"New Roof in 1998!"

Real Estate Oxymorons

Well, yes, that "new roof in 1998" would be a selling feature -- if it were 1999 or 2000.

Twelve years later, however, what the listing agent is really telling prospective Buyers is that the roof is now middle-aged (expected life for most roofs is 20-25 years).

In the same category are phrases like "$100,000 in improvements since 2000."

Invariably, most -- if not all -- of the boasted improvements date back to . . . you guessed it . . . 2000 (as opposed to say, last year).