Youtube comments of LifeAD3.0 (@Leslie3.0Life).

  1. And wait until all these fired workers hit the job market. These are pretty skilled employees, from all kinds of industries. They're going to be pretty desperate to take any job they can get. This will drive wages down even further. No wonder big business supported Rump.
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  2. I'm retired and living in arizona for the last 40 years. But my family and friends are still in California where I grew up, and I absolutely love So Cal, so i've decided to have the best of both worlds. I love the dry heat of arizona, just not in the summer. No natural disastes, affordable housing, low property taxes, and affordable insurance. Perfect place for me to "age at home". But while i'm still young enough at 63 to travel and move around, i'm going to live in california during the summer, Live in Az in fall, and cruise/travel to other states and countries the rest of the year!
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  3. Please cite your source. As an early retiree at 62, I have been extensively researching (and scouting) different countries to explore possible relocation or part-time living. (I just finished a 3-week scouting trip though CR.) There is nothing I've seen that indicates that 80% of people move back to their country within 2 years of moving to CR. Many people who relocate to other countries, will choose to later move to a different country or back to the US -especially from CR because US and Canadian Expats have helped to greatly increase the cost of living in CR in the last 15 years or so, but this is also true of moving around in the US. Nobody should expect their move to CR or any other country to be permanent. Many expats and retirees have the location and financial freedom to live in different countries over the span of 20 or 30 years. Don't let the fear of "making the wrong choice", deter you from considering a move abroad. It's amazing how many places you can live on SS and/or small pension and investments. And the quality and low cost of health care is amazing.
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  4. Love watching Michael's videos. His (and others') content gave me a head's up to keep an eye on my own insurance rates. Sure enough, Farmers tried to sneak in a $600 home insurance policy increase from $2200 to $2800+. I live in Arizona, and I"m over 55. It took me about 30 min to contact Hartford (AARP), get a new policy, and then log onto Farmer's website and cancel my policy. While the overall coverage amount is a little less than Farmers, the rest of the policy is pretty much the same. (And neither of the Policies would provide for a complete replacement of my home anyway.). My policy has now gone down to just under $800 for the year! I had been a loyal customer of Farmers for over 30 years, but I dropped my car insurance 4 years ago when they kept raising my rates. Now, they have completely lost my business.😂
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  5. That would be great advice if it was still 2016. Even old fixer-up houses are now out of reach for people living on just social security and/or small pensions.
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  6. I'm in Panama now ( i was also here a year ago) and I just came from a 3-week "scouting" trip in CR. It's not even close. The main cost people have will face is rent or mortgage. I have been pricing apartments in the nicer parts of Panama City, and I can't believe what I can get for under $1000 -even less, if I'm willing to live a bit outside the city. I'll be flying to David/Boquette next week, and then staying in Coronado for a week. I definitely will do my research before deciding if I want to move full time or part time to Panama. I am lucky that I can afford to live in the US, but I would embrace the peaceful and slow life of Panama, and frankly, I could live like a Queen compared to US. If I like it after 2 years, I could definitely see purchasing an investment home here. ( But i'm not making final decisions until I finish my scouting trips to Mexico, Portugal, Peru and Equidor in the next few months, and Greece and Southeast Asia in the fall.) k​@Handsome_Hustler_88
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  7. I don't think that's what it was. She said that she always shows up for their events, which means they have money to throw their own events. She's right. People can be very thoughtless and self absorbed. It's rare to have true friends. I'm 62 and just retired. I've lived in this current city for almost 40 years. Try getting divorced in your 60's. People will avoid you like the plague. I am so blessed to have 4-5 really close friends from Jr/high school. They were the ones that have been there for me. They're the ones I visit and travel with. Thank God for old friends..​@MiscellaneousMeMe
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  8. Legalized loan sharking!
