lumber prices

[dtam]

Are these good lumber prices? (all 4/4)

white oak $3.62/bf
basswood $2.9/bf
poplar $2.01/bf
ash $2.48/bf
alder $1.67/bf (knotty)
$3.67/bf (regular)

These prices are from MacBeath which is where I've been buying my lumber. Does anyone know of another lumber yard in the SF Bay Area with better prices?

Thanks.

[SARGE..g-47]

They're not very good at at based on Atlanta prices. But.. keep in mind that hamburgers cost more in California than Georgia also.

[jackellis]

But.. keep in mind that hamburgers cost more in California than Georgia also.

EVERYTHING is more expensive in California with the possible exception of sunshine, but that's built into the price of your home.

I've done a lot of comparison shopping and those prices look a bit better than what I've paid or seen at http://www.globalwoodsource.com/.

Another place you could try is http://www.aurahardwoods.com/. They're supposed to have the best sheet goods in the south bay and they sell mostly to the trade, though they will sell at retail.

[SARGE..g-47]

EVERYTHING is more expensive in California with the possible exception of sunshine, but that's built into the price of your home.

I've done a lot of comparison shopping and those prices look a bit better than what I've paid or seen at http://www.globalwoodsource.com/.

Another place you could try is http://www.aurahardwoods.com/. They're supposed to have the best sheet goods in the south bay and they sell mostly to the trade, though they will sell at retail.

And you're not just whistling Dixe, Jack. I flew into San Franciso in 1966 and stayed downtown a week before I had to report to Fort Ord, Ca. I could not believe that a hamburger at that time was about $.89. The same hamburger in Georgia would have cost about $.25.

Friends visiting from Ca. have told me my $150,000 home here with 1 acre on a cul-de-sac surrounded by hardwoods would cost between $775,000 to a million there. I may just put it on dollies.. truck it out.. and sell it at the Walmart parking lot to the highest bidder.

Regards...

[jackellis]

If you don't mind saying, exactly where in the area is this mansion of yours. I attended the North Avenue Trade School and lived in Hotlanta until my employer convinced me to move out here in 1983 so I'm a bit familiar with the neighborhoods.

In our neighborhood (near Stanford University), your land would be worth a couple million dollars without the lumber...er hardwoods...assuming you can find a one acre parcel to build on any more. Bricks and sticks run at least $400/square foot on new construction. It's cheaper on the east side of the bay, but not by that much. Your property taxes would be 1.25% of the purchase price, and would escalate at around 2% per year.

No way on earth we could afford the property taxes or the mortgage on our home if we had to buy it today. Most Californians are in the same boat, though prices are starting to come off a bit from their highs.

[JR]

Friends visiting from Ca. have told me my $150,000 home here with 1 acre on a cul-de-sac surrounded by hardwoods would cost between $775,000 to a million there.

I wouldn't want to live in the neigborhood where a nice property like that fetched so little.

[Parkingmeter]

I wouldn't want to live in the neigborhood where a nice property like that fetched so little.

You're right, I wouldn't want to have to sell for that price, but I sure wouldn't mind buying it for that price around here....

[SARGE..g-47]

[QUOTE=jackellis;323200]If you don't mind saying, exactly where in the area is this mansion of yours. I attended the North Avenue Trade School and lived in Hotlanta until my employer convinced me to move out here in 1983 so I'm a bit familiar with the neighborhoods.

I grew up and live out in Lawrenceville, Jack. Gwinnett Co. is on the N.E. side of metro Atlanta, as your probably familar. When I graduated HS in 1965, we were a rural cotton County and had 38,000 pop. in the entire county. We just went over 1,000,000 I believe.

I paid $72 K for the house and property back in 1985 or 86. Paid it off about a year and a half ago. My street is at the edge of town and my cul-de-sac backs up to another cul-de-sac. My house is about 1/2 mile off of a main road and the cul-de-sac behind is about the same to another main road. The closest house to me is approximately 100 yards with trees and in the warm months with leaves, you can't see em.

