Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston: vs, restrictions, summer)

[id77]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

You're right, it is sad what constitutes a million dollar house around here in some locations. My wife and I have peers from the South and when they visit (pre-Covid) its a shock to them to see what your money gets you up here, vs the beautiful $250-300K brand new construction, 3500 sq foot homes they have down in Fl, GA, OH, TX and other states.

But, a huge part of that cost difference, as we all know, is location.

Dead horse, but it's also eye of the beholder. To some of us, those new construction, 3500 square foot homes are more often than not mass-produced hideous eyesores. You can also get those new construction McMansions pretty much anywhere in the US, but there's only so many older homes with a personality left to live in, and many of the ones that are left are in the Northeast.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by id77

Dead horse, but it's also eye of the beholder. To some of us, those new construction, 3500 square foot homes are more often than not mass-produced hideous eyesores. You can also get those new construction McMansions pretty much anywhere in the US, but there's only so many older homes with a personality left to live in, and many of the ones that are left are in the Northeast.

Prior to the Covid-19 travel concerns, I flew down to Austin for a wedding. While there, I stopped by a friends new build ... yeesh, build quality was dismal. Pressed paper sheathing, horrendous drywall taping masked (sort of) by 'popcorn' spray on both the walls and ceiling, etc. These homes were built in neighborhoods considered 'white collar'.

Had me feeling a bit better about my '80s contemporary with it's blueboard+plaster walls, 2x6 walls + plywood sheathing, and masonry chimney.

There's some real s___ down there.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by id77

Dead horse, but it's also eye of the beholder. To some of us, those new construction, 3500 square foot homes are more often than not mass-produced hideous eyesores. You can also get those new construction McMansions pretty much anywhere in the US, but there's only so many older homes with a personality left to live in, and many of the ones that are left are in the Northeast.

Agree. The new Colonial style homes that builders put up today all look the same with white trim everywhere, and siding that is some shade of blue or gray. Very cookie cutterish.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Prior to the Covid-19 travel concerns, I flew down to Austin for a wedding. While there, I stopped by a friends new build ... yeesh, build quality was dismal. Pressed paper sheathing, horrendous drywall taping masked (sort of) by 'popcorn' spray on both the walls and ceiling, etc. These homes were built in neighborhoods considered 'white collar'.

Had me feeling a bit better about my '80s contemporary with it's blueboard+plaster walls, 2x6 walls + plywood sheathing, and masonry chimney.

There's some real s___ down there.

Author Tyler Cowan hinted on that in the Great Stagnation. Basically it stated that Texas has weaker zoning and weaker building code which pretty much means cheaper housing. Sure they can afford more but look what they are getting. I've been to Europe and Asia and frankly if people start talking about some surging economy in China I have actual accounts of electrical boxes mounted to trees, group bathrooms that rivaled fenway parks mens room at its worst, arcade games blocking fire extinguishers, chopsticks that said "already disinfect" etc. now they are increasing regulations to a point but it's going to take a long time. Heck cigarettes were on the dinner menu

Sometimes you can really see the difference in hospitality. Yeah you have your "freedom" and a hotel might allow smoking but then it really looks like someone has been smoking there for 30+ years. I was in Columbia SC years ago and tried walking around. Apparently sidewalk is a foreign word. Even by hotels and restaurants they just assumed you drive everywhere. In Mass and new england most towns are kinda blob like but they don't have much that sticks out or zig zags. Columbia was easily jerry rigged and some places in the midwest are the same as well. Unincorporated areas, special districts etc. it gets odd. Yeah sometimes you can get more for your money but all that glitters is not gold.

[yesmaybe]

Low quality in new construction is unfortunately very common, even here.

[jtolpin]

#s for Covid were not good yesterday.

This is rather depressing.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by jtolpin

#s for Covid were not good yesterday.

This is rather depressing.

I agree that they definitely weren't good, but the trends yesterday were actually better than they have been over the last several weeks. Estimated active cases (as high as 84,000 last week) and the percent positive numbers (as high as 8.7% on New Year's Day) trended downwards. They had been trending upwards over the last two weeks. Hospitalizations and deaths were up, but those understandably lag behind case counts. It's way too early to call this a good sign and the numbers themselves are still way too high, but it's better than a continued upward trajectory. Hopefully it continues long enough to be a real trend.

[BostonMike7]

The 0-19 age demographic is starting to take the lead as the largest affected group as well.

It is a 20 year spread though, vs 10-year for other age groups. Regardless, I wish the 0-30 age range, which is where the majority of cases are was broken down a little finer to see the most affected ages


Baker just extended the recent restrictions to Jan 24th

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

Low quality in new construction is unfortunately very common, even here.

I don't disagree, but MA codes and higher skilled labor (generalization with some truth) largely prevents new construction from being bottom-barrel.

Of all the problems MA has with housing, build quality of new builds is generally not one of them. There's a big difference between building cheaply (e.g., limiting window opening, vinyl siding) and building poorly (bad workmanship, poor fit and finish, poor efficiency).

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I agree that they definitely weren't good, but the trends yesterday were actually better than they have been over the last several weeks. Estimated active cases (as high as 84,000 last week) and the percent positive numbers (as high as 8.7% on New Year's Day) trended downwards. They had been trending upwards over the last two weeks. Hospitalizations and deaths were up, but those understandably lag behind case counts. It's way too early to call this a good sign and the numbers themselves are still way too high, but it's better than a continued upward trajectory. Hopefully it continues long enough to be a real trend.

After listening to the 'town hall' for employees of a large regional hospital, my wife and I have scaled back exposure risk ... it's not good.

"See you in June everyone"