MoonJournal

Brace yourselves. Economists from the future are now warning us that a lunar housing bubble is on the horizon.

Exactly how are we aware of this? It’s all thanks to Skip DeKades, who has mastered the art and science of time travel well enough to report future news to the unwashed masses of the planet lucky enough to have discovered his blog, Future Update.

“Experts warn that falling housing prices could take a major bite out of economic growth on the Moon, shrinking the job market just as refugees from the soon-to-be-destroyed Earth arrive,” writes DeKades.

However, DeKades traveled so quickly into the future that he has apparently lost track of the present.

“The scarce supply of land available for development on the Moon has so far kept real estate prices out of reach for all but the wealthiest buyers, making the planetoid the equivalent of Beverly Hills,” he writes.

Well, sure, it’s going to be expensive in 2029. But here in 2009, you can buy a whole acre on the moon for less than 20 bucks. Clearly, DeKades was so touched by the legions of lunar owners living two decades into the future that he forgot to talk to the wealthy speculators who were smart enough to drop two Hamiltons on an acre in the Ocean of Storms back in ought-nine.

If nothing else, we now know that 2028 will be a wonderful time to sell.

Godspeed, Skip. Travel safely, and don’t get caught up in that whole space-time continuum. Traffic there sucks.

admin Moon moon property, satire

There’s getting away from it all, and there’s really getting away from it all.

The people at Lunar International, “Earth’s Leader in Lunar Real Estate,” are giving away 10 acres of moon property each month in their Great Lunar Odyssey Sweepstakes. Winning property spreads will be located in the breathtaking Bay of Rainbows, a magnificent region located in the northwestern quadrant of the moon. And no, there are no real bays on the moon. You’ll need to bring your own water.

Each winning property package includes a registered and personalized deed certificate to 10 acres of lunar real estate, detailed historical information about the beautiful Bay of Rainbows, a satellite photograph of the property along with geographic coordinates so winners can find their lunar property through a telescope, and free lifetime membership in the Society for Lunar Exploration and Development (SLED), the world’s leading citizen advocacy group concerned with the future of the moon and privatized ownership and development of lunar real estate.

In addition, five second-prize winners will receive a complete ownership package for one acre of property in the Sea of Serenity, a large lunar region in the northeastern quadrant of the moon. Five third-prize winners will receive one acre of property in the Sea of Cold, the moon’s northernmost sea overlooking the spectacular Crater Plato.

Lunar International is quick to point out that winners are responsible for any and all transportation to and from their new lunar property. But once you iron out those details, you’ll have the peace and quiet you’ve been dreaming about.

admin Moon, Newsroom bay of rainbows, contest, moon property

You can’t hardly go a day without reading about falling property values. Each day you turn on the news, some talking head is going on and on about the rise in home foreclosures and the number of houses now worth less than the balance due on their owners’ mortgages. It’s enough to make a guy just tune out until Dancing With The Stars is on.

But before you go thinking that property values are crashing through the floor everywhere, rest assured that at least one type of real estate investment is still going strong. According to the investment bank UBS, internet searches for lunar land prices show the cost of buying an acre of the moon has risen 40 percent since the start of 2007.

What other investment in this economic climate is going to offer a 40 percent return? And it’s not like you need the services of a mortgage broker to help you pay for it. At Lunar International, you can buy an acre of moon land for less than US$20. Of course, at the rate things are going you might also be able to buy all of Chrysler for US$20 by the end of the month, but who wants that headache?

For those of you only interested in real estate on your home planet, fear not. UBS analysts suggest that trends in lunar real estate prices may even be a leading indicator of housing prices in the United States.

“Our calculations suggest lunar land prices appear to be a reasonable lead indicator of US house prices by around 12 months,” wrote UBS in their analysis.

I don’t know about that, but lunar property sales at Lunar International were up significantly during the first quarter of 2009 compared to 2008 as people in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and India continue to buy parcels of moon property by the acre at a record pace.

admin Moon moon property, property values

SAN JOSE, Calif., August 21, 2008 — Upon learning that Republican presidential candidate John McCain can’t remember how many homes he owns, a company specializing in lunar real estate has offered the Arizona senator some property even he can’t forget.

Lunar International, a company that offers lunar land claims to the public in order to support future lunar exploration efforts, has reserved an acre of moon property for McCain in the famed Sea of Tranquility.

“We’re truly saddened that Senator McCain is so underwhelmed by his current homes that he can’t even remember how many of them he owns,” said Jackson James, president and chief lunar officer of Lunar International. “A man of his stature deserves real estate that’s truly memorable.”

Thanks in part to the popularity of the Google Lunar X Prize and other private space-tourism endeavors, the dream that non-astronauts can travel to outer space someday appears to be imminently achievable. A handful of organizations, including Lunar International, believe that private ownership and development of land on the moon will be the next logical step.

Lunar International donates a portion of each sale to the Society for Lunar Exploration and Development, an organization attempting to establish a system that allows regular Earth-bound citizens to own moon property. Should the group achieve its goals, those who purchased land claims through Lunar International — and those like Senator McCain who received it as a gift — would enjoy full property rights to their slice of real estate on the moon.

James said the company has also reserved an acre of lunar land in the Sea of Tranquility for Democratic presidental candidate Barack Obama as well.

“Both properties are in the same lunar region, but they aren’t right next door to each other,” said James. “We thought that might just be too awkward.”

admin Moon, Newsroom Barack Obama, John McCain, moon property, Sea of Tranquility

For those who can’t decide what to give Mom this Mother’s Day, a leading advocate for private exploration and settlement of the moon recommends they look to the night sky for inspiration.

Lunar International, a company that offers lunar land claims to the public in order to support future lunar exploration efforts, has released new Mother’s Day gift packages starting at less than $40. Each set includes land claims to two acres of property on the moon, which is more than enough room for that gazebo Mom has always wanted.

“Land on the moon makes for a unique, affordable and fun Mother’s Day gift, and it’s almost certainly something your mom doesn’t already have,” said Jackson James, the president of Lunar International. “And, let’s face it, an acre of moon property is a lot more interesting than flowers and chocolate.”

Thanks in part to the popularity of the Google Lunar X Prize, the dream that non-astronauts can travel to outer space someday appears to be imminently achievable. A handful of organizations, including Lunar International, believe that private ownership and development of land on the moon will be the next logical step.

Lunar International donates a portion of each sale to the Society for Lunar Exploration and Development, an organization attempting to establish a system that allows regular Earth-bound citizens to own moon property. Should the group achieve its goals, those who purchased land claims through Lunar International would enjoy full property rights to their slice of real estate on the moon.

Each Mother’s Day gift set from Lunar International includes two side-by-side land claims, meaning that Mom will own the little moon house next door to you should the company succeed. While packages are available in lunar regions that sound pleasant and relaxing, like the Sea of Tranquility and the Bay of Rainbows, properties are also available in the vast and ominous Ocean of Storms for those trying to send mom a subtle message about their unsatisfying childhood.

If Mom is the type who requires a GPS to make it to the other side of town safely, she will take comfort in the satellite photograph and geographic coordinates of her new property included in each gift package to help her find her new acre of the moon with a telescope — or, perhaps in the not-too-distant future, during a personal visit to outer space.

admin Moon moon property, mother's day