I remember reading a few years ago about mortgages in Japan that were so long that the children had to keep on paying after their parents had died. This was when interest rates were sky-high; don't know if it's still that way over there. Ugh... Kat On Fri, 12 Jul 2002 14:11:17 -0400 Michael H Collis <[log in to unmask]> wrote: The owners of property in the mountains give property to their children to help them build their houses. That's really the only way they can afford it now... -----Original Message----- From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Barber, Kenneth L. Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 11:43 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: A new aging survey for the list how does anyone afford this insanity? -----Original Message----- From: Michael H Collis [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 11:44 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: A new aging survey for the list That's right... In Asheville, NC, my sister's place was priced at $56,000 in 1980. Now it's priced at $600,000. It's insane... -----Original Message----- From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Trisha Cummings Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 9:45 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: A new aging survey for the list Hi Bobby, I suspect this would somewhat in relation to where you live - here in the DC area - or at least in Arlington and Alexandria - things are selling well - Arlington has waiting list for condos and the house that just sold in my neighborhood went for $19,000 more than the one sold last year. I kind dropped my teeth, the house price thing is so bazaar - my house when it was new in 1961 sold for $11,000 and now they are going for 1/4 of million!!!! Hellloooo, can we say absurd. In the 4 years I have had my house its gone up $85,000. Go figure. Its all so mind boggling. And so very regional. Brightest Blessings - Trisha > Well the market is glutted here and after 9/11 and the current stock > market, > I think people are afraid of buying houses. > >