Current State of the Housing Market

With respect.

I’d like to offer my own perspective—and a bit of firsthand experience—regarding the American real estate market.

With the hope that things will eventually change... For the better.

I’m currently living in Canada. I am of Canadian descent—writing in English, so please excuse any inevitable slips or errors along the way.

I’ve been reading up on how one might actually jumpstart the American real estate market... though it feels like a bit of a paradox. We’re looking at a country where people are constantly migrating out, the older generation is passing away, and birth rates are steadily cratering. It's a tough sell.

The headlines are nothing but a constant stream of fraud and scams... How can anyone be expected to actually invest in real estate when that's all they see? It’s hard to feel confident about buying property when you're watching people get fleeced left and right—it makes you wonder if anyone is actually building equity or if they're just getting cleaned out.

Some properties just sit there—unmarketable—for years on end. There are people who cling to this delusional hope that foreign investors are going to come swooping in to snap them up. But honestly? I wouldn't want those outsiders moving in here anyway... even if they did decide to settle down in America.

"Bring your money here, spend it with us, and then go back... wherever you came from..." And don't come crying to me when you realize you've been taken for a ride.

How exactly do they plan to jumpstart this dead real estate market? When Realtors list a property at a specific location, I just go look at that location myself—simple as that.

I'm currently scouring Google Earth street view to scout out a property—since they won't give me the actual address. It’s a bit of a guessing game... usually, it just turns out to be somewhere else entirely.

I’m trying to picture myself actually living there—but I don't have enough photos to work with. To be blunt, the images provided are pretty poor; you can't even begin to visualize what the property actually looks like.

It’s incredibly rare to find a real estate agent who actually takes the time to include the floor plan, the lot dimensions, or even photos from the county records... And when I bother to send an inquiry, I often get absolutely nothing in return.

I’m honestly at a loss—not even sure which language I should be using anymore: American or English.

It’s the same old story—the moment I start speaking American, people immediately assume I’m some kind of fed looking to shake them down for information. They think I'm just out to exploit whatever they say.

In reality, I prefer to do my own homework—gathering as much data as possible on every property that catches my eye.

Once I head out to California—where I’ve spent plenty of time before—I'll look at those properties in person as quickly as possible.

I’m just a worker—don't have much in the way of vacation time. If you know, you know... in Canada, you only get two weeks off per year.

Not everyone is a millionaire... though it feels like they're the only ones anyone looks for here. And frankly, we don't even have the infrastructure to accommodate them yet—just look at places like Beverly Hills.

Too many agents give you the same runaround—they promise to "show you around" when you're just browsing, but the second I actually find a property I’m interested in? Suddenly, they're nowhere to be found.

So, an agent reached out to me regarding that property I’d been asking about—the one he's currently listing. We've settled on a plan—he's picking me up tomorrow.

It keeps showing me these random real estate listings... I tell it that I’m only interested in one specific property, and it responds—fine—"I'll be there to pick you up tomorrow." I've never actually met the thing.

He didn't show up—no call, no text, nothing. I was honestly close to putting certain brokers on my blacklist... those I simply refuse to deal with. Life is too short to waste time like this.

Spent two days touring properties with a realtor—nothing egregious about them, but they just didn't click for me. She was clearly experienced and knew the legalities inside out, though.

I had intended to stay in touch—hoping she might serve as a consultant down the road. I actually reached out to her about it and suggested we grab a coffee sometime.

I intended to send her $100—a small token for everything she taught me—but she never replied to my letter. Then, predictably, she finally called... just after I had already left town.

A contact from Santa Monica gave me some leads on a location... after four months, I finally followed up with a formal letter. We met up, and I’ve since had a chance to inspect the property.

And she didn't even want to believe I’d actually show up... She tried to justify it by claiming everyone just "borrows" listings from one another.

I can finally see the actual situation on the ground—the internal dynamics among brokers isn't my issue... nor is it the buyers' problem...

They act as if they’re selling a lemon... but they won't show their hand until you arrive... and then it's "buy it immediately, don't browse... don't waste the broker's time."

Some other brokers drove me so fast—I was following them in a rental car—that I almost lost track of where I was or what I had even seen... and to top it off, they left me stranded in some desolate little town...

The entire day was a wash, honestly; they actually managed to leave me completely disoriented...

Thank goodness I used to ride in junior cycling championships back in California when I was younger... otherwise, I might have totaled that rental... I didn't buy a property, but I certainly walked away with an impression...

