Business is slow, how about you

[Washroad]

I work in the trucking industry. Can you imagine what's happening to us because of fuel prices?

We normally set a "rate" for a haul; point A to point B is $100 when fuel is less than $2.00 per gallon. Right now our fuel surcharge is slightly over 35%. Point A to Point B is now almost $140.00. Customers don't like it but know that everyone is doing the same.

The thing is, we can only increase the surcharge once a month. So, if fuel goes up during the month, we have to eat it until the start of the next month.

We've done everything we can to increase fuel economy, our trucks now average 7.5 mpg (considering they weigh 80,000 lbs [a little over 22,000 kgs] that isn't too bad.

As far as my job goes, I've still got one and this company will weather this storm. It's been through worse than this and survived quite well.

The housing market in good ol' Orange County.......

A while back, my little 1300 sq.ft. house was valued at $600,000. Should've sold then, huh? A very nice house 3 doors down the block from me, 2 remodeled baths, remodeled kitchen, finished garage, nice patio, etc., sold awhile back at $607,000. Two families moved in, and less than a year later put it back on the market at $675,000.

It didn't sell and went into foreclosure.

House is still nice but the yards are in bad shape. New asking price.....$450,000. Yes, that's a lot for a house, no doubt about it, but a drop in price of $150,000 is huge.

Luckily, my wife's company is doing so well they are hiring and they just gave her a 7% raise!!!!

I just looked outside. . .

My 3-month old Border Collie is busy harassing my 9-year old Shepard/Husky, the sun is out, I'm above the ground and it's going to be a great day!

[Luke Hatley]

WASHROAD...............

[Ian]

A while back, my little 1300 sq.ft. house was valued at $600,000.

Wow, that's amazing - and I thought Massachusetts was expensive. How does the average person buy a house in California? Are the salaries that much higher?

[wildrose]

Actually, houses where I used to live in Hunterdon County, NJ (around Flemington) are easily in the 400,000 and up range. We call them McMansions. Nobody builds small homes anymore, it seems, around there. To me, a large home like that is a disgusting waste of money that could easily be spent on many worthy charities.

[Washroad]

Wow, that's amazing - and I thought Massachusetts was expensive. How does the average person buy a house in California? Are the salaries that much higher?

The "average" person doesn't buy a house here. They can't. You need an income of more than $80,000 to buy a condo here (Orange County)(only 30% of the population can afford to buy here)(many commute from the "Inland Empire" as it's more affordable than here but they have to commute close to 40 miles)(you should see the rush hour traffic here), more for a house.

The houses that have sold in my neighborhood had 2 families buying them so they could qualify.

You most likely pay more in property taxes than we do (we have Prop 13 that limits our property taxes to a 2% increase a year). I know friends in Texas pay a lot more property tax but they have no income tax like we do. Govmint will get ya one way or another.

Income higher? I don't really know.

Wildrose, I think people ought to spend their own money on whatever they want. Yes, lots of good charities, but a house is very important and I would love to have a larger one on more land.

[jennifer]

I’m down in the suburbs of San Diego County, and like Washroad, my house was in the $600,000 range two years ago, but I don’t even want to see what it is now. I have an older 1500 sq foot home and just saw a brand new 3000 sf model home fully furnished sell for $400,000.00.

When I bought my home I was near a dairy and had lots of open space around our neighborhood. They overbuilt when prices went up and some of the new neighborhoods have 50% in foreclosure.

As far as income and work supply, things are tough. My husband has been looking for work for the past 18 months and with 35 years of experience in grocery sales can’t get more than part-time $15.00 an hr temp work.

Most of the people who work regular admin type jobs are earning $10-$12 an hour. At the humane society work starts at about $8.00 an hour and the Director of Animal Control earns under $40,000/year.

I work a full time job as a data analyst and run a small business in order to make ends meet.

When I hear the politicians say we may be heading into a recession I wonder what they are looking at.

I can tell you this, prior to Monday I was working for the county access and crisis line and along with foreclosures, suicide calls are way up, gas prices are at $4.00 a gallon, our board for the horses just went up another $60.00 a month and Bermuda is at $14.00 a bail.

I’d say there is not a lot of discretionary spending left in many peoples budget.

Jennifer

quote name='Washroad' date='May 15 2008, 01:59 PM' post='47248']

The "average" person doesn't buy a house here. They can't. You need an income of more than $80,000 to buy a condo here (Orange County)(only 30% of the population can afford to buy here)(many commute from the "Inland Empire" as it's more affordable than here but they have to commute close to 40 miles)(you should see the rush hour traffic here), more for a house.

The houses that have sold in my neighborhood had 2 families buying them so they could qualify.

You most likely pay more in property taxes than we do (we have Prop 13 that limits our property taxes to a 2% increase a year). I know friends in Texas pay a lot more property tax but they have no income tax like we do. Govmint will get ya one way or another.

Income higher? I don't really know.

Wildrose, I think people ought to spend their own money on whatever they want. Yes, lots of good charities, but a house is very important and I would love to have a larger one on more land.

[Washroad]

Wow, that's amazing - and I thought Massachusetts was expensive. How does the average person buy a house in California? Are the salaries that much higher?

Want to see scary house prices? Check San Francisco.

Jennifer, my house was built in '61. It had been a rental for 12 years when I bought it as a "fixer-upper" and I'll never do that again! What a freakin' money pit!

[Roger]

i am good and steady but not overbooked the way i have been off an on. i don't have near the inquiries i used to have but it seems that nearly everyone that contacts me does have me do the job.

i'm thankfull to not be without the work as i need the extra income. last summer i when nearly four months without much work

[wildrose]

"Wildrose, I think people ought to spend their own money on whatever they want. Yes, lots of good charities, but a house is very important and I would love to have a larger one on more land."

I'm with you there, a house is very important - my problem is when people are buying what we call "trophy homes", rather than a reasonable house for their needs. Why does a couple with no children (i.e. "empty nest") need a home that has enough square footage to house a family of 5? That's my point. Better to have a smaller house with more land around it.

That's just me...