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  9. I don't like to jump on the bandwagon, but I have to agree with other commenters. Nick and other doomsayers have been talking about a housing "crash" or "correction" for the last couple of years. I usually find his analysis interesting, but not only is he off base today, but he's contradicted himself a couple times. As a 63 year-old boomer, i'm disappointed to see that he's fallen into the trap of forecasting a so-called silver tsunami. This is more like wishful thinking, since the boomer generation has the biggest home ownership. But this idea that somehow boomers are going to all downsize or die off around the same time and flood the market with homes is ridiculous. The boomer generation will be ages 61 to 79 in 2025. Given increased longevity, that hardly constitutes a large number of people dying off in the next few years. And many younger boomers are still working. And let's stop this fallacy of boomer's automatically downsizing when they retire. Nobody in today's climate is going to sell their bigger house to move into a more expensive smaller house. Boomers put their houses on the market due to divorce, a desire to live closer to family, or retirement to warmer or better climates. But many of us also have multiple homes and hold on to our homes for investment purposes or to pass them to children. The sad thing is that I fear that there will be some increased inventory in some markets from older boomers or silent generation homeowner with fixed incomes, who are being forced out of their homes due to rising insurance and property taxes. That's becoming the real crisis.
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  10. When the original and famous Macys store in New York closed, you knew it was only a matter of time before the whole franchise folded. But I don't see how "Macys" is in any way a marker as to today's consumer behavior or the health of our economy. consumer. Macys is obsolete.
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  11. I live in Tucson, and you can get a decent house here in the two hundred thousands. Maybe not 200,000, but certainly between $250,000-275,000. As opposed to the phoenix area, which is closer to an average of $400,000. Job market isn't too great, though.
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  12. Can we have one of these every day! I was feeling a little down, but this has been beyond entertaining!
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  13. Totally agree. Especially in today's economy. Many people have been sold a bill of goods with the idea that the american dream should include home ownership. A home (residence) is a liability, and when you sell it, it merely serves as forced savings. Do the math. If you live in a home for any reasonable amount of years, and you carry a mortgage. Between the mortgage, increasing property tax and insurance, the interest rate on your mortgage, which sometimes is almost as much as the mortgage, maintenance, upgrades, and major repairs. You're lucky to break even when you sell the home. And if you refinance anywhere along the line, you pay more money because of the closing cost and the fact that your mortgage starts all over again and the interests is once again front loaded. Yes, there were people who bought low in the 70's, 80's and 90's in some markets like California, new York , Texas and Florida and had homes that were worth millions years later. But that is not the case now. That will not be you. People buying homes now are not going to see that level of increase in value in future years. Homes are vastly over valued now, with increasing costs that you have no control over such as HOAs, property taxes and home insurance. And wages have not kept pace. Some new home owners are going to be underwater for a while, and they better have more money than just enough to "qualify" to buy a home. Real estate should be an important part of your retirement portfolio, but only when it serves as an investment property with good cash flow. Otherwise, you're going to find that it's just an albatross around your neck, that will keep your firm and join other aspects of life and fully funding your retirement accounts. Nothing wrong with renting for awhile. ​@GuadalupeCamacho-qo1ol
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  14. ​ @HappyOne3 Many, many really good videos of people who do ongoing podcast and videos about their experiences, moving to and living in other countries. Some will talk specifically to the process of obtaining visas and residency. Others will share their exact expenses. (BTW: one of the reasons that Panama is so attractive, is because they do not tax income outside their country, and they have a fantastic retirement "Pensionado Visa", which provides a relatively easy pathway to residency. Also, Panama uses the US dollar.)
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  15.  @ksucatinokc  Not true. Airlines, hotels and STR investor and state parks industries are reporting noticeable declines due to the significant drop in Canadian visitors. Good for them!
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  16. Except the title is about retiring in other countries on a small pension or social security. So, affordability is the focus. There are plenty of other videos that can speak to which countries are best regarding safety, walkability, food, and availability of English Speakers.
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  17. You are so right, but people get mad when you say that. I live in Az. I purchased a home with my ex husband in 1992. We sold it at 4X the original purchase price 25 years later. So what! It was not an asset. It was a liability. We spent at least that much in mortgage, interest, property taxes, insurance upgrades and maintenance. What was actually an investment, was keeping his old house as a rental property. Then, we refinanced our house and purchased 2 other properties. That's when property becomes an asset. When we divorced 2 years ago, we both were able to move into homes that had no mortgage. And, I am now converting a detached garage at my house into a studio apt. This will be a $1000 cash flow. Meanwhile I'm waiting to find the right property for my next investment home. Because I travel so much, my plan is to house hack and live in one part of the house, and rent out the rest of it. So people need to be clear. Your own residence is not an asset unless you make it work for you.
