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Home Front Economy
House for sale for $1.50. Some commuting necessary...
2009-03-13
BARGAIN-HUNTING Australians are raiding the US housing market where huge family homes are for sale for just $1.50. Foreign buyers are traveling to US foreclosure hotspots where properties are listed for $US1000 ($1500), $US500 ($750) - even as little as $US1.

One prominent dealer in Detroit - a town crippled by the collapsing car industry - has sold properties to Australian buyers for just $US3000 ($4500).
Suckers!
Vacuum cleaner manufacturer Theo Szinger, 67, of Brisbane, cashed in his superannuation and plunged it into Detroit property last year. He has not looked back, snapping up six properties for as little as $5000. "You can't even buy a second-hand car for that," Mr Szinger said.

His latest buy, a $16,000 home in such good condition it did not even need a paint job, came with a $10,000 rates bill but he was still thrilled with the deal.

Mr Szinger is among the enterprising Aussies who have swooped on the ailing US home market where homes worth $200,000 18 months ago are going for a few thousand dollars.

"We've had a handful. Typically, they have been paying $US3000 to $US5000," Detroit foreclosure specialist Mike Shannon said. Mr Shannon said he had more than 100 lower quality homes listed in the Detroit metropolitan area for sale at just $US1.
Posted by:tipper

#4  Very sad. Buyer's remorse will arrive as soon as they open their property tax notifications. Be advised, it does not matter what the home sells for it is what the city thinks it is worth, ie, "state equalized value (SEV). Assessors don't use a house's sale price to determine "True Cash Value. Buyers beware! You may have just purchased a giant pain in the arss.
Posted by: Besoeker    2009-03-13 18:23  

#3  How to go from America's richest city to poorest in 50 years. Welcome to America's financial and trade policy in action. I'm just waiting for Detroit to begin exporting mail order brides. Not that there would be any demand for them.

As for Mr Szinger, a sucker born every minute comes to mind.
Posted by: ed   2009-03-13 17:41  

#2  One prominent dealer in Detroit - a town crippled by the collapsing car industry - has sold properties to Australian buyers for just $US3000 ($4500).

Anyone mention to the buyers that local gun control laws negate the ability of the settlers to safely occupy said land? Nah. Didn't think so. Better hurry on up to claim your prize before the sheriff is out in front of the county court house reselling for uncollected property taxes.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-03-13 17:21  

#1  just wait u ntil they visit the neighborhood
Posted by: rabid whitetail   2009-03-13 17:11  

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