# Bernie Sanders $600,000 House: So What? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 13, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730 "2016-08-13T23:28:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/21 "2016-08-14T04:11:47Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > No need to overcompensate. Bernie’s new home is in North Hero, VT. Population 800, median household income $45k. I suspect a $600k house there is quite nice. And good for him for working hard and being able to afford some luxury at his age!! I know the area. The big thing is whether or not a house has lakefront access. Houses off the lake range from $100,000 to $200,000. Houses on the lake start around $300,000 and can get up to around $900,000. [Here’s an example of a $600,000 house.](http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/103-Scandore-Dr_North-Hero_VT_05474_M33928-84716) ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/22 "2016-08-14T04:31:26Z")
The issue is hypocrisy. Bernie advocates higher tax rates. And yet someone in his income class would benefit from lower tax rates. So he’s advocating policies that are not in his financial interest. Just like [Michael Moore](http://detroit.jalopnik.com/surprise-michael-moore-is-a-filthy-rich-hypocrite-1608888124). No, the argument makes no sense. Generally speaking, advocating policies that cut against your self interest is considered _virtuous_ or _acting on principle_ by normal people. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/23 "2016-08-14T04:35:31Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/2016/08/10/bernie-sanders-buys-summer-home/) about the home and the alleged outrage. (An “American Thinker” blog post, an article in the Washington Examiner, and a few Twitter posts apparently.) > > Seems like nothing to see here and not many who care. OTOH I’d love to see him doing some well chosen events soon to benefit House candidates and the top of the ticket as well … For that and many other reasons I call that magazine the “American Stinker” ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/24 "2016-08-14T08:47:43Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > 600K might be enough for a ~1500 square foot 3 BR house in my neighborhood. How _you_ doin’? ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/25 "2016-08-14T11:17:53Z")
A traditional down payment would be what, $120k? Assuming that’s what people do for vacation homes; I don’t know. His kids are grown. His other property is likely paid off. That’s not difficult savings on a much, much, lower salary. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/26 "2016-08-14T11:47:20Z")
> [@dataguy](#): > > So why is this such an item throughout the media? Maybe it’s you and what your friends are talking about? This is not a big story. The one link that has been provided in this thread talked more about a $7 sandwich than it did his new house. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/27 "2016-08-14T13:41:50Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > A traditional down payment would be what, $120k? Assuming that’s what people do for vacation homes; I don’t know. His kids are grown. His other property is likely paid off. That’s not difficult savings on a much, much, lower salary. The Sanderses have already explained how they financed the new house. Somebody in Mrs Sanders’ family died and they inherited a house in Maine. Because of the distance to Maine, they sold that house and used the money to buy the house in Vermont. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/28 "2016-08-14T13:47:09Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Maybe it’s you and what your friends are talking about? This is not a big story. The one link that has been provided in this thread talked more about a $7 sandwich than it did his new house. So he’s supposed to be fighting for the little guy yet he’s out there buying $7 sandwiches? The rank hypocrisy makes me want to vomit. Excuse me, I got some blogging to do! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/29 "2016-08-14T13:49:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I know the area. The big thing is whether or not a house has lakefront access. Houses off the lake range from $100,000 to $200,000. Houses on the lake start around $300,000 and can get up to around $900,000. > > [Here’s an example of a $600,000 house.](http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/103-Scandore-Dr_North-Hero_VT_05474_M33928-84716) > [@Ruken](#): > > A traditional down payment would be what, $120k? Assuming that’s what people do for vacation homes; I don’t know. His kids are grown. His other property is likely paid off. That’s not difficult savings on a much, much, lower salary. The house is on the lake. They paid for the house with money from the sale of his wife’s inherited vacation home in Maine. Supposedly they didn’t use that home much because it was too far away, so they sold it and bought something close. Greedy Capitalists!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/30 "2016-08-14T13:59:22Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So he’s supposed to be fighting for the little guy yet he’s out there buying $7 sandwiches? The rank hypocrisy makes me want to vomit. Excuse me, I got some blogging to do! In San Francisco, the same sandwich costs $14. And it is smaller! That’s why so many Californians just rent their food. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/31 "2016-08-14T14:01:12Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Yeah well I doubt Vermont experiences the influx of government loot that the suburbs of DC enjoy. I’m in Portland, OR and prices are about the same. Our 1300 sqft bungalow has gone from an appraisal of $350K to over $500K in the last few years. $600K here doesn’t get you much unless you are WAY out in the suburbs. Back in 2008 when we were looking to retire, we looked at condos in downtown Seattle. Anything worth living in was $1,000/sqft, translating to $1,000,000 for 1000 sqft. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/32 "2016-08-14T14:06:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The Sanderses have already explained how they financed the new house. Somebody in Mrs Sanders’ family died and they inherited a house in Maine. Because of the distance to Maine, they sold that house and used the money to buy the house in Vermont. Yes, this was already explained. My point is that this is not an extravagant purchase even for someone making much less money without an inheritance. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/33 "2016-08-14T14:15:04Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > In San Francisco, the same sandwich costs $14. And it is smaller! That’s why so many Californians just rent their food. It just looks smaller because it’s dehydrated. Soak it in water for a couple minutes and it’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/34 "2016-08-14T14:20:09Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So he’s supposed to be fighting for the little guy yet he’s out there buying $7 sandwiches? The rank hypocrisy makes me want to vomit. Excuse me, I got some blogging to do! Exactly! Him and his pricey sandwiches! You’d think there are no Subways in Vermont. _(Psst… they can’t dig them… too much granite…)_ I mean, you’d think that there are no Quiznos… _(Psst… they’re out of business …)_ I mean he could have gone to Bennigan’s… _(Nope)_ …Steak & Ale… _(Gone)_ …Chi-Chi’s… _(Uh-uh)_ …Howard Johnson’s… _(Long gone)_ …Kenny Rogers Roasters… _(gone back when Seinfeld was Thin)_ …Jesus Christ! Aren’t there any places for food in Hero, Vt at all??? _(Hero’s Welcome)_ …well… uh… he could go there… _(That’s where its $7)_ …Why is it so expensive…? _(Something about it being an island & its expensive to ship supplies in. Something else about if we didn’t like the price, we could go jump in the river)_ ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/35 "2016-08-14T14:32:58Z")
Yes, well after some research I see $7 is the median price for a sandwich in both San Francisco and Tokyo so I guess I will back off on my hypocrisy claim. Still, a cup of soup is just as filling, Mr Sanders, and would allow more people to believe that you stand by your supposed convictions. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/36 "2016-08-14T14:37:13Z")
As a companion to this thread, I see there’s [What could the price of Bernie’s house get in your neighborhood?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=801378). Obviously, house prices are practically meaningless without context. The same price house could be extremely modest or off-the-charts ritzy, depending on location, location, location. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/37 "2016-08-14T15:32:43Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > In San Francisco, the same sandwich costs $14. And it is smaller! That’s why so many Californians just rent their food. Yeah, but it’s on sourdough bread baked with organic, dolphin safe, locally and sustainably grow wheat. Hand milled by skilled artisans making a livable wage. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/38 "2016-08-14T16:32:06Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Exactly! Him and his pricey sandwiches! You’d think there are no Subways in Vermont. > _(Psst… they can’t dig them… too much granite…)_ > > I mean, you’d think that there are no Quiznos… > _(Psst… they’re out of business …)_ > > I mean he could have gone to Bennigan’s… > _(Nope)_ > > …Steak & Ale… > _(Gone)_ > > …Chi-Chi’s… > _(Uh-uh)_ > > …Howard Johnson’s… > _(Long gone)_ > > …Kenny Rogers Roasters… > _(gone back when Seinfeld was Thin)_ > > …Jesus Christ! Aren’t there any places for food in Hero, Vt at all??? > _(Hero’s Welcome)_ > > …well… uh… he could go there… > _(That’s where its $7)_ > > …Why is it so expensive…? > _(Something about it being an island & its expensive to ship supplies in. Something else about if we didn’t like the price, we could go jump in the river)_ Like any good Vermonter, Bernie goes to Al’s French Frys. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/39 "2016-08-14T16:48:38Z")
The So What? is a result of the twitter age. No one had any idea what is news anymore, nor is a story tightly coupled to it’s headline. Go find the financial rankings of US Senators and see where he stands. [This webpage says Bernie ranks #83 in the Senate.](http://moneynation.com/the-net-worth-of-congress/)Few candidates who ran this year have less money than he does, n[otably Marco Rubio is in the red and he tried to sell the little house he has in the poor working class neighborhood where he grew up for $675,000.](http://www.curbed.com/2013/2/13/10273840/inside-senator-marco-rubios-miami-home-asking-675k) ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730/40 "2016-08-14T17:55:30Z")
Around here (St. Louis metro east), $600k gets you a nice McMansion in a fancy subdivision, or a really nice farm house on at least 10 acres. It’s a pricey house for the area, but something a mid-career engineer could afford, let alone a lifetime politician. Seriously, how many other US Senators live in a house that cheap? On the other hand, I’ve seen a lot about how Sanders’s net worth was ~$500k, and he would/could have been the first non-millionaire president since Truman. But I’m guessing this inheritance just put him in the \>$1M net worth category. So it’s a vaguely interesting development to report on if you’re a 24/7 news channel with airtime to fill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-600-000-house-so-what/762730.md?page=3)