And there are two names on my blacklist (since they were brother and sister working together out of a suburb near Chicago)

"I realized that I was the one with the problem"—because I know exactly what I want to buy... at what price... and I refuse to be swindled... I've read the laws... and I'm not paying

3% for both brokers. The time will come when they realize that if you want money, you actually have to work... and be honest... there will come a day when every single listing will have a sign out front

displaying the full name of the specific broker responsible for that property, and in the event of a sale, those agents would split that 2-3% just like they do here in Canada

It would make finding a home much easier for buyers... they could just walk through a neighborhood they like and call the agent listed on the sign... (and everyone wouldn't have to waste money on advertising)

Ultimately, it wouldn't be such a radical idea to send American brokers here to Canada to pass their exams and earn their real estate licenses

And to teach them that commission is only paid once the new owner gets the keys... and the deed is officially recorded

Look, you made some good points, but you’ve gotta get way more specific if you want actual help. I know you’re probably trying to avoid naming names, but you need to lay it all out on the table—what exactly are you looking for? Are we talking about a primary residence where you'll actually live year-round, or just some vacation spot you'll hit for maybe two months a year? Do you want a place with a decent yard to mess around in, a townhouse, or a standalone house tucked away somewhere quiet? And are we thinking urban living in a place like Chicago or something else entirely? You also haven't even touched on the build itself—are you hunting for something move-in ready, or a fixer-upper that'll break your heart? Give me the details on materials too, like whether you're leaning towards classic brick, stone, concrete, or whatever else might be out there.

Laura Cox5 said:Look, you made some good points, but you’ve gotta get way more specific if you want actual help. I know you’re probably trying to avoid naming names, but you need to lay it all out on the table—what exactly are you looking for? Are we talking about a primary residence where you'll actually live year-round, or just some vacation spot you'll hit for maybe two months a year? Do you want a place with a decent yard to mess around in, a townhouse, or a standalone house tucked away somewhere quiet? And are we thinking urban living in a place like Chicago or something else entirely? You also haven't even touched on the build itself—are you hunting for something move-in ready, or a fixer-upper that'll break your heart? Give me the details on materials too, like whether you're leaning towards classic brick, stone, concrete, or whatever else might be out there.

Personally, I’m drawn to that classic coastal aesthetic—a modest stone cottage. I don't need a Malibu estate, though an expansion would be nice if it allowed for a 1,000 sq. ft. yard (maybe even an orchard). Ideally, I'd want to be within 5 miles of the coast 6.2 miles—mostly to escape the winter chill—in a detached home on the edge of town (even a ruin would suffice). I'd likely build something new using traditional methods rather than dealing with the headache of a full renovation. Of course, location matters, and given how the market stands right now, selling won't be easy... not that I have any intention of selling.
This house would serve my wife and me, plus visiting relatives, before eventually passing down to the family. We hope to recapture those old-school coastal days and live comfortably on our modest American Social Security benefits—they aren't exactly huge here.
A second option would be renting a small cottage with a decent yard (an orchard, perhaps) in a place like coastal California, where I could strike a deal with the owner: they use it during the summer, and I spend 4–6 months there during the off-season—say, from October through March.
I still have a few years until retirement, but I prefer to have everything mapped out in advance.
Hopefully, that answers your questions.

I’ve had zero luck trying to find a place near the coast myself, and honestly, even as an American living right here, it’s been a nightmare.
I just don't get why people hand everything over to agencies when those same agents end up listing properties on Craigslist anyway. Like, seriously? They could have just posted it themselves and dealt with buyers directly—they probably would've closed the deal way sooner if they hadn't played those games.
Most of these agents are just shady operators looking for a quick buck. It’s always the same story—"hang on a second, let me check the paperwork," "let me verify the deed or the county records," "is this place actually legal or was it built without a permit?" It's a total mess of figuring out what's legit and what's just some illegal construction that somehow got grandfathered in.
Some of these sites even claim that just showing you a property counts as them "connecting" you with a buyer?? And then, boom, they try to hit you with a 3% commission fee.
I've even had guys asking for my Social Security number, full name, and home address before they'd even give me a basic parcel number—yeah, right... no way in hell.

To be real with you, selling stuff is going to be way harder than people think. Sure, you find some decent agencies, but most coastal properties have these hidden disasters that only surface months after you move in... plus, they are almost always massively overpriced, so you end up having to dump a ton of cash into them just to make them livable.

It’s always better to deal with a real person directly rather than through an agency, so I really don't see the point in using them—I know I wouldn't. I mean, maybe the high-end ones with all the connections, but the ones just dumping ads online? You can do that yourself. It's not like sellers are too busy to answer a few questions... unless, of course, they're hiding something.
Basically, America is still dealing with this same old mindset: sitting around waiting for some rich guy with a suitcase full of cash to show up, while meanwhile you're stuck babysitting an overpriced house that won't sell.
I finally gave up on looking because there is absolutely zero value for the money. Anything that actually looked good was gone before I could even blink.
You really have to watch your back because the local land records are a disaster and the whole system is basically a circus. Nothing is ever settled. Sometimes you'll find that a public road is literally cutting right through someone's private property according to the maps.
The online county maps show land in completely the wrong spot—it’s just a disorganized mess around here, and getting it fixed isn't going to be easy anytime soon...
We have hundreds of thousands of unpermitted structures floating around; nobody knows who's responsible for what. We never really had a solid urban planning strategy, so the bureaucracy basically forced people to just build whatever they wanted themselves... it's a total free-for-all down there.
If you go out hunting for a place on your own, you're going to get eaten alive. I personally refuse to even go look at a house until I've verified that every single bit of paperwork is crystal clear. And in these coastal areas? That's a rare find.