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  18. Many countries don't tax outside income from the US. I've already taken a scouting trip to Panama. I retired last year, at 62 and am collecting early ss benefits. The taxes I will incur on my pension and ss benefits are no different than if I was living in the US. And Panama offers a generous Pensanada Retirement Visa. It only requires that you show a thousand dollars a month of lifetime income. Next year i'm doing scouting trips to Mexico, Columbia, Portugal, Spain and South Asia.
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  19. Agree. That is a big hesitation for me with a number of the countries on my top list. (Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize.) I've been living in arizona almost 40 years. The dry heat does make a difference (I can't bear humidity), but even that degree oh heat is getting exhausting as I age. Family and friends are in Calif, where I grew up. I rethinking my retirement, and planning on a more "nomadic retirement life". (Spend hot summer months in Calif, Fall months in Az. and traveling and living in a different country each year or two- (Dec-May)
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  20. Appreciate ya!
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  21. Boomer here in So. AZ, also with home paid off, no HOA and very affordable property taxes and insurance. Already seeing home prices declining, more time on market for home listings and increased number of foreclosures. Waiting for the full "crash", so I can purchase an investment property or multi-plex.
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  22. Agree. Rental properties are an important part of my retirement portfolio. I'm looking forward to housing costs coming down, because I am not a house "flipper" and I didn't get into the STR craze. I hold on to my properties for the long term, because there will always be people who need mid and long-term rentals. I'll be looking to purchase another investment home or multi-plex when the market "corrects". I don't understand commenters who resent private ownership of rental properties. I get that people have had bad experiences with landlords, but not all private landlords are bad. In fact, we are less likely to raise the rent on a yearly basis-especially for good tenants.
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  23. Interesting. Based on other comments that he's made, I've always assumed that he voted Republican.
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  24.  @Godavari322  or Panama, Costa Rica, the Carribean, Portugal, Thailand or Spain,
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  25. I'm surprised at some of the negative and discouraging comments. People in the US are so ignorant of other countries, and have many negative perceptions about other developing countries-thanks to US propaganda. Relocating to other countries, is not new news-especially in the US black community, which includes working expats and retirees, who have been moving abroad in large numbers for the last decade (Often referred to as the "Black Exodus".) This has been driven not only for the lower cost of living, but also people seeking what they perceive to be a more welcoming, safer, healthy and stress-free culture. There are many, many people who have shared their experiences moving abroad on YouTube and other social media venues and many who have been willing to share their specific costs and expenses. Most provide very "balanced" videos and podcasts about the pros and cons of living in specific countries. Some of the most popular include Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, Puerto Rico, DR, Jamaica, Barbados, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and France, and for those who don't mind the distance, South Africa, Ghana, the EU, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines and South Korea. Don't automatically write off the idea. It's not for everyone, but it is definitely an option-especially for people who can no longer afford to live in the US. (As a younger retiree at 62, I'm currently on a scouting trip in Panama. Mexico in April and Ecuador and Peru in May.)
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  26. ...and I divorced two years ago at 61. Thanks to my insisting that we invest in rental properties, we both had homes to move into- mortgage free. And sold and split the equity from our personal residence. Divorce doesn't have to be devastating, as long as you manage your finances appropriately. I've been following Melody for awhile, and agree with her analysis and strategies. I'm waiting on the sidelines to pick up another investment property that I can househack. Im already seeing prices come down here in Az, along with an increase in foreclosures ( Don't believe all the hype that baby boomers are just dying and leaving a house to their kids.) We own the most real estate, and many of us will continue to invest. In the meantime, I'm converting a detached garage to a studio apartment, and I'm able to easily rent my home while I'm traveling. Real estate is a critical part of a retirement strategy-if done correctly.
