Mr. Jodi made the NYT (sort of) 😄
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What happened?
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Pretty sure it was the combination of the popularity of the Yellowstone show (people fell in love with Montana) and the pandemic, when so many went to remote work - moved out of the city, bought houses in beautiful remote places and drove up housing prices. But honestly, housing prices are high everywhere. All the places we’ve lived have increased a huge amount. Our extremely remote Maine house that we sold for about $265K is valued at close to $400K now Our Washington State house, that we sold for about $365 is now estimated at close to $800K! I think the pandemic caused more of the issues than the television show did.
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So the state has become too prosperous?
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Prices rose higher in Montana, percentagewise, than any other state in the country. 60 percent in some communities. And the disparity between average wages and housing prices is the biggest here. We have been looking at other potential markets around the country and almost everywhere is more affordable than Montana right now, in terms of what you get for your money. I saw something similar happen in the early 90s, when "A River Runs Through It" was released. There was an epidemic of subdividing farms and ranches after that movie came out. Yes, the pandemic undoubtedly made it worse, but lots of places didn't see the kind of price hikes we have here.
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@Steve-Miller the state has not become "too prosperous." It has attracted a very wealthy segment of the population who have driven up real estate prices beyond the reach of the people who live here. I wouldn't call that prosperity.
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@pique One of the stories was about Sonata Piano Camp in 2002. I’m an unnamed roommate from the Pacific Northwest.
And the other was about digital technology and learning the piano. This one had a sweet picture of me and my almost 10 year old kiddo, but that’s lost to time. I’m described as “social by nature” which made Mr. AM laugh out loud, because it’s true.
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@Steve-Miller said in Mr. Jodi made the NYT (sort of)
:What happened?
We're becoming the next Jackson Hole. People are being driven out of their homes because taxes increased astronomically because of the increase of home valuations. Young people can't live here or raise their families here. Businesses can't find workers because the rents are so far beyond the ability of working people to pay. In 1992, I paid $500/mo for a 3 BR, 2 bath duplex apartment here. Today, that unit would easily rent for $3,000/mo. We could easily rent out our current home for $5k/mo.--2,000 square feet. People are spending the winter living in uninsulated campers. The RV campgrounds are full. In winter! My doctor and my physical therapist have lost their staff because they moved away to more affordable states. Even the hot springs resort near Jodi had to close to day users--you have to stay in the hotel to swim there--because they can't find employees. This affects everyone. Except of course the ultra wealthy whose Montana trophy homes sit empty most of the year. And don't get me started on the corporate landlords who have snatched up what used to be affordable housing by paying full cash and outcompeting local buyers. Then turn that housing stock into AirBnBs, or jack up the rents to astronomical levels the current tenants cannot pay.
Late stage capitalism isn't pretty.