velvetfalcon44 said:I’ve had zero luck trying to find a place near the coast myself, and honestly, even as an American living right here, it’s been a nightmare.
I just don't get why people hand everything over to agencies when those same agents end up listing properties on Craigslist anyway. Like, seriously? They could have just posted it themselves and dealt with buyers directly—they probably would've closed the deal way sooner if they hadn't played those games.
Most of these agents are just shady operators looking for a quick buck. It’s always the same story—"hang on a second, let me check the paperwork," "let me verify the deed or the county records," "is this place actually legal or was it built without a permit?" It's a total mess of figuring out what's legit and what's just some illegal construction that somehow got grandfathered in.
Some of these sites even claim that just showing you a property counts as them "connecting" you with a buyer?? And then, boom, they try to hit you with a 3% commission fee.
I've even had guys asking for my Social Security number, full name, and home address before they'd even give me a basic parcel number—yeah, right... no way in hell.

To be real with you, selling stuff is going to be way harder than people think. Sure, you find some decent agencies, but most coastal properties have these hidden disasters that only surface months after you move in... plus, they are almost always massively overpriced, so you end up having to dump a ton of cash into them just to make them livable.

It’s always better to deal with a real person directly rather than through an agency, so I really don't see the point in using them—I know I wouldn't. I mean, maybe the high-end ones with all the connections, but the ones just dumping ads online? You can do that yourself. It's not like sellers are too busy to answer a few questions... unless, of course, they're hiding something.
Basically, America is still dealing with this same old mindset: sitting around waiting for some rich guy with a suitcase full of cash to show up, while meanwhile you're stuck babysitting an overpriced house that won't sell.
I finally gave up on looking because there is absolutely zero value for the money. Anything that actually looked good was gone before I could even blink.
You really have to watch your back because the local land records are a disaster and the whole system is basically a circus. Nothing is ever settled. Sometimes you'll find that a public road is literally cutting right through someone's private property according to the maps.
The online county maps show land in completely the wrong spot—it’s just a disorganized mess around here, and getting it fixed isn't going to be easy anytime soon...
We have hundreds of thousands of unpermitted structures floating around; nobody knows who's responsible for what. We never really had a solid urban planning strategy, so the bureaucracy basically forced people to just build whatever they wanted themselves... it's a total free-for-all down there.
If you go out hunting for a place on your own, you're going to get eaten alive. I personally refuse to even go look at a house until I've verified that every single bit of paperwork is crystal clear. And in these coastal areas? That's a rare find.

Thank you, sir, for the response and the information.

Honestly, renting out a house during the off-season shouldn't be that difficult. There are tons of vacation rentals sitting empty during those months.
I would love to do that with my own place.
I'm just not sure how much it would bother you as a renter to not have your own stuff in there (if you catch my drift)—you’d basically always feel like a guest.
But hey, I’m offering up a 75-square-meter home during the off-season, complete with a gorgeous yard and a pool, plus I've got central pellet heating installed. That's the deal!

rapidmarlin19 said:Honestly, renting out a house during the off-season shouldn't be that difficult. There are tons of vacation rentals sitting empty during those months.
I would love to do that with my own place.
I'm just not sure how much it would bother you as a renter to not have your own stuff in there (if you catch my drift)—you’d basically always feel like a guest.
But hey, I’m offering up a 75-square-meter home during the off-season, complete with a gorgeous yard and a pool, plus I've got central pellet heating installed. That's the deal!

Thanks for reaching out. Where exactly is the place located, what's the monthly rate excluding utilities, and what does the average utility bill look like?

(I prefer to have everything planned out in advance...)

George Ramos47 said:Thanks for reaching out. Where exactly is the place located, what's the monthly rate excluding utilities, and what does the average utility bill look like?

(I prefer to have everything planned out in advance...)

I'll shoot you a private message with all those details! And honestly, whether we end up making a deal or not, I'm more than happy to help you out with any local tips or info you might need while you're here.

You’ve got points, but I have to weigh in on this:

George Ramos47 said:With respect.

I’d like to offer my own perspective—and a bit of firsthand experience—regarding the American real estate market.

With the hope that things will eventually change... For the better.

I’m currently living in Canada. I am of Canadian descent—writing in English, so please excuse any inevitable slips or errors along the way.

I’ve been reading up on how one might actually jumpstart the American real estate market... though it feels like a bit of a paradox. We’re looking at a country where people are constantly migrating out, the older generation is passing away, and birth rates are steadily cratering. It's a tough sell.

The headlines are nothing but a constant stream of fraud and scams... How can anyone be expected to actually invest in real estate when that's all they see? It’s hard to feel confident about buying property when you're watching people get fleeced left and right—it makes you wonder if anyone is actually building equity or if they're just getting cleaned out.

