People in this town have been watching too much HGTV. We've had an influx of folks from Chicago who want to work from home here and every longtime local thinks they're the Property Brothers.

Turns out the new owners of the house next door are not our new neighbors, just the latest flippers. We've been here 11 years and that house has been sold 4 times, each time to someone who does a reno and then puts it back on the market.

I'm trying to figure out if this is good or bad for the neighborhood.

@BrazenlyLiberal Amazing that the market could bear four flips and I am assuming four increases in price, but that is the market these days. Sadly, the chances are the flips were all cosmetic and the house hasn't really benefited from those "owners" like it would have from a single owner/occupant who really invested in it.

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@elbutterfield

Pandemic did it. People could buy a home with a yard here for significantly less than renting an apartment in Chicago. The train is a comfy ride to the city. We were "discovered". But I'm with you - there's only so much that can be done to increase value in that house and I wonder if the last one to buy it is going to take a hit.

@BrazenlyLiberal @elbutterfield

Folks learned house flipping was lucrative. Had a friend who bought a shitty little bungalow in W Asheville for $220K. Over 2 yrs she invested $75K (mostly cosmetic & did most of the work herself) then sold for $449K

Still shitty little bungalow next door to a drug pad.

@LnzyHou @elbutterfield

Yeah. I mean this house next door has lovely neighbors 😜 but...

It did get a new roof and siding last flip. But it's a standard tri-level and there's not much to do structurally. It has to be cosmetic changes.

@BrazenlyLiberal @LnzyHou I would have been tempted to look around during an open house to see what they did...

@LnzyHou @elbutterfield

Asheville is a star, though. Great reputation as a nice place to live. A lot of folks up here talk about retiring down there. They're looking for the blueberry in the tomato soup of the south and like what they think is happening in Asheville.

@BrazenlyLiberal @LnzyHou Haha! "the blueberry in the tomato soup" I have never heard before!

@BrazenlyLiberal @elbutterfield

That ship has sailed. It’s outrageously expensive for retirees, while a beautiful place to live.

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