Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

>  I'm wondering if there is correlation between lack of jobs and lower 
> land prices? Probably too many 'other' factors...

There is a correlation between income and land prices. Jobs may be an issue 
but, for instance, in retirement areas, the income arrives at the bank or 
in the mailbox. Such areas--one is Mountain Home, Arkansas--provide lots of 
service jobs for the younger folks who support the retirement community 
needs. In these low population density retirement areas, the younger folks 
typically live farther out from the town or farther away from the lakes and 
golf courses. Some areas have few jobs but are within weekend commute 
distance, so become yuppie weekender havens, for instance southwest 
Wisconsin, within two or three hours of Chicago and Minneapolis. These are 
the folks we like to joke about. They drive in with their Beemers, drive up 
prices with their spoils, and want that stinky farm abolished. And better 
restaurants down the road. And more services.