Some properties just sit there—unmarketable—for years on end. There are people who cling to this delusional hope that foreign investors are going to come swooping in to snap them up. But honestly? I wouldn't want those outsiders moving in here anyway... even if they did decide to settle down in America.

"Bring your money here, spend it with us, and then go back... wherever you came from..." And don't come crying to me when you realize you've been taken for a ride.

How exactly do they plan to jumpstart this dead real estate market? When Realtors list a property at a specific location, I just go look at that location myself—simple as that.

I'm currently scouring Google Earth street view to scout out a property—since they won't give me the actual address. It’s a bit of a guessing game... usually, it just turns out to be somewhere else entirely.

I’m trying to picture myself actually living there—but I don't have enough photos to work with. To be blunt, the images provided are pretty poor; you can't even begin to visualize what the property actually looks like.

It’s incredibly rare to find a real estate agent who actually takes the time to include the floor plan, the lot dimensions, or even photos from the county records... And when I bother to send an inquiry, I often get absolutely nothing in return.

I’m honestly at a loss—not even sure which language I should be using anymore: American or English.

It’s the same old story—the moment I start speaking American, people immediately assume I’m some kind of fed looking to shake them down for information. They think I'm just out to exploit whatever they say.

In reality, I prefer to do my own homework—gathering as much data as possible on every property that catches my eye.

Once I head out to California—where I’ve spent plenty of time before—I'll look at those properties in person as quickly as possible.

I’m just a worker—don't have much in the way of vacation time. If you know, you know... in Canada, you only get two weeks off per year.

Not everyone is a millionaire... though it feels like they're the only ones anyone looks for here. And frankly, we don't even have the infrastructure to accommodate them yet—just look at places like Beverly Hills.

Too many agents give you the same runaround—they promise to "show you around" when you're just browsing, but the second I actually find a property I’m interested in? Suddenly, they're nowhere to be found.

So, an agent reached out to me regarding that property I’d been asking about—the one he's currently listing. We've settled on a plan—he's picking me up tomorrow.

It keeps showing me these random real estate listings... I tell it that I’m only interested in one specific property, and it responds—fine—"I'll be there to pick you up tomorrow." I've never actually met the thing.

He didn't show up—no call, no text, nothing. I was honestly close to putting certain brokers on my blacklist... those I simply refuse to deal with. Life is too short to waste time like this.

Spent two days touring properties with a realtor—nothing egregious about them, but they just didn't click for me. She was clearly experienced and knew the legalities inside out, though.

I had intended to stay in touch—hoping she might serve as a consultant down the road. I actually reached out to her about it and suggested we grab a coffee sometime.

I intended to send her $100—a small token for everything she taught me—but she never replied to my letter. Then, predictably, she finally called... just after I had already left town.

A contact from Santa Monica gave me some leads on a location... after four months, I finally followed up with a formal letter. We met up, and I’ve since had a chance to inspect the property.

And she didn't even want to believe I’d actually show up... She tried to justify it by claiming everyone just "borrows" listings from one another.

I can finally see the actual situation on the ground—the internal dynamics among brokers isn't my issue... nor is it the buyers' problem...

They act as if they’re selling a lemon... but they won't show their hand until you arrive... and then it's "buy it immediately, don't browse... don't waste the broker's time."

Some other brokers drove me so fast—I was following them in a rental car—that I almost lost track of where I was or what I had even seen... and to top it off, they left me stranded in some desolate little town...

The entire day was a wash, honestly; they actually managed to leave me completely disoriented...

Thank goodness I used to ride in junior cycling championships back in California when I was younger... otherwise, I might have totaled that rental... I didn't buy a property, but I certainly walked away with an impression...

And there are two names on my blacklist (since they were brother and sister working together out of a suburb near Chicago)

"I realized that I was the one with the problem"—because I know exactly what I want to buy... at what price... and I refuse to be swindled... I've read the laws... and I'm not paying

3% for both brokers. The time will come when they realize that if you want money, you actually have to work... and be honest... there will come a day when every single listing will have a sign out front

displaying the full name of the specific broker responsible for that property, and in the event of a sale, those agents would split that 2-3% just like they do here in Canada

It would make finding a home much easier for buyers... they could just walk through a neighborhood they like and call the agent listed on the sign... (and everyone wouldn't have to waste money on advertising)

Ultimately, it wouldn't be such a radical idea to send American brokers here to Canada to pass their exams and earn their real estate licenses

And to teach them that commission is only paid once the new owner gets the keys... and the deed is officially recorded

Those days are gone (they were short-lived anyway) when an average Joe anywhere in America could snag a sweet piece of land or property for peanuts. That was back during and right after the war, when people were forced to sell low because they’d lost everything else.

George Ramos47 said:With respect.

I’d like to offer my own perspective—and a bit of firsthand experience—regarding the American real estate market.

With the hope that things will eventually change... For the better.

I’m currently living in Canada. I am of Canadian descent—writing in English, so please excuse any inevitable slips or errors along the way.