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  27. I enjoy following Michael, but I think he's underestimating the impact of high rents. The fact is that the same people who can't afford to purchase a house also can't afford to rent. His example of a friend being able to rent a house that would cost 8 thousand a month for 4 thousand a month, isnt very typical. Most younger people I know,, can't afford 4,000 dollars a month rent. As a home owner who hasn't rented in 35 years, and also a landlord who has had several investment homes over the years, I had no idea that people were not only asking for ridiculous first and last months rents, but also that people demonstrate that they're making 2x or 3x times the monthly rent. Others are requiring a high minimum credit score. Some of these owners are also asking for $300 non refundable application fees! Who can do all that. So the same people that Michael say are renting because it's much cheaper, are literally struggling, and having to choose between eating or paying rent. The so called middle class is being pinched! They can't afford to buy a house. But they also can't afford to rent a decent place in a decent area, unless they can demonstrate that they're making at 80,000 or more. I live in Arizona, and the same house that I was renting for $800 pre-pandemic, I can now easily get 1800/month for. (The house is close to a hospital and a university and those employees can afford that amount of rent.) I'm so glad to be a boomer who owns their house outright and was able to retire early at 62. I weep for the current generations!😢
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  28. Thanks for sharing. It's always good to hear the backstory. As a former HR professional ( I know- don't throw any stones😮), I know that bad leadership and mismanagement at the top is usually the driving reason for the downfall of any business. They refuse to listen to and get input from those who are in the trenches.
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  29. I got divorced last year at age 62. We split the equity on the sell of our house, we had investment properties, so we were both able to move into a home with no mortgage. We split our retirement accounts, and I came out ahead $300,000. Divorce worked for me!😄
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  30. There's nothing wrong with "wanting" to be a homeowner. The problem with selling this "American Dream", is that many people are buying houses they can't afford. If you are waiting for interest rates to come down before you buy a house, you can't afford to buy. Even a full point drop only results in a few hundred dollars saving per month. If $400 or $500 dollars is your margin of error- you can't afford the house! You have zero control over increases in property taxes and home insurance. You need money in the bank to fix a roof or replace the AC for $6,000.-$10,000. If you are paying for major repairs with a credit card-you can't afford that house! So, it may not be just an achievement "for the rich", but it certainly is an achievement "for the well off". There is no shame in "renting" while you save or invest the extra money, until you become debt-free and are "well off" enough to truly afford to own a house!
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  31. What a load of crap! There is no "wealth transfer" to Gen Z from Baby Boomers. Baby Boomers are age 60-79. (I'm 62 and my home is paid off.) We're not dying in droves, as life expectancy has greatly increased. Boomers hold the majority of real estate., but are not in any hurry to get rid of their home. This concept of a silver tsunami of houses coming to market due to death or downsizing, is wishful thinking.and isn't likely to begin occurring for another 5 years. Why would I sell my house so I could buy a smaller more expensive home? Also, many boomers will need the equity to manage their elderly years. In addition, what is all this talk about wealth transfer to "Gen Z" There are two generations between Boomers and Gen Z. Why would boomers be giving their homes to grand and great grand-children? And where is all this Gen Z wealth? What I hear is that Gen Z and Gen Y being understandably pissed at the global economy they have been handed. Wages that haven't kept paced, high inflation, totally unaffordable homes due to overvaluing and increased property taxes and insurance, delaying marriage and having children due to associated costs. I genuinely weep for those generations. They kinda got screwed!
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  32. ​@swannoir7949 it is a liability right out of the gate. It is not generating any income, and becomes a debt until it is sold or equity is accessed-creating more debt. There's nothing wrong with renting during your formative years. The money saved by renting can be better invested. People have been sold a bill of goods by being told that owning a house is the American dream. Why do you think there are so many people struggling to make their payments or going into foreclosure?
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  33. Very sad. This is my biggest fear, as I have no children and retired (and divorced) last year at age 62. I purchased a long-term care Insurance policy though my employer, many years ago and of course the premiums have shot up. But I continue to pay, as it gives me peace of mind, and it's a pretty good policy, with good coverage. Of course today, long term care policys are extremely expensive and many of them kind of suck because insurance companies don't like the profit margins. Let's hope at some point, there is a long term care component to medicare.
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  34. Really? Check out Melody Wright. It's she is an analyst and deals with real data. She tells the real story.
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  35. I live in Tucson as well, and I have for over 35+ years. My home is paid for well, with low property taxes and insurance. i recently retired, and I am currently on scouting trips to CR, Panama, Mexico, Portugal, Peru and Equidor this year. I have been renting my home while I travel, and will do so when I move. I will not spend another summer in Tucson! It has become unbearable, and summer never ends. I actually have preferred the humidity and the unexpected bursts of rain in Panama. Tucson is very affordable, but I could live like a queen in Panama or Mexico with the same retirement income, and I don't have to drive 4 or 5 hours to get to a beach.
