Saturday, March 29, 2008

Repo Van

I saw the Repo Home Tour bus heading east on Colorado Blvd. yesterday and had to make a quick turn to follow it. I probably looked strange hanging my camera out the window and hoping for the best. I did that because I found it shocking. Like a vulture to carrion, at first thought.

Then again, maybe not. If reasonable people can buy a home at a reasonable price in the Pasadena area, how can that be bad? It's just that real estate has been so unreasonable in southern California for so long, I was starting to get used to it.

I'd just like to make one thing clear: I do not want to see this bus on my block.

12 comments:

Ineke said...

i don't get it at all. Why not?

John Sandel said...

Ineke: "Why not" … what?

Why not enjoy seeing a van of people looking for repossessed properties come down your own street? Any homeowner, who's slaved to afford their castle, would feel a twinge of fear at that. And who'd want their friends & neighbors to suffer?

Better to hope, as the photographer does, that the homes folks couldn't afford, for _whatever_ reason, may be filled with new families.

There's nothing wrong with making money selling homes that have been foreclosed; somebody moves on in life and hopefully— all boats rise.

Jim Klenke said...

Those repo bus tours are around Dallas now. Havent really made it out to our small town yet, maybe they will stay away.

Pont Girl said...

I can't believe these tours are now 'trolling in Pasadena! I saw a news story a few weeks back on 60 Minutes about these Repo Tours and couldn't believe it. Something about it seems smarmy - I don't like it.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Ineke:
Bernie said it well. It's probably not news in Rotterdam, but there's a mortgage crisis here. It's a long story, but a mountain of mistakes have been made. Homes have been foreclosed all over the country, and California has really suffered (the state is in a budget crisis, too). The reason I don't want to see the van come down my street is that it would mean one of my neighbors has lost their home.

Thanks for clearing that up, Bernie.

Jim, I hope you don't see the van, but if you do, snap it for Terrell Texas in Pictures!

Pont Girl, I agree: "smarmy" is the word, yet I can't put my finger on why. If people buy the homes it's good for everyone, right? I guess that's why I used the vulture image: it's like picking at carrion. That's icky, but someone's getting use out of the carcass and it's better than leaving carrion lying around to rot.

John Sandel said...

I had chicken last night.

Curly said...

Great picture today Petra thanks!

I apologise for this "mass comment" but I could do with your help today over at South Shields Daily Photo. Help promote the rights of photographers!

b.c. said...

oh gosh yes that's bad

Petrea Burchard said...

Oh, Bernie...

Curly, thank you, and yes I will.

B.C., things are better in Chicago, I hope?

John Sandel said...

Tonight we had hamburgers. And chips!

Chuck Pefley said...

Petrea, you did quite well photographing the vulture on the fly (so to speak). And yes, to capitalize on the misfortune (or mis calculation) of others seems overly opportunistic. Smarmy is definitely a good word!

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