I’ve been reading up on how one might actually jumpstart the American real estate market... though it feels like a bit of a paradox. We’re looking at a country where people are constantly migrating out, the older generation is passing away, and birth rates are steadily cratering. It's a tough sell.

The headlines are nothing but a constant stream of fraud and scams... How can anyone be expected to actually invest in real estate when that's all they see? It’s hard to feel confident about buying property when you're watching people get fleeced left and right—it makes you wonder if anyone is actually building equity or if they're just getting cleaned out.

Some properties just sit there—unmarketable—for years on end. There are people who cling to this delusional hope that foreign investors are going to come swooping in to snap them up. But honestly? I wouldn't want those outsiders moving in here anyway... even if they did decide to settle down in America.

"Bring your money here, spend it with us, and then go back... wherever you came from..." And don't come crying to me when you realize you've been taken for a ride.

How exactly do they plan to jumpstart this dead real estate market? When Realtors list a property at a specific location, I just go look at that location myself—simple as that.

I'm currently scouring Google Earth street view to scout out a property—since they won't give me the actual address. It’s a bit of a guessing game... usually, it just turns out to be somewhere else entirely.

I’m trying to picture myself actually living there—but I don't have enough photos to work with. To be blunt, the images provided are pretty poor; you can't even begin to visualize what the property actually looks like.

It’s incredibly rare to find a real estate agent who actually takes the time to include the floor plan, the lot dimensions, or even photos from the county records... And when I bother to send an inquiry, I often get absolutely nothing in return.

I’m honestly at a loss—not even sure which language I should be using anymore: American or English.

It’s the same old story—the moment I start speaking American, people immediately assume I’m some kind of fed looking to shake them down for information. They think I'm just out to exploit whatever they say.

In reality, I prefer to do my own homework—gathering as much data as possible on every property that catches my eye.

Once I head out to California—where I’ve spent plenty of time before—I'll look at those properties in person as quickly as possible.

I’m just a worker—don't have much in the way of vacation time. If you know, you know... in Canada, you only get two weeks off per year.

Not everyone is a millionaire... though it feels like they're the only ones anyone looks for here. And frankly, we don't even have the infrastructure to accommodate them yet—just look at places like Beverly Hills.

Too many agents give you the same runaround—they promise to "show you around" when you're just browsing, but the second I actually find a property I’m interested in? Suddenly, they're nowhere to be found.

So, an agent reached out to me regarding that property I’d been asking about—the one he's currently listing. We've settled on a plan—he's picking me up tomorrow.

It keeps showing me these random real estate listings... I tell it that I’m only interested in one specific property, and it responds—fine—"I'll be there to pick you up tomorrow." I've never actually met the thing.

He didn't show up—no call, no text, nothing. I was honestly close to putting certain brokers on my blacklist... those I simply refuse to deal with. Life is too short to waste time like this.

Spent two days touring properties with a realtor—nothing egregious about them, but they just didn't click for me. She was clearly experienced and knew the legalities inside out, though.

I had intended to stay in touch—hoping she might serve as a consultant down the road. I actually reached out to her about it and suggested we grab a coffee sometime.

I intended to send her $100—a small token for everything she taught me—but she never replied to my letter. Then, predictably, she finally called... just after I had already left town.

A contact from Santa Monica gave me some leads on a location... after four months, I finally followed up with a formal letter. We met up, and I’ve since had a chance to inspect the property.

And she didn't even want to believe I’d actually show up... She tried to justify it by claiming everyone just "borrows" listings from one another.

I can finally see the actual situation on the ground—the internal dynamics among brokers isn't my issue... nor is it the buyers' problem...

They act as if they’re selling a lemon... but they won't show their hand until you arrive... and then it's "buy it immediately, don't browse... don't waste the broker's time."

Some other brokers drove me so fast—I was following them in a rental car—that I almost lost track of where I was or what I had even seen... and to top it off, they left me stranded in some desolate little town...

The entire day was a wash, honestly; they actually managed to leave me completely disoriented...

Thank goodness I used to ride in junior cycling championships back in California when I was younger... otherwise, I might have totaled that rental... I didn't buy a property, but I certainly walked away with an impression...

And there are two names on my blacklist (since they were brother and sister working together out of a suburb near Chicago)

"I realized that I was the one with the problem"—because I know exactly what I want to buy... at what price... and I refuse to be swindled... I've read the laws... and I'm not paying

3% for both brokers. The time will come when they realize that if you want money, you actually have to work... and be honest... there will come a day when every single listing will have a sign out front

displaying the full name of the specific broker responsible for that property, and in the event of a sale, those agents would split that 2-3% just like they do here in Canada

It would make finding a home much easier for buyers... they could just walk through a neighborhood they like and call the agent listed on the sign... (and everyone wouldn't have to waste money on advertising)

Ultimately, it wouldn't be such a radical idea to send American brokers here to Canada to pass their exams and earn their real estate licenses

And to teach them that commission is only paid once the new owner gets the keys... and the deed is officially recorded

Not everyone is a millionaire, and our market has plenty of options—ranging from ultra-wealthy luxury to stuff for the middle class. Honestly, it seems like the issue is you're eyeing things you can't actually afford.

