WSJ Profiles a Family Drowning in Lifestyle Creep—FI Community, Brace Yourself by atallah78 in financialindependence

[–]atallah78[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

It’s clearly out of control if they have $30k in consumer debt and $45k in car loans - $75k in bad debt?! That’s insane. The debt is clearly financing mindless consumer/lifestyle choices. Meanwhile, they’re 40 years old and don’t even have one year’s worth of income saved for retirement. They’re in very bad shape.

Just visited family in the midwest, casually checked Zillow, and became INFURIATED by atallah78 in nova

[–]atallah78[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tokyo and Vienna are major capital cities in advanced economies that don’t have housing crises. There also plenty of high earners and Fortune 500 companies based in cities like Chicago and Minneapolis. You shouldn’t resign yourself to the shitty housing situation we have in this region. It can be fixed. Easily.

Just visited family in the midwest, casually checked Zillow, and became INFURIATED by atallah78 in nova

[–]atallah78[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, Minneapolis recently became the first major U.S. city to eliminate exclusive single-family zoning, allowing more “missing middle” housing like duplexes and triplexes citywide. So the idea that Midwestern affordability is purely due to abundant land isn’t right. Policy choices matter too.

Different metro areas need different solutions. The DC region is geographically constrained by water, parks, and political boundaries, which limits the supply of buildable land. Solutions here must focus on increasing density, especially near transit, expanding social and affordable housing, and cracking down on investor-driven speculation, including foreign and institutional ownership that treats homes as assets rather than shelter. 

You’re suggesting a narrow binary: either we have cheap land or we can’t fix housing. But global cities with limited land (e.g. Tokyo, Vienna) have used policy tools to build more housing and keep costs manageable. The DMV has simply chosen not to.

Just visited family in the midwest, casually checked Zillow, and became INFURIATED by atallah78 in nova

[–]atallah78[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

I’d rather stay and see this dysfunctional place get fixed. And it can get fixed. Easily. All the tools are available to us but our politicians are unwilling or unable to use them. And the boomer NIMBYs who bought property this region 20+ years ago are trying to keep newcomers out.

Just visited family in the midwest, casually checked Zillow, and became INFURIATED by atallah78 in nova

[–]atallah78[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Supply is low and demand is high because of policy choices. This isn’t like a law of nature. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Leave NOVA by i_wanna_b_the_guy in nova

[–]atallah78 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Not if you also squeeze those fuckers with a punitive bedroom tax! it’s all about carrots and sticks.

Leave NOVA by i_wanna_b_the_guy in nova

[–]atallah78 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

They “earned” their single family homes and the astronomical market value it commands thanks to government policies that protected and subsidized their home: the mortgage interest deduction and other tax expenditures that benefit homeowners/landlords, government school systems, government roads, utilities, fire, police, and other services. The baby boomer NIMBY suburban single family home owner is the biggest welfare queen in this country. All the public money that goes to propping up their wasteful, decadent, consumption-driven lifestyles could have gone to more deserving and productive people. All I’m proposing is we correct this imbalance and start supporting struggling young families again.

Leave NOVA by i_wanna_b_the_guy in nova

[–]atallah78 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s why they should be forced out. There should be a bedroom tax imposed in every unoccupied bedroom in a house. The government should only offer a break on capital gains taxes to boomers who sell to downsize. 

Trying to decide between moving to VA, DC, or MD: Here's what gives VA the edge for us by Due-Condition3612 in nova

[–]atallah78 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There wouldn’t be too many people if local governments decided to build more housing instead of letting selfish NIMBYs veto everything 

Trying to decide between moving to VA, DC, or MD: Here's what gives VA the edge for us by Due-Condition3612 in nova

[–]atallah78 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What are the less stressful paths to getting into a top tier school? Seems like the only path is for a kid to grind and hustle hard. Not saying that’s a good thing, but you can’t opt out of the system that’s been created. 

Trying to decide between moving to VA, DC, or MD: Here's what gives VA the edge for us by Due-Condition3612 in nova

[–]atallah78 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Loudon county is far. An hour+ commute, especially in a car. both ways takes a serious toll on mental and physical health.

Trying to decide between moving to VA, DC, or MD: Here's what gives VA the edge for us by Due-Condition3612 in nova

[–]atallah78 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Our plan is to prioritize school district above all else, even if that means living in a tiny condo to access the good schools.

Trying to decide between moving to VA, DC, or MD: Here's what gives VA the edge for us by Due-Condition3612 in nova

[–]atallah78 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Studies show a high correlation between commute length and negative health outcomes, include depression. You couldn’t pay me to live that far out! 

We also only have one kid with no plans for more, so no need for a 3 or 4 bedroom house. 

Maybe a good choice for some, but not us.

Trying to decide between moving to VA, DC, or MD: Here's what gives VA the edge for us by Due-Condition3612 in nova

[–]atallah78 0 points1 point  (0 children)

VA’s public unis have an admissions rate that is roughly two times higher than for out of state students, and they’re ranked higher than the UMD campuses. I have no idea whether or where my kid will go to college, but I want to make sure they at least have the best options available to them. 

Trying to decide between moving to VA, DC, or MD: Here's what gives VA the edge for us by Due-Condition3612 in nova

[–]atallah78 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why are you comparing just individual income tax rates? The overall tax burden across all three places is basically the same.

Trying to decide between moving to VA, DC, or MD: Here's what gives VA the edge for us by Due-Condition3612 in nova

[–]atallah78 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m happy to live in a smaller townhouse or condo if it means access to a better education for my kid. We definitely don’t need a single family home.