There’s just something funny about someone spending time figuring this out.

The first problem with calculating the effect of a Rapture on real estate lies in determining how many people would actually disappear. Predictions range from 144,000 — about 0.0024% of the world’s population, to about half of us, the amount of people who were left behind in Tim LaHaye’s series. However, even if an average of 50% of Americans manage to stay around after Rapture, it seems likely that the post-Rapture numbers would vary wildly from region to region.
[…]
In New York City, for example, a 49% drop would reduce the city’s population to 1910 levels. In the short run, this would cause property values to plummet in the city, but the effects would quickly spread beyond mortgages and rents. […] Effectively, he argues, this would turn the clock back 40 years or more, to an era in which low rents made it much easier for middle-class residents to choose neighborhoods based on preference, not price.

Outside of urban centers, Schiller suggests, Rapture would likely be a final nail in the foreclosure coffin, as “People holding on by their fingernails would be more willing to let go of their houses.” […] Municipalities, facing large stretches of empty houses, might be inclined to adopt the solution that Detroit and Youngstown, Ohio, are currently pursuing: “tearing down old homes and seeking adaptive uses for the land.”

This is assuming a post-Rapture world in which the political and economic systems would remain relatively stable — admittedly, a somewhat unrealistic expectation. For that matter, it seems likely that the remainder of humanity, having seen half of its number called into heaven, would be inclined to draw more closely together, further accelerating urbanization. However, even if everything else stays the same, one thing is clear: The Rapture would have an apocalyptic effect on real estate.




  1. bobbo, Measles.......................really? says:

    Almost related to the Rupture, and definitely related to the Black Death, declining populations, and what stupid people believe: Measles is on the rise. You all remember measles right? that disease that Jenny McCarthy advised the faithful caused autism by the efforts of our medical priesthood to eradicate by immunizations?

    Also illustrates the burden of stupidity: it is suffered by the innocent as well as the guilty–as all forms of ignorance are. Gee, that almost gets me back to talking about the Republican Party. Yes, everything is connected.

    http://boingboing.net/2011/05/25/this-is-what-happens.html

  2. Jebus says:

    #44 dude
    “Forgive me, Lord”
    NO! you are a bad bad man. Stop telling people you have any idea what I’m all about.

    Your faith in me is admirable your understanding of me deplorable.

    Hey! You! Get off of my cloud
    Hey! You! Get off of my cloud
    Hey! You! Get off of my cloud
    Don’t hang around ’cause two’s a crowd

  3. Bob73 says:

    #24 We’re not talking about Christ’s physical ascent, nor Enoch’s translation, not Elijah’s. We’re talking about the rapture. If you expect to be up in the clouds physically overcoming gravity in your body and leaving all your loved ones on the ground wondering where you took off to, you’re going to be sadly disappointed at least in that respect. Your physical body will still be on the earth, but all your friends and relatives who haven’t joined you are going to wonder why you are all of a sudden acting like someone they don’t even know. Those with half a brain will be able to figure it out. Of course, if you happen to be among those not recognizing their friends any more, you may be among those who have been left behind.
    All I’m saying is that God may not effect the rapture the way that everyone expects Him to. Like I said .. think about it.

  4. bobbo, the evangelical anti-theist says:

    Hey Jebus–according to the bible, everyone is the cloud is there because YOU raptured them. Rapturing them and then rejecting them as you do seems contradictory to your divine nature in so many ways.

    Well, as you are faultless, and the bible is your book, maybe the bible is really, really, really, hard to understand.

    Yea, that must be it.

    Do you get any pleasure playing chess? Games of any kind? What else is this universe to you but a mechanical game to be played out?

    Heh, heh.

  5. Podman says:

    #31 Vaquero
    I couldn’t have put it better. Well said.

  6. Skeptic says:

    Re: #41, Taxdude… All the good Christians that have died thus far, have left their bodies behind, their souls supposedly gone to Heaven. Now you’re saying that when you go to heaven you take your body. So, some get to keep their body (or what’s left of it) and some get to be without senses and thought? Why is Heaven always “up” if it is another dimension as you claim? The Bible should be renamed “Contradictions for Dummies”.

  7. Jebus says:

    bobbo #49
    I work in Mysterious Ways, thought I made that clear

    I did not write the Bible! Decades to centuries after my crucifixion people started saying I said all that stuff. Seriously can you remember exactly word for word what someone said just yesterday much less 50 to 500 years ago.