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  36. He should have said, "out of respect for the family and friends of the victims, I wouldnt want to speculate as to how or what manner they passed." and the just segue into something else.​@Readell-h4v
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  37.  @SpheleleStancentwn  Neither does "we never scam". Some of the most prolific scammers people who live in India. There are very organized scamming call centers.
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  38. ​ @curious1366 i've seen some other videos from sisters who live in Boquette. It's definitely supposed to be cooler, since it's higher in the mountain areas. That's why I want to check out Boquette and St david out this next trip. However, I doubt I would live there long term, at least not at this point. I'm still a bit of a city girl and I need to be closer to the action ( and airport.) The humidity did take a bit of getting used to in Panama City. I live in Arizona, and the dry heat does make a difference. That's also why I want to check out some of the beach areas this time.
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  39. 😂😂
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  40. I'm glad you brought that up. Im 62 and got a LTC policy 15 years ago through my employer for about $5500/year. It currently costs me roughly $1800/year. Still very duable. , I'm fully retired, divorced, with no children. I'm determined not to be a burden on anybody, and I'm anticipating that my LTC policy will increase significantly over the next 15-20 years. I don't know if there is a breaking point for me, as I feel that I'm already all in, and I don't think I can get a cheaper policy at this point in my life. Just like with housing insurance, i'm hoping I'll never need it, but if I ever needed that degree of personal care, It would otherwise be unaffordable.
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  41. ​@RunningFreeForeverFree some people, Property taxes and insurance are insane in some areas. I live and own investment property in Az. Property taxes are about $2000/year and insurance is $720. I can't imagine having to pay what many people do in Florida, Texas and California.
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  42. That's not necessarily a good thing. It might mean that your house is losing value.
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  43. ​@Resmith18SR I think this might be wishful thinking. There are many expats and retirees purchasing investments in places like Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and Portugal. In fact, that is often one of the ways to qualify for a permanent visa ( Either demonstrate a certain dollar amount of lifelong income or purchase property over a certain dollar amount). I'm considering doing the same in Panama. It's not that difficult. You just need to find the right teal estate attorney in that country.
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  44. ​@jeffholloway797 The retired HR side of me says, you're right. They will be very employable, but I wonder what will happen with their pensions? ( I was employed by a state University, and retired at 62 after 30 years, with a state pension. Thank goodness I escaped all this nonsense.) Just cooling my heels waiting patiently to find my next rental investment.
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  45.  @tapptom  I'm currently in Panama on a scouting trip. (Costa Rica last month), Mexico in April and Peru and Portugal in the fall. I have more retirement income than just social security, but I'm amazed to learn how inexpensive housing is in other states, and that I could live quite comfortably. Panama has a phenomenal "Pensionado" retirement visa program that provides an easy pathway to residency (No taxes on US income). And it doesn't even require you to reside in Panama for any significant amount of time. I'm going to start my visa application in the next few months.
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  46. How does that work?​ @Angryshrub 
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  47. I agree about Bisbe. Great place to visit and to take friends for a day trip, but retirement? but I can put in a plug for Tucson. I never imagined that I'd stay and live in Tucson after finishing college. I'm originally from california, and my family and friends are still there, and I love the weather and lifestyle of So Cal. Now that i'm retired and single at age 63, I plan to live in California during the hottest months, live a couple fall months in tucson, and cruise/travel to other states and countries the rest of the time. But I will definitely keep my house and likely "age at home" in Tucson.
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  48. So true. I retired last year at 62, and am traveling about 6 months a year. Many hotels offer kitchen facilities, but since I don't want to spend my free time cooking, this isn't as important to me. As a solo female traveler, I prefer the safety and all inclusive nature of hotels (I always get the free breakfast deals). STR don't save me much money when I'm not sharing the costs. Also, I get good deals when I book a hotel for 1 or 2 weeks at a time.
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  49. ​@DMAN-xk5ni You must be thinking of Phoenix, and even their record of 110+ straight days is about 90 days.
