The Stovebolt Forums Forums The Front Office The Greasy Spoon New houses

New houses aren't even distant cousins to ones built in the 70's or in case of my country house which was built right after WW2. Our daughters new house is so tight it has an air exchange system and the furnace came on THREE times in a 24 hour period with temp in the 30's daytime and low 20's at night. When it gets in the 20's my country house, which is wood frame and on concrete blocks, the furnace comes on and stays on till the propane tank runs dry. My Plano house furnace comes on twice an hour for about ten minutes. It has 3" fiberglass bats in the walls and a foot of blown glass in the ceiling. Country house has one foot of blown glass on ceiling only. Daughters has 2x6 studs with foam insulation, bottom plates sealed to concrete slab, triple gas filled glass, and sealed electrical outlets. Cost: Plano $23k (1970), Country $32k (2005) and daughters $560K (2021). $528k will buy a lot of propane.

House prices are absolutely crazy. Property valuations determine real estate taxes. Even long after a house is paid for, it's possible to not be able to afford living in your own home due to unfair real estate taxation.

John