    “everyone is the cloud” I think that’s a Microsoft TM.

    The Universe you know is just the result of a collaboration I once had with Brahman we got drunk one night and got into Rube Goldberg.

    Knowing that should also help to explain the existence of Alfred.

  8. Gary, the dangerous infidel says:

    #52 Jebus, another explanation for Alfred is that he’s using his life on earth as a dry run for Heaven, practicing what it will be like to exist in a realm where there are no brain cells.

  9. #14 – This is why I got the cooter wax last Saturday morning. Nothing worse than having people watch you fly up in the air with a big hairy bush.

  10. bobbo, the evangelical anti-theist says:

    #52–Jeebus==thank you so much. We sheep are always benefitted by whatever crumbs of explanation you choose to visit upon us. I only wish we were worthy to receive more.

    I did mean to add Skeptic’s #51’s thought about the Rupture: how do you come “back” and rapture people who died a long time ago? Didn’t they go to heaven years ago? Do you put them back for the rapture, or do souls not go to heaven until the rapture, or just what does happen?

    Are the people who claim you wrote the bible going to heaven? You know, without the bible, all we have is persona revelations from the few you do talk to.

    All very confusing my must say. Not at all like those slow wits say counting your angels on a pinhead. That gives us a number. Not much application. But another bust in the housing market is totally relevant.

    thanks again Jebus.

  11. Criticize things you don’t know about. says:

    Oh Enough Already Dude here is what the BBC had to say about it.

    “The string orchestra of the Scots Guard mistakenly began playing the British national anthem before the president had finished his address during a banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night.

    Mr Obama carried on talking over the start of God Save The Queen and raised his glass to the Queen before the music had finished.

    However, the Queen did not appear to be offended and thanked the leader for his “very kind” words.”

    no wonder Rush is below NPR in ratings

  12. Jebus says:

    Yo Bobbo #56
    “We’re not worthy” I give Wayne’s World 4 six pointed stars.

    Douglas Adams said it better than I ever have.
    “Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so” When you die time as you know it stops. To the dead there will be no waiting no worries.
    Oh and BTW Adams did not believe in me and he got in Osama DID believe in me and he did not get in, faith is not that big a deal, how self-obsessed do some of you think I am?

    I’am forgiving sort but remember life is a total goals series and we keep good records. “now here’s another clue for you all — the walrus was Paul” Sorry about that John just walked by. The clue is I’m not as hung up on sex as so many of you seem to think I am. I gave the Earth this wonderful thing SEX and so many of you make such brouhaha Jebus don’t make me sorry I gave you sex. I made gays so Joseph’s coat could be in vogue. Turned out they added lots of variety to life. I love them I think now it’s about 5 or 10 % of you are gay enjoy. (and most of you are not that good at panchromatic coat making) Don’t hate gays hate me, remember total goals hate does not score any goals. Being nice to each other Goooooooal “One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself” that one they got right.

    Angels on the head of a pin? what a stupid question I think I’m going to give Thomas Aquinas a TIME OUT.

  13. Animby says:

    All this foolish mythology is beginning to bug me.

    But, before I go, I just want to suggest, a few months of tribulation and the eventual end of the world might be well worth it to get rid of the jeebus freaks. By Alfie…

  14. Ralph, the Bus Driver says:

    Alphie,

    Have you ever considered offing yourself? For our sake? I promise not to piss on your grave.

  15. lightrose says:

    Well, it’s not happening, so why worry about it. It’s kind of pointless wondering about what could have been when thers nothing to worry about. Alright, if you quit your job to prepare for it, then 1, you have problems and 2, your fault. But i can’t blame you. I was terrifyed. (I know, i’m strange =D )

  16. Ur strange Aunt Cathy?!?! says:

    CURSE THE WORLD jk seems like God has it in for us. Better look busy, cause He’s comin

  17. Thomas says:

    Granted, I’m baiting the dodo bird, but Alfred, how does the rapture deal with good people that do not believe in Jebus? Do they stay or go? If they stay, then clearly there will more than murderers and thugs left on Earth after the rapture. If they go, then why bother believing?

  18. Floyd says:

    Tead:
    “#13 Argument fail being predicated upon what you know about religion.”

    What i know about religion is: don’t let a preacher or priest anywhere near your wallet.

    My Brother’s a missionary worker,
    He saves fallen women from sin
    For five bucks he’ll save you a redhead,
    My God how the money rolls in.


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