[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Packer Fan

To establish my credintials- I have an Engineering degree and I handle major construction projects for a fortune 500 company. I know a few things about construction. I also have an MBA so I know a bit about economics.

There are a huge number of "mis statements" in this thread already. I would like to give you some facts -
1. The average house today is 1000 sq feet bigger than the average 100 years ago.
2. Houses today have all kinds of things that houses did not have in the past - Central HVAC, Central plumbing, cable wiring, etc. My parents grew up in the 40s and early 50s and got indoor bathrooms in their teens. It was not that long ago.
3. The "plastic" plumbing stuff(actually PVC or a variant of it, plex, etc) is WAY better than the lead bearing pipes that most older homes have. They will basically last forever people. The old stuff would deteriorate over time.
4. Most new homes have engineered materials everywhere, or modern designs. These are more economical, but also better. Do you really want to go back to fuse boxes???
5. All this speaks the "affordability" issue. Up until 1949, less than 50% of people owned homes and now there are about 65% who own. Sorry, we are living in bigger more affordable houses, that will last WAY longer than the shacks built in the early 1900s or even the ranches of the 1950s
6. TV houses are built to code for 130 MPH winds. They are rock solid. Nothing is perfect, but these are very good. Look at Video from a few years ago of the hurricane that hit Fort Myers. The homes built in the past 5 years look unaffected, anything older is gone.

The house you buy in TV will out last you by Several Generations..... Stop worrying.

Thank you. I now have peace of mind which, actually, I never lost.