My taxes run around $1100 a year and that is because the county upgraded values about a year and a half ago. Major shopping.. schools (mine are done).. hospitals within minutes. So.. the price of progress has caught up with what was a rural setting. Some good and a lot bad as far as I'm concerned. J

Just a modest and small 1800 sq. ft. home with double drive-under garage (my shop of 900 sq. foot) and a half basement ( the rest of my shop of 900 sq. feet. I paid $72 K and now worth around $150 K the last I checked which was several years ago. If I sold and re-built anything larger, I most likely would sink the original capital and equity and still end up with a mortgage.

Considering all things... were most likely not going anywhere as it is very comfortable for the wife and I.. and paid for and that speaks volumes in itself! I am a simple man with simple needs and that is not a bad thing as the economy is not kind to many at the moment.

Regards...

[jackellis]

I remember Lawrenceville well. It was on the way to Athens and a certain lady friend while I was in college. Used to be way out in the sticks.

My first house as out in Lithonia off Snapfinger Road. Bought in 1979 for $54k and sold in 1987 for $85k to make the down on our home out here. 3/4 acre, lots of trees, small, quite cul-de-sac. My last visit back that way the neighborhood had not changed much in spite of all the growth in that particular area.

The only bad thing about that place was its proximity to where I worked off I-75 just south of Cumberland Mall. It could take 25 minutes to get to work or it could take over an ahour and I didn't like that much.

Today my commute is about 25 steps.

[SARGE..g-47]

All the sticks have turned to concrete I'm afraid, Jack. And not necessarily to my liking, but I am just a small fish that voice echoes from a very large pond. All the homes before 1990 or so were on at least an acre with trees.

I saw that go to 1/2 acre and now and they put $250,000 - $600,000 homes on 1/3 acre lots. With that size home and that size lot.. you can litterally reach out your dining room window and grab the salt and pepper shaker off of your neighbors dining table through his window.

I feel lucky to have what I have when all is said and done. With the home and all vehicles paid for.. I just retired at 60 with some frugal planning that led up to that. Life is short. You come in with nothing.. you depart with nothing and just try to find some justification and happiness in between.

Did your lady friend attend UGA in Athens?

[SARGE..g-47]

All the sticks have turned to concrete I'm afraid, Jack. And not necessarily to my liking, but I am just a small fish that voice echoes from a very large pond. All the homes before 1990 or so were on at least an acre with trees.

I saw that go to 1/2 acre and now and they put $250,000 - $600,000 homes on 1/3 acre lots. With that size home and that size lot.. you can litterally reach out your dining room window and grab the salt and pepper shaker off of your neighbors dining table through his window.

I feel lucky to have what I have when all is said and done. With the home and all vehicles paid for.. I just retired at 60 with some frugal planning that led up to that. Life is short. You come in with nothing.. you depart with nothing and just try to find some justification and happiness in between.

Did your lady friend attend UGA in Athens?

[mschrank]

Back to the OP:

I'd love to find wood for those prices locally. Even Alder, which is a local wood, is close to $5.00/bf here. That's outrageous for a species that was considered a weed until a few years ago.

I think a lot of forum members from east of the Mississippi don't realize how good they've got it for hardwood prices compared to those of us out west.

[JR]

Alder = $5 to $5.50/bf here. $7.66/bf for 12/4.

JR

[jackellis]

Did your lady friend attend UGA in Athens?

Yep. She went on to become a schoolteacher down near Macon. Haven't seen or talked with her since I moved out here.

My wife is a native California girl. She lived in Atlanta during the 1960s when her dad was selling airplanes for Lockheed.

[mschrank]

Yep. She went on to become a schoolteacher down near Macon. Haven't seen or talked with her since I moved out here.

My wife is a native California girl. She lived in Atlanta during the 1960s when her dad was selling airplanes for Lockheed.

Sarge & Jack...I'm trying to think of a nice way to phrase this....but maybe you two should get a room? The OP was a legitimate question, and you two have completely taken over his post.