George Ramos47 said:With respect.

I’d like to offer my own perspective—and a bit of firsthand experience—regarding the American real estate market.

With the hope that things will eventually change... For the better.

I’m currently living in Canada. I am of Canadian descent—writing in English, so please excuse any inevitable slips or errors along the way.

I’ve been reading up on how one might actually jumpstart the American real estate market... though it feels like a bit of a paradox. We’re looking at a country where people are constantly migrating out, the older generation is passing away, and birth rates are steadily cratering. It's a tough sell.

The headlines are nothing but a constant stream of fraud and scams... How can anyone be expected to actually invest in real estate when that's all they see? It’s hard to feel confident about buying property when you're watching people get fleeced left and right—it makes you wonder if anyone is actually building equity or if they're just getting cleaned out.

Some properties just sit there—unmarketable—for years on end. There are people who cling to this delusional hope that foreign investors are going to come swooping in to snap them up. But honestly? I wouldn't want those outsiders moving in here anyway... even if they did decide to settle down in America.

"Bring your money here, spend it with us, and then go back... wherever you came from..." And don't come crying to me when you realize you've been taken for a ride.

How exactly do they plan to jumpstart this dead real estate market? When Realtors list a property at a specific location, I just go look at that location myself—simple as that.

I'm currently scouring Google Earth street view to scout out a property—since they won't give me the actual address. It’s a bit of a guessing game... usually, it just turns out to be somewhere else entirely.

I’m trying to picture myself actually living there—but I don't have enough photos to work with. To be blunt, the images provided are pretty poor; you can't even begin to visualize what the property actually looks like.

It’s incredibly rare to find a real estate agent who actually takes the time to include the floor plan, the lot dimensions, or even photos from the county records... And when I bother to send an inquiry, I often get absolutely nothing in return.

I’m honestly at a loss—not even sure which language I should be using anymore: American or English.

It’s the same old story—the moment I start speaking American, people immediately assume I’m some kind of fed looking to shake them down for information. They think I'm just out to exploit whatever they say.

In reality, I prefer to do my own homework—gathering as much data as possible on every property that catches my eye.

Once I head out to California—where I’ve spent plenty of time before—I'll look at those properties in person as quickly as possible.

I’m just a worker—don't have much in the way of vacation time. If you know, you know... in Canada, you only get two weeks off per year.

Not everyone is a millionaire... though it feels like they're the only ones anyone looks for here. And frankly, we don't even have the infrastructure to accommodate them yet—just look at places like Beverly Hills.

Too many agents give you the same runaround—they promise to "show you around" when you're just browsing, but the second I actually find a property I’m interested in? Suddenly, they're nowhere to be found.

So, an agent reached out to me regarding that property I’d been asking about—the one he's currently listing. We've settled on a plan—he's picking me up tomorrow.

It keeps showing me these random real estate listings... I tell it that I’m only interested in one specific property, and it responds—fine—"I'll be there to pick you up tomorrow." I've never actually met the thing.

He didn't show up—no call, no text, nothing. I was honestly close to putting certain brokers on my blacklist... those I simply refuse to deal with. Life is too short to waste time like this.

Spent two days touring properties with a realtor—nothing egregious about them, but they just didn't click for me. She was clearly experienced and knew the legalities inside out, though.

I had intended to stay in touch—hoping she might serve as a consultant down the road. I actually reached out to her about it and suggested we grab a coffee sometime.

I intended to send her $100—a small token for everything she taught me—but she never replied to my letter. Then, predictably, she finally called... just after I had already left town.

A contact from Santa Monica gave me some leads on a location... after four months, I finally followed up with a formal letter. We met up, and I’ve since had a chance to inspect the property.

And she didn't even want to believe I’d actually show up... She tried to justify it by claiming everyone just "borrows" listings from one another.

I can finally see the actual situation on the ground—the internal dynamics among brokers isn't my issue... nor is it the buyers' problem...

They act as if they’re selling a lemon... but they won't show their hand until you arrive... and then it's "buy it immediately, don't browse... don't waste the broker's time."

Some other brokers drove me so fast—I was following them in a rental car—that I almost lost track of where I was or what I had even seen... and to top it off, they left me stranded in some desolate little town...

The entire day was a wash, honestly; they actually managed to leave me completely disoriented...

Thank goodness I used to ride in junior cycling championships back in California when I was younger... otherwise, I might have totaled that rental... I didn't buy a property, but I certainly walked away with an impression...

