Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

inanna

(3,547 posts)
Fri Nov 4, 2016, 11:21 PM Nov 2016

Million Dollar Shack couple’s story resonates with Vancouver buyers (Globe & Mail)

Published Friday, Nov. 04, 2016 3:15PM EDT

When a Bay Area couple decided to document their unaffordable housing experience on YouTube, they didn’t expect their mini-documentary to become the lightning rod for the crisis.

<snip>

“One of the very common responses to our documentary is: ‘But it’s Silicon Valley! People want to live there! It’s always going to be like that!’

“We point to Vancouver, and say, well, ‘Why is it happening there? And why is it happening in Sydney [Australia]?’ How are we in this situation? We can’t buy a house anywhere. It’s been very frustrating because I know that in previous generations – post-World-War-Two at least – it was expected that if you had a full-time job and you were marginally responsible, you would be able to afford something. I am Gen X, and I look at Millennials and think, ‘Whoa, if you haven’t started your own successful business, and you’re not a millionaire, good luck having an average life, providing school for your kids.’”

In the film, we see Ms. Joyce attending a viewing for a $900,000 (U.S.) townhouse that has asbestos in the ceiling and is located near a freeway. It is packed with potential buyers. In another scene, she walks around a clearly vacant house in her neighbourhood, the curtains drawn and the lawn filled with weeds.

cont'd...

link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/million-dollar-shack-couples-story-resonates-with-vancouver-buyers/article32680676/?ord=1

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Million Dollar Shack couple’s story resonates with Vancouver buyers (Globe & Mail) (Original Post) inanna Nov 2016 OP
Typical Republican response. wcast Nov 2016 #1
If I had a crap shack that had inflated over a million bucks Warpy Nov 2016 #2

wcast

(595 posts)
1. Typical Republican response.
Sat Nov 5, 2016, 12:29 AM
Nov 2016

Let them work harder so they can afford to live here. Someone from Google deserves it more.

Warpy

(111,245 posts)
2. If I had a crap shack that had inflated over a million bucks
Sat Nov 5, 2016, 12:38 AM
Nov 2016

I'd sell it, take the money and invest it. That would give me enough to live on in a depressed area of the country while I looked for a telecommuting job (and something like Google on the resume would guarantee getting one), while looking for a relative mansion to buy for a tenth as much as the crap shack sold for.

If I were renting, I'd be looking for jobs elsewhere. Far elsewhere.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Canada»Million Dollar Shack coup...