In article , "Dee D. Flint"
writes:

Looking at repay periods or relative costs isn't really the way to go
either.

I think it is - IF you allow for other factors as mentioned below.

You have to include a comparison of the features that you get for
that cost. People simply want more on their "starter" houses and cars.

*Some* people...

Today's starter house has relatively more features than those of the past.
For example, the typical tract house had no cabinets of any type in the
bathroom at that time. The homeowner added them later as time and money
permitted. They did not have air conditioning. Now you just about can't
sell any new home, even low end starter one, unless it has A/C and so on.

If you're talking about new homes, I agree in general, because the
developers/builders have a pretty set idea of "what people want" and that's
what they build. Of course if you have a new house built to your specification,
you can get almost anything that meets code.

Comparing the past to the present is very difficult. Too much has changed
and it's like comparing apples to oranges.

Sometimes. But you can make comparisons based on intelligent adjustments.

For example, the house I'm in now was built in 1950 or 1951 and I moved here in
1999. At that time it still had the original gravity heater and no AC. Also no
dishwasher. In fact, it was not substantially different from when it was built
- just well-maintained. To me it's a "new" house because it was built after WW2
and uses essentially the same techniques as new houses today, vs. the older
techniques of houses I've owned previously (built in 1923 and 1900).

In 2000 I had a good HVAC contractor install a new heating/AC system. Cost me
just under $7000 and worth every penny. The cost of the new system was figured
(mentally) into the price of the house when I bought it.

In 2001 I put in a dishwasher (DIY) and again that cost was figured (mentally)
into the price of the house when I bought it.

Same type of thing can be applied to almost any house.

73 de Jim, N2EY