And there are two names on my blacklist (since they were brother and sister working together out of a suburb near Chicago)

"I realized that I was the one with the problem"—because I know exactly what I want to buy... at what price... and I refuse to be swindled... I've read the laws... and I'm not paying

3% for both brokers. The time will come when they realize that if you want money, you actually have to work... and be honest... there will come a day when every single listing will have a sign out front

displaying the full name of the specific broker responsible for that property, and in the event of a sale, those agents would split that 2-3% just like they do here in Canada

It would make finding a home much easier for buyers... they could just walk through a neighborhood they like and call the agent listed on the sign... (and everyone wouldn't have to waste money on advertising)

Ultimately, it wouldn't be such a radical idea to send American brokers here to Canada to pass their exams and earn their real estate licenses

And to teach them that commission is only paid once the new owner gets the keys... and the deed is officially recorded

Now you're just being paranoid.

silentsurfer2 said:You’ve got points, but I have to weigh in on this:

Those days are gone (they were short-lived anyway) when an average Joe anywhere in America could snag a sweet piece of land or property for peanuts. That was back during and right after the war, when people were forced to sell low because they’d lost everything else.

Not everyone is a millionaire, and our market has plenty of options—ranging from ultra-wealthy luxury to stuff for the middle class. Honestly, it seems like the issue is you're eyeing things you can't actually afford.

Now you're just being paranoid.

Thanks for the comment,

It’s always good to read different perspectives.

Best regards,

Not trying to clog up the feed, but I’m asking on behalf of an aunt who’s right on the edge of retirement (60+). Does anyone have—or know anyone selling—an apartment or condo somewhere along the coast? Ideally not on an island unless there's a bridge connecting it. She’d love somewhere near San Francisco, where she used to live back in the day. Looking for something around 50–55 sqm that’s move-in ready, with a similar price point in mind.

If you’ve got something or a relative is looking to offload a place, just shoot me a PM. I’ll pass the info along.

When I was out in California, I tried to step up and handle things myself by getting in touch with the agents—specifically through an agency in Austria that was working alongside one here in the States. Honestly? Their professionalism was about 30% at best. On the legal side, though, they were spot on. I’d already cleared everything with my lawyer beforehand, and the info the agents gave me matched the legal advice 1:1. As for these agents, I'll tell you this: out of two properties I wanted to see, they only showed us one (new construction). They wouldn't even show the second one because it was older, claiming it "wasn't worth it" and there was "no point in lying to us." Then, the other two they suggested were just more new builds, and frankly, they were total eyesores. Money isn't the issue for us; dropping $500,000 on a place is fine. We could even do $1,000,000 if we had to. But honestly, I wouldn't dump that kind of cash in America. I own property in Spain, and we got way more bang for our buck there. I think with what we paid and the current market, someone in the States would definitely try to squeeze $700,000 out of us, yet we didn't even pay half that. My lawyer managed to pull all the details within two days—not just about the title, but the entire history of previous sales and everything from the day the walls went up until now. He basically mapped everything out, drafted the contract, and made sure we were covered from every possible angle.

Back in France, we bought a house down south through a notary, which is just standard practice there. We got nearly 200m2 (actually 192m2) for a very reasonable price. To get a similar house in America within 800 meters to a kilometer of the coast, you're looking at a cool million dollars. Meanwhile, I'm only a 45-minute drive from Monaco.

To be blunt, the US lags way behind when it comes to the finer points of professionalism in real estate. Younger people and those who have lived abroad for a long time aren't going to fall for this kind of approach; maybe only the older generation will still dance to this tune.

Sometimes I ask around about people here, but honestly, buying property in America is a toss-up.

I mean, why would anyone even bother buying anything in America at those prices? Like, what’s the point if it’s way overpriced and you don't even really need the thing in the first place?

You’re telling me they’d ask a million bucks for a 192 square meter place out in the middle of nowhere, maybe an hour away from any decent beach? No way. Please don't tell me that house comes with a massive acre of yard too.☕

Hard to say if it's expensive or not, because it really comes down to what someone is actually offering—whether it’s new construction or something else—and how much they’re asking for it.

Then there's the whole foreign buyer situation in the US. It’s not like most foreigners can just pull $150,000 out of their account in Germany, Austria, or Denmark, or walk into the US with $100,000 in cash and just point at a house and say, "I'll take it." Most people need a mortgage, which you can't get in your home country for a property in the US, and foreign nationals here almost never qualify for local loans due to various reasons. Sure, there might be some niche private lenders or credit firms, but it's a total mess to navigate.

Another thing is that the US doesn't allow foreign banks to use a property as collateral the way places like Portugal, Spain, or France do—and I think Italy allows it too. Basically, it's impossible for a foreigner to get a decent mortgage through their home bank for a place in America.

Here’s another reality check: almost everything built in the US before 2014 has, to put it mildly, ridiculous paperwork. Just look at how many deeds aren't even properly recorded in the county records. Someone tries to sell you a 1,500 sq. ft. house, but 750 of those feet aren't officially registered, and they claim it's some "legalization dispute" or whatever. And where are the houses under mortgage? There's no mechanism here to ensure the money goes straight toward paying off the debt instead of into the seller's pocket, unlike how things work in the West. Don't even get me started on people building "family homes" for a kid or a sibling and then flipping them without ever paying sales tax on a structure that’s basically falling apart on the buyer. Plus, the same house or condo gets listed by five different agencies or sold privately, and you show up ready to sign only for the agent to call and say, "Oh, sorry, sold three days ago."

