 
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 29
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 8:23 am: |    |
Well, I went out looking for homes again, the foreclosure houses that are still avail. in BE that I liked at my last visit in August are still there, although they have been stripped of all fixtures, windows, doors. etc.
Monday morning, I drove up Woodward and made a right on what I thought was E. Boston, later I realized it was Arden Park instead. There was a foreclosure home that I had on my list to see. and had an appt. with my realtor.
I found the address and saw two people walking out the door and didnt see my realtors car. I forgot my phone and GPS at the hotel and drove back to get it a short distance away.
When I returned there was a car parked there, I thought it was my realtor.
I knocked on the door, and a man came out with a glock in his hand. Come to find out, It was the realtor for that house, and I discovered I was one street over. He told me that two people just had broken into the shambles of a vacant house and the owner was there trying to fortify the doors and clobbered one of the burglars with a hammer while trying to escape out the back door. The realtor showed me the dillapidated house, with his gun in his hand as he was sweeping through the rooms. It was quite the experience. We laughed about it. I was there for about an hour talking with him and the owner. Then my realtor showed up and showed me the house with the same street number on E. Boston.
Seems to be getting worse...
Oh, and then I went to MGM on Sunday night and went to the players club desk to get a card. The lady asked me if I was in town for bus. or pleasure. I said pleasure and she replied "now why on Earth would you want to come to Detroit for a pleasure trip?" |
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 30
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 8:36 am: | |
BTW..the whole time I was there, for over an hour, the police NEVER showed and the realtor said that he called right after the incident. |
Vetalalumni
Member
Username: Vetalalumni
Post Number: 807
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 8:50 am: | |
The humor escapes me. However, this would be an appropriate and "funny" story for a DNo forum/board. |
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 31
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 8:57 am: | |
Its not funny at all, I was being sarcastic. It's a downright shame. |
Bobj
Member
Username: Bobj
Post Number: 2954
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:00 am: | |
It is a sad state of affairs these days. The house stripping going on is just an indication of how bad the economy really is.
As far as the casino goes - the people in that business should really be presenting a much better image than that |
Vetalalumni
Member
Username: Vetalalumni
Post Number: 808
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:02 am: | |
Thanks for the clarification Lobsterpots. My post was reactionary. |
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 32
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:06 am: | |
I was at the fammers market flea market in Royal oak on Sunday, and there was a large amount of stained glass windows, archetectural pieces, glass doorknobs, old chandeliers outside. The guy said I could have the stained glass window for $15. and informed me that he had been asking $25 earlier in the day. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 3757
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:12 am: | |
And everybody is so concerned with Ilitch knocking down historic structures. Meanwhile, every 100+ year old house in the city is slowly being sold off as scrap. |
Gravitymachine
Member
Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1879
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:14 am: | |
quote:Meanwhile, every 100+ year old house in the city is slowly being sold off as scrap
happened to the house i was looking at this past spring, it was a damn shame, thankfully though in that particular case, someone with more skill and determination than i bought it and is apparently rehabbing it. |
Iheartthed
Member
Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 2234
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:18 am: | |
Sounds like BE/Arden Park is on it's way to looking like Brush Park... |
Spacemonkey
Member
Username: Spacemonkey
Post Number: 266
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:18 am: | |
The funny part is that you'd waste your time looking to buy any of those foreclosed homes in Detroit. No offense, but that can't be a very wise business decision. Unless you're looking to get into the slum lord business.
Seriously, how could it possibly be profitable to buy one of those stripped houses, fix it up and resell it? Who'd buy it and would you even get a decent return on your money.
Again, not trying to offend, but understand WHY. |
Crystal
Member
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 64
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:19 am: | |
"The house stripping going on is just an indication of how bad the economy really is."
I'm sure I'm missing something here. Is the implication that in a bad economy people have a greater need to steal? Stealing results from a moral choice, not because of an economic need. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 3758
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:21 am: | |
I know from renovating my own house, which is only 85 years old, that it can be very difficult to get that original hardware back, if possible at all. So many things back then were custom made for a particular house. In many cases, once it is gone, a new owner will end up having to settle for modern fixtures and hardware that pale in comparison. Truly a shame. |
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 33
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:21 am: | |
The house that I'm interested in, next door to my friends now has the mantle missing and the radiators have all been cut and dragged across the hardwood floors, ruining the floors and close to the front door. They also went in with a sledge hammer and busted through all of the walls and cut all the copper pipes out. and the electric panel has all the wires torn out of it. The wooden paneling and bannisters are missing as well.
