"The Northeast is the new South," U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said last week, arguing that his party, even if Iraq were to fade as an issue, would be able to continue to count on near solid support from the Mason-Dixon Line through New England.
Two big middle fingers for the South. When you're giddy from a win and drunk with power, you tend to reveal yourself. Who'd think they'd start resupplying us with ammo so soon after the election? I, for one, may just take a look at Mississippi. Property must be a steal, post Katrina. I'll take MS govenor Barbour over MD's newly elected O'Malley any day.
Actually, no. Since at least 1/3 of the housing stock was either damaged or completely destroyed, the prices of the remaining houses went UP. Fortunately, for buyers, that initial exuberance has come down slightly. Sellers are finding that even though there is less housing, lots of folks have not returned to the coast because their jobs haven't returned. When the jobs start coming back, the housing will be more in demand.
That being said, the housing prices look fantastic to folks coming in from places like MA, where we're living right now. It's also a good deal for folks who can do all the work to fix up their own homes, since there are some that had been flooded and were gutted.
Contractors are few and far between, and those who are there are overloaded with work. Many of the subs evacuated and haven't returned, so it's hard to find workers. We're fortunate in that we can do all the work we need to do, and we have the equipment to do it. We had planned to put a large addition on our home here in MA, before SirKit decided to change careers. So we have the equipment and he has the knowledge and the workers (our youngest son, and I) to help him. The cities and counties are being more lenient about homeowners doing their own trades work, since there so few electricians and plumbers, but you still have to get the work inspected and signed off by the officials; fine with us.
I was born and bred in Natchez, MS. When you get to Mississippi and realize how wonderful that great state is, just keep it a secret. We want to keep the MSM away! Shhh!