I just got my new appraisal from the county in the mail. In the 6 years since we bought our home, the value has dropped about $80,000. Not good news for someone wanting to sell so as to upgrade to a bigger lot and shop.

The obvious question is who is to blame? The Dems or repubs? Bush or Obama? Those who walked away from their mortgage and foreclosed? Myself for buying when the market was abnormally high?

My buddy just sold his place and relocated to Ephrata. His place sold in a matter of weeks because he bought a few years earlier when the market was normal and so he actually did okay. Mine has been on the market for several years and I'm pretty much convinced to take my "For Sale" sign down.

At this point, it will be faster to save up for a new down payment on a new place and rent my old one out (always renters available in a college town) before the market turns around and I can recover my so-called investment.

The economy sucks right now but I guess I'm glad for a job I like and a family I love.