Theres no way that a sale is going to happen. |
Artistic
Member
Username: Artistic
Post Number: 72
Registered: 09-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:25 am: | |
To live in it......Palmer Woods for example has a few foreclosures.....not such a bad place to call home |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 3759
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:27 am: | |
Another potentially great resident of Detroit pushed away by crime and an apathetic police department. Those who are constantly arguing crime is not a major factor in the city's problems might take some notice. |
Goat
Member
Username: Goat
Post Number: 9945
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:29 am: | |
Crystal is can be both. If a person cannot get money to feed their family or keep the electricity on people will resort to crime. It is one reason that crime is higher in poor districts. But morals can be instilled at an early age so that crime can be reduced but not eradicated.
As for the "why choose Detroit". I have had that said to me when crossing over as well. Nothing like making people be suspicious of the city and question their own judgement. Nice ambassadors! |
Bobj
Member
Username: Bobj
Post Number: 2960
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:29 am: | |
Crystal
You really believe that all stealing is just a moral choice, not an economic choice?
Sure, some people are just thieves, but when there are no jobs to be had and you have become hopeless, you really don't think some people turn to stealing to eat?? |
Crystal
Member
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 65
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:44 am: | |
As I was typing, I was thinking just that, how it might make sense to steal so someone can eat. Still, there are soup kitchens and other ways someone can eat.
It is also widely publicized that the number of gas station drive offs increases when gas prices rise.
I'll have to give this more thought. |
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 34
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:55 am: | |
I have a question:
Do you think that Grosse Pointe is going to eventually decline to this state?
There's an awful lot of homes for sale their as well and there not selling. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 3762
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 9:57 am: | |
Lobsterpots, I said it before and I'll say it again.
Move to Ferndale! |
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 35
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:18 am: | |
I know johnlodge, but my friends live in BE and they have a beautiful home. They haven't had any problems. Seems to be just the vacant homes that are taking a hit. |
Bobj
Member
Username: Bobj
Post Number: 2963
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:21 am: | |
Mr Lodge
I live in GP and have wondered that myself. I think the key will be keeping the schools topnotch, the services up and the GP's can ride this through. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 3765
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:24 am: | |
Understandable. I actually don't want to dissuade anybody from moving to Detroit, and BE is beautiful. |
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 36
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:29 am: | |
If you may recall, my radiator was stolen out of my car lst month, here, in the Boston, MA suburbs.
Crime is everywhere, but at least here, the police showed up within 5 minutes.
I find fault with the banks as well, for asking outragous amounts for these foreclosed properties. They end up unsold, and scrapped. Many of the realtors that are assigned don't seem to care, as they know there not going to sell at anywhere near the listed prices, and if someone makes an offer, it's for almost nothing and there's not much commish. It's just greed...
three vacant homes were unsecured, one with the top half of the dutch door missing, another with a broken lock box, and a third with all the rear windows stolen. Asking prices are over $200k
It's not looking good over there at all. From what it looks like I think it will get worse, as I've noticed it to be even just since the summer. |
Sciencefair
Member
Username: Sciencefair
Post Number: 25
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:29 am: | |
BE is a great place to live, but it's not exempt from crackheads and petty theft. |
Jt1
Member
Username: Jt1
Post Number: 10842
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:30 am: | |
quote:Do you think that Grosse Pointe is going to eventually decline to this state?
Decline? Yes. To this state? Absolutely not.
There are some nice foreclosures in Indian Village which is a much mroe stable community of beautiful homes and closer to downtown and the river. It also seems that there is more development in the immediate area than in BE. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 3767
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:33 am: | |
We can hope that as Detroit's downtown continues to revitilize, and the mortgage crisis slowly fades, interest in those neighborhoods will pick up with people looking for good deals. |
Craig
Member
Username: Craig
Post Number: 484
Registered: 02-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:34 am: | |
LP - "greed"? You are talking about working people, not volunteers at a charity. Not everyone wants to work at a bookstore or public radio (to quote a song). |
Lobsterpots
Member
Username: Lobsterpots
Post Number: 37
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 - 10:36 am: | |
RE: Grosse Pointe
I think thats the $64,000 question thats on the minds of many, but its kept hush hush. If you google it nothing is written about it. The listings keep piling up in the Pointes. The prices are continuing to drop.
It happened here in Randolph, MA in the late 80's early 90's. Lots of homes that became rentals, lots of inner city problems came to town. The exodus began, the community began to unravel then. For a town of 30k weve had five homicides this year, and residents waking up to their cars sitting on blocks in their driveways. The schools are losing their acredidation. etc. |