> There is no real way to do that without some sort of oracle, and then you've just moved the problem back a step (i.e. you need to trust the oracle).
Sure, and of course this is desirable. The "oracle" is a trusted external API (the bank, the DMV, the municipality, whatever). Some people may not like that these institutions are the arbiter of ownership or whatever, but of course we expect to be able to trust these institutions more so than strangers from craigslist.
I haven't mentioned anything about "digital keys" to the house, or "titles on blockchain", or the US specifically, you brought up all that and then argued against it. Honestly, I'm not really a crypto-bro, just a guy who's had trouble with exactly this kind of transaction. And I'm not personally invested in ideals like radical decentralization, or implementation details like super pure smart-contract ecosystems that disallow external oracles. I just want less friction AND less risk when I'm trying to buy a motorcycle on craigslist, or a house in an arbitrary (i.e. potentially non-US) jurisdiction.
OK, I think I can fully understand and agree with your point, but what you are describing is really not a "smart contract" as it is usually described, at least by people who think of it as revolutionary technology. It sounds like you just want a title company with better technology, and that I can wholeheartedly agree with.
But the fundamental raison d'être of smart contracts (i.e. that they are "trustless", that "code is law", there is no intermediary) do not really support the use case that you are describing.
Sure, and of course this is desirable. The "oracle" is a trusted external API (the bank, the DMV, the municipality, whatever). Some people may not like that these institutions are the arbiter of ownership or whatever, but of course we expect to be able to trust these institutions more so than strangers from craigslist.
I haven't mentioned anything about "digital keys" to the house, or "titles on blockchain", or the US specifically, you brought up all that and then argued against it. Honestly, I'm not really a crypto-bro, just a guy who's had trouble with exactly this kind of transaction. And I'm not personally invested in ideals like radical decentralization, or implementation details like super pure smart-contract ecosystems that disallow external oracles. I just want less friction AND less risk when I'm trying to buy a motorcycle on craigslist, or a house in an arbitrary (i.e. potentially non-US) jurisdiction.