And then there's this last part: agents want their cut, and they aren't exactly thrilled when a buyer brings their own lawyer to protect themselves. Beyond just the mortgage issues, you've got all these messy legal ties involving the seller. Even if the title looks clear, other people who could potentially contest the sale later might need to sign off on it. Things get complicated fast, especially if the seller is going through a divorce or has a super unstable background...

In France, about 70% of real estate deals go through a notary, and you can't find them on every street corner. Certain things are legally impossible there, which honestly makes life easier. If you buy a house with an existing mortgage, you don't become a victim; the money goes directly to the lienholder to clear the debt, and only then does the seller get the surplus. If there isn't enough, the rest stays as a debt. It's the same deal in Denmark, Spain, and so on.

Finally, I haven't once been able to park my car in front of a shopping center or a big grocery store in America without someone sticking a flyer under my windshield wiper for some guy personally selling his house or apartment. It’s all well and good, but to me, it just shows that the supply is massive compared to the demand. I’ve tested those same offers myself and could usually knock the price down by $1,000 or $1,200 per square meter.

So, why buy? Well, whoever wants to take the risk will. It’s personal. But generally speaking, the regulations here are lagging far behind the countries where the buyers are coming from. Maybe that’s why Germans haven't bought everything up—though that's not the real reason—because they should have been buying up all of Spain, yet they aren't anywhere near the top of the list of foreign buyers, which is mostly Brits, Danes, and Swedes.

Rachel Allen55 said:Hard to say if it's expensive or not, because it really comes down to what someone is actually offering—whether it’s new construction or something else—and how much they’re asking for it.

Then there's the whole foreign buyer situation in the US. It’s not like most foreigners can just pull $150,000 out of their account in Germany, Austria, or Denmark, or walk into the US with $100,000 in cash and just point at a house and say, "I'll take it." Most people need a mortgage, which you can't get in your home country for a property in the US, and foreign nationals here almost never qualify for local loans due to various reasons. Sure, there might be some niche private lenders or credit firms, but it's a total mess to navigate.

Another thing is that the US doesn't allow foreign banks to use a property as collateral the way places like Portugal, Spain, or France do—and I think Italy allows it too. Basically, it's impossible for a foreigner to get a decent mortgage through their home bank for a place in America.

Here’s another reality check: almost everything built in the US before 2014 has, to put it mildly, ridiculous paperwork. Just look at how many deeds aren't even properly recorded in the county records. Someone tries to sell you a 1,500 sq. ft. house, but 750 of those feet aren't officially registered, and they claim it's some "legalization dispute" or whatever. And where are the houses under mortgage? There's no mechanism here to ensure the money goes straight toward paying off the debt instead of into the seller's pocket, unlike how things work in the West. Don't even get me started on people building "family homes" for a kid or a sibling and then flipping them without ever paying sales tax on a structure that’s basically falling apart on the buyer. Plus, the same house or condo gets listed by five different agencies or sold privately, and you show up ready to sign only for the agent to call and say, "Oh, sorry, sold three days ago."

And then there's this last part: agents want their cut, and they aren't exactly thrilled when a buyer brings their own lawyer to protect themselves. Beyond just the mortgage issues, you've got all these messy legal ties involving the seller. Even if the title looks clear, other people who could potentially contest the sale later might need to sign off on it. Things get complicated fast, especially if the seller is going through a divorce or has a super unstable background...

In France, about 70% of real estate deals go through a notary, and you can't find them on every street corner. Certain things are legally impossible there, which honestly makes life easier. If you buy a house with an existing mortgage, you don't become a victim; the money goes directly to the lienholder to clear the debt, and only then does the seller get the surplus. If there isn't enough, the rest stays as a debt. It's the same deal in Denmark, Spain, and so on.

Finally, I haven't once been able to park my car in front of a shopping center or a big grocery store in America without someone sticking a flyer under my windshield wiper for some guy personally selling his house or apartment. It’s all well and good, but to me, it just shows that the supply is massive compared to the demand. I’ve tested those same offers myself and could usually knock the price down by $1,000 or $1,200 per square meter.

So, why buy? Well, whoever wants to take the risk will. It’s personal. But generally speaking, the regulations here are lagging far behind the countries where the buyers are coming from. Maybe that’s why Germans haven't bought everything up—though that's not the real reason—because they should have been buying up all of Spain, yet they aren't anywhere near the top of the list of foreign buyers, which is mostly Brits, Danes, and Swedes.

Respect where it's due—you hit the nail on the head...

I’ll just add one more thought on why buying might be a mistake........

Whether it's for a week or two—or even just a few months out of the year.....

Renting is simply easier; you don't have to worry about someone denting the car or causing damage...

Besides, you aren't always tied to the same location anyway..

He’s basically just buying himself a job rather than an actual business. I know a guy who owns five vacation rentals out in Florida, but he’s still living paycheck to paycheck.