Got a couple things to talk about today:
Crypto.
Housing market.
Iran.
And, of course... Porsches.
Let’s start with housing.
The $400,000 Reality Check
I’m back in Northeast Ohio, house hunting. A few years ago, I bought a house for $228K—a solid three-bedroom, 1.5 bath, big yard, unfinished basement we ended up finishing ourselves. Superb landscaping, two-car garage, good driveway—honestly a great house.
That house is now worth around $450,000. Just six years later.
So, I’m in the market for a new place. And here’s the problem:
$400,000 in Northeast Ohio used to mean something.
Five years ago, that price put you in upper-middle-class territory. Now? You’re getting absolute garbage.
New builds for $350K–$400K? They’re slapped together with bottom-shelf fixtures. My brother paid $340K and now homes in his development are $500K—but even his toilet paper holder fell out of the wall. Just cheap materials and cut corners.
Older homes? I looked at one built in 1942 listed for $439K. Cinder block foundation with buckling walls and water intrusion from tree roots. No thanks.
So, what’s the deal? Either spend $400K and dump another $100K into it, or start at $500K+ to get something decent.
And look, I know if you're in L.A. or New York, you're rolling your eyes. But in Northeast Ohio, this shift is insane. This region has long been the bastion of affordability. Now? That’s fading. Fast.
Inflation is Real
This isn't just a Northeast Ohio issue. The entire U.S. housing market is broken. But here? We’re used to good deals. What I’m seeing now is a direct result of years of stimulus, money printing, COVID relief, “Inflation Reduction” acts—you name it.
Everything’s more expensive. Eggs, milk, Chipotle—and homes.
Re-Thinking the Budget
Originally, I thought I’d get a fixer-upper for $350K, throw some lipstick on it, and remodel slowly. But now? I’m staring down $500,000 minimum if I want comfort, quality, and something that feels like home.
That’s leading to a bigger question:
If I’m going to drop half a million dollars… do I even want to be in Ohio anymore?
I’m not here for the cost savings—I’m here for family. But if the costs aren’t saving me anything, maybe it’s time to reevaluate.
Crypto vs. Real Estate Returns
Let’s compare:
House bought in 2019 for $228K → now worth $450K
Bitcoin in 2019 was under $10,000 → now well over $100K
Ethereum was around $130 → now $2,500+
Nasdaq? Up ~20-25% depending on when you bought
Crypto crushed the housing market in returns. So, where do you put your money now? Real estate? Crypto? Stocks? Treasuries?
The answer depends on your goals—but crypto's looking like a smart hedge against inflation for the last five years.
Porsche Talk: Suspension Time
Alright—let’s talk Boxster S.
My 2004 Porsche is running strong. Since I bought it 6–8 weeks ago, I’ve put 8,000 miles on it. We’ve already done:
IMS bearing
Rear main seal
Door handles
Oil change
Windshield wipers
Now? Suspension time.
OEM Sachs shocks are okay—but floaty. If I upgrade, I’m looking at Koni Special Active dampers paired with H&R springs for a tighter ride with street comfort. That’ll lower the car about ¾ of an inch and cost $1,300–$1,800.
Other option? Coilovers. More expensive, harsher ride, but adjustable. Probably overkill for a $12,000 car—but tempting.
Now the real question. I've been having so much fun in my 986. I really wanna try to upgrade. Not sure if I wanna go straight to a 718 because maybe I should hit the 987.2 first, and then the 981, then the 982. What are your thoughts? I found these two beauties down below. When I went to the website, I expect my car—the 982 that I want—in shark blue with white interior. Obviously, you have to have a manual gear shifter, PASM, heated and cooled seats (trust me, cooled seats in a convertible are a must), and a Bose stereo system.
2017 Porsche 718 Boxster S $63k 9k Miles
This one is $63K with 9,000 miles. Has just about everything you want. Looks great. The wheels are amazing. Heated and cooled seats. PASM. Sport exhaust. But doesn't have a good stereo system. I guess you can just spend money to upgrade it, and it actually will be better than factory. But it's always hard to buy a car and then drop another 2 to 4 grand on a stereo system at the same time, knowing you should wrap your car with PPF. So that $63K turns into $70K really quick with tax.
2024 Porsche 718 Boxster S Roadster $85k 2500 miles
This, on the other hand, is almost exactly what I want. This is the semi-luxurious leather interior—not the full leather—so there are only spots of white. But it has shark blue. It's newer, fewer miles, and has the Bose stereo. However, how can you justify $20K more? It's literally the same car, just a newer year. With that said, you're still gonna need to wrap it with PPF because trust me, the paint on these cars sucks, and they sit so low that your front end will be peppered within a couple of months. So $85K now looks like $90K before tax.
To be honest, that 2017 Boxster S—if they can negotiate down to, say, $57K—seems like a damn good deal. What are your thoughts?
Iran, Markets, and the Nuke Fear
Now, the world doesn’t stop being crazy.
The Middle East is heating up. Israel hit targets in Tehran, Iran responded with hundreds of missiles, and we’re all watching to see what happens next.
Markets hate uncertainty. Some people think this volatility will last 2–3 weeks, then we’ll see a big relief rally once the dust settles. Others are more cautious: government turnover in Iran, oil disruptions, tactical nukes? Not off the table.
If Israel uses low-yield nukes to hit Iran’s enrichment sites, that’s a market freakout moment. Guaranteed. We’re in a geopolitical minefield, and all we want is a normal week.
Happy HODLing, Everyone.
— Matt
