John Smith]

Cause its too damn cold up there. I think they all abandoned the cold and moved to Houston.

[John Arnold]

Cause its too damn cold up there. I think they all abandoned the cold and moved to Houston.

Could humans live in Houston without air conditioning? I'm just asking.

[Ted Menelly]

You would not want to live in Houston with out air.

Average humidity 99.9%

[Eric Barker]

Rudolf,

Sounds like you're getting some responses to your query from inspectors who have not realized that they don't live in the NE.

[imported_John Smith]

Actually I have lived in the northeast (for 2 miserable years). I enjoyed the scenery and the people, but its just too cold for me.

I think you could live in Houston longer without AC than you could in the north without heat.

[Scott Patterson]

I see it in the South as well. Most are old farms that have been bought up by who knows who and they are just letting them sit. All types of folks over the past ten or so years have been buying up land just to hold and I'm sure hope the value will go up.

[Rudolf Reusse]

I like to thank everyone who responded to my inquiry - including the individuals who have expressed their displeasure about my raised question.

Rudolf Reusse - Toronto / Canada

[Bruce King]

Good reasons already posted but to dig a little deeper......


Many people can just not make decisions, sometimes they inherit properties and either don't have the motivation to research their options or they are stuck with 33 1/3 ownership and can't act.

Also, you have to "buy your neighbors". If the neighbors property looks like crap, why should you dump a lot of money into a house near it? Sometimes investors buy the whole block and tear everything down but that is hard to find in many areas.

The old saying location, location, location is true most of the time.
I actually prefer to tell people the most important thing with real estate is inspection, inspection, inspection.

[Billy Stephens]

Actually I have lived in the northeast (for 2 miserable years). I enjoyed the scenery and the people, but its just too cold for me.

I think you could live in Houston longer without AC than you could in the north without heat.
.
Aw Come On John,

You Know Everyone Retires and then Moves North. ;)

[imported_John Smith]

Houston is getting to be too cold for me in the winter. Im thinking Arizona.

[Raymond Wand]

I fail to see how info on the State of Toronto answers the original question. However if one conducts a Google search "rural Vermont decline" or "decline of Vermont" some interesting hits and resulting info can be obtained. None of which included strangely enough info about Toronto's economic decline.

Decline in Canadian demand pulls down total exports
Decline in Canadian demand pulls down total exports | Vermont Business Magazine | Find Articles at BNET (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3675/is_200609/ai_n17194313)

Income and Poverty in the State of Vermont

Vermont: Income and Poverty in the State of Vermont (http://www.ecanned.com/VT/2007/01/income-and-poverty-in-state-of-vermont.html)

Frontiers, to Farms, to Factories: The Economic and Social .. (http://www.vermonthistory.org/journal/71/vt711_208.pdf)Welcome to the Vermont Historical Society (http://www.vermonthistory.org/journa/71/vt711_208.pdf)