Real Estate, Rise up! Disaster on its way

In addition to the events that have been happening in Lebanon recently, the shootings, the riots, the electricity issue, the no president, etc... Average Lebanese couple also worry about their future. That is one problem (the future in Lebanon has the form of a problem) that many have faced, are now facing and will continue to face whereas the country's situation is not getting better.

One of the major set backs and obstacles couples, who are on the doors of marriage, confront is buying a house. Real estate has gone madly expensive in Lebanon that people are rushing faster and faster into finding a house and buying it before it gets even more expensive.

"Worldwide energy prices are being driven up as China's industrialization hits full speed." The steel demands of China, in the past two years, have grown very fast, making China become the net importer of steel, causing the raw materials to become rare thus expensive. Consequently, and on a local basis, new buildings are becoming more pricy. But this is not the whole story, even buildings that are more than 2 years old, which have not cost as much as building would do now, have also gone up in prices.

Therefore, a normal 3 bedroom apartment, ranging between 140 sqm and 170 sqm, in Beirut Suburbs for example, is now being sold for more than 100k*, while it was 75k* a couple of years ago.
In north metn (North Beirut suburbs and part of mountain Lebanon), the closer to the capital the more expensive evidently, the prices have risen up as well, by an average of 15 to 30k*.

The housing bank and the housing coop, give special loans up to 80k, that should be paid in 10 or 15 years, followed by the same number of years (total of 20 or 30 years), to pay up the interest which differs depending on the bank in question.

A small reminder, that the minimum wage in Lebanon is 200$* still. Dairy consumption: a small example, a medium milk box (powder) costs more than 7$, while it was a little bit more than 4$* a year ago. Fuel costs between 16 and 18$ for 20 liters (depending on the type).

The average household pays electricity, and also what we Lebanese refer to as "moteur", which is a private electricity provider, in addition there is the water, the phone bill, and the cellphone (god forbids we live without a cellphone in Lebanon), and the luxurious stuff, such as the TV cable, and Internet connection, and insurance for ourselves (few do, and only thanks to their workplaces), and the cars.
A movie theater ticket, is 6,7$.
A Burger King meal is 7$.
A drink is 8$.
A beer is 3$.
A normal restaurant, would cost you a 15$, you need a soda to wash it all down.
A 1kg of yellow cheese costs 7$, you can always buy the cheap kind anyway.
Vegetables, cereals, fruits, dairy, etc... now cost more!

I am stating these numbers in order for people abroad be able to make comparison with their own local prices. In order for them to see and imagine how father with a 350$ salary, can actually pay for a house rent (or not, if he's lucky to have owned it), house bills, kids school tuition, food, transportation, and not to forget, health hazards (municipality fees, taxes and such are not even mentioned here).

A couple, a lucky one, makes 1600$ together. Let's say, they both hold degrees, but nothing fancy. How could they buy a 100k house? How many years do they need to save up in order to pay the first payment, be it 10, 20 or 30% (depends on the bak)? Do they need to stop going out for 5 years? Stop living any sort of life? Just sit at home, make a cheese sandwich, and watch a movie on a local TV channel? And that is all to afford buying a house with a loan. What about the next steps? Such as the furniture? The wedding? Bills? Kids? How will they afford to raise children and send them to schools?

Life in Lebanon is getting ridiculously expensive, all prices are rising up, except for our salaries. Minimum wage remains 200$, and there is no talk about any increase at all, except for our taxes (Check Lebanon reform plan).

God Bless Lebanon, and our procrastination. I believe the above is a GOOD reason to demonstrate! or Not? Should we wait to starve to death?

* k = 1000 USD
* $ = USD

How can you deal with Lebanon on a daily basis

Some days you can decide to stand up for yourself, demand freedom and unity for Lebanon, you can go demonstrate, you can engage in political discussions, read a lot of news, participate in campaigns, and deal with it.

Other days, you just wake up careless and reckless.
- Knock knock!
- Who's there?
- Cleopatra!
- Cleopatra who?
- Cleopatra the queen of The Nile (Denial)

And there you go, just deny things, ignore them, and they will go away. Really they will. So do it, live your day like it was your last, eat good food, get in a good mood, and enjoy the ride today.

We are lucky to live in Lebanon, and unlucky that our politicians live with us.

Gebran Tueni: Martyr of the Lebanese Resistence

Annahar online (online version of the local newspaper known as An-Nahar = The day) has made this page about Gebran Tueni, you can click here to hear the oath that Gebran said on March 14, 2005. In the webpage you can read about his childhood, his life, his dreams, his assassination, his father Ghassan Tueni, pictures, basically everything you would want to know about him.

In this period especially, I have been really wondering what the great journalist and thinker would have said about the current situation in Lebanon. I understand why they assassinated him, rare people said wise words and he was one of them and now he is gone, and no wise words are being said. I wish the strength for his daughter Nayla, hope she continues his message.

I remember his articles in the newspaper, when no one dared to say the name "Syria", he would just lay it out on the table. When no one dared to defend Aoun, he was the first to back up all this youth who thought Aoun's exile is unjust... w mitloun mteyil

Hope he rests in peace, Gebran Tueni is the martyr of the LEBANESE RESISTENCE!

Di3anak ya Gebran bi hal balad, walla di3anak