In
The Internet, Space People, and Living abroad in the 21st Century -- a previous post here --Usedcarsalesman suggested that widespread use of the web might enable a minor exodus of people from the United States to sunnier nations with lower costs-of-living. However, the other day, he realized that this same thing -- an exodus enabled by the web and, more specifically, by eBay -- was already going on within the United States.
Some young couples are increasingly being lured from urban locations to farm states thanks to an unusual assortment of eBay property auction listings offered by local governments. For example, recently a couple bought an entire, "closed" elementary school facility in Kansas for $25,000. Usedcarsalesman is talking about a facility which likely cost several million dollars to construct, not including the real estate.
Yes, for the couple in question, this is probably going to work kind of like buying one of those old Cold War missile silos that people turn in to "Groundhog" Castles; the couple is going to have to invest considerably to clean the place up. But the cool thing is that the area's local government is apparently very enthusiastic about helping them do so; also, there are plenty of people locally who are in need of work. And the
business that these people do involves manufacturing hand-made musical instruments, something which places work and storage space at a premium. Anyway, Usedcarsalesman thinks: "great for all involved."
Usedcarsalesman finds it very interesting that something like eBay is facilitating a redistribution of small numbers of the population by allowing governments to draw people to areas by auctioning off vacant properties. Drawn by unusual-- and to them-- under-valued properties, these newcomers probably also bring new perspectives to these areas and perhaps a little money, as well.