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  50. You're not alone​. It's just that it's become fashionable to bash California. I grew up in Riverside and have been living in Arizona for 40 years. Most of my family and good friends still live in CA, and now that i'm retired, i'm looking to move back. My brother lives in Long Beach, and i've been impressed with how much nicer downtown Long Beach is these days. I love So Cal more and more I visit. A cursory review tells me rent would be 2200-2500 for a 1 bedroom, but it also would be just blocks from the harbor. I've recently been traveling internationally a lot more, and being close to LAX would be attractive. The rent would be doable, especially since I can easily rent my home in Az. Hoping to plan my move back to California next summer! @MissBabalu102
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  51. Not necessarily. I retired and divorced a year ago at age 62, after being separated for 2.5 years. I've been renting a room and bath to traveling nurses for the last two years. It gives me a little extra money each month, and there is someone to watch my house because I travel a good part of the year. The short-term (airbnb) rental industry is oversaturated, and long-term renting can be problematic, depending on the tenants. But there is a huge market for mid-term (1-6 month) rentals in many cities. ( Nurses and other medical personnel, university employees, contract workers, people waiting for homes to be built, families displaced due to fires/floods etc.) And, there are good companies such as Furnished Finders that help facilitate the matching and background checking pieces. I'm in the process of converting my detached garage into a studio apartment to increase my rental income.
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  52. Lots of price drops in Tucson, and much longer time on market. If you don't have to move right now, be patient and wait a year or 18 months. Inventory is vastly increasing in many markets. Home costs will drop.
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  53. Here from Az. Retired last year at age 62. I have all three. I really think the key is diversifying your future sources of retirement income. Both the housing and the stock market are unpredictable, and the future of social security is uncertain. I decided long ago that I didn't want to have all my eggs in one basket. And my mother taught my brothers and I that whenever you own real estate- hold on to it. In the long run, it's usually going to be a solid investment.
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  54. A bit surprised to see Greece on the list. I was in Athens and Mykonos in the summer of 2024, and can't think of a single incident of racism or bias. I'm on many travel facebook groups, and other black travelers have also reported being a "spectacle" in China and other Asian countries, but not necessarily treated in a hostile manner. You just have to get used to people staring and/or taking pictures without asking. But both China and Japan are popular travel destinations and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the philippines) is fast becoming a favorite destination of Black expats and retirees. One thing to keep in mind. Notice how the narrator used "black" and black Africans interchangeably when referring to racist experiences. Black Americans and Black Africans often have different experiences in different countries. One thing I have learned as a black female, is that it is mostly in the US where racist and biased behavior is most often based on skin color". In other countries, it is often based on country of origin. For example, many blacks report initially being slighted or treated poorly when they first arrive in parts of Spain, France and Italy, but as soon as people realized they were "American", the attitude changes. In Spain, their "prejudice" is more likely directed to "black people they believe are from African-like nearby Morocco. I found this to be true when I was traveling through Europe, Ireland and Albania last summer. There would be noticeable changes in people's friendliness toward me, as soon as they heard me talking, or when they asked where i was from. (Though I imagine I also benefit from being on the lighter side) Finally, I was surprise not to see Australia on the list (instead of Italy or Greece). Many black travelers I know complain about the treatment and reaction of Australians and others avoid traveling there at all. It rarely comes up in discussions on my travel sites and I have not yet seen a single black travel group organize a trip to Australia or New Zealand. But, I will say I have had the opposite experience when I meet Australians while traveling. But, then again, I am American.
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  55. Sounds like criticism
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  56. Now, I could just be grasping at straws here, but what about learning other languages?​@coolkitty2075
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  57. That has not been my experience. I retired last year at age 62. And i've already been on two scouting trips to Panama and Costa Rica. I am lucky enough to have both.ss andn a pension, but i'm still looking for a more affordable home base, from which I can easily travel. I couldn't believe how cheap the apartments were that I saw in both countries, as well as the cost of food and eating in restaurants. Next year i'm scouting Mexico and portugal. There are entire communities of black people in many of these countries that I can reach out to for relocation assistance and information. Many of them have Itube videos where they gladly have shared their expenses. It is significantly cheaper in Panama and Mexico and I live in arizona. And healthcare is so cheap, that. I'm planning on having some dental work done next year when I'm traveling. I'll be scouting in south asia in the fall. I've been doing careful research and there are definitely countries I could live in for than $2000/month ​ @mariajenkins6039 
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  58. You are so brave! Thanks for sharing your story. I know you've been added to many prayer circles. I will it definitely add you to mine. Stay strong and continue to look to others for support and love. Great message about self-advocacy.
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  59. There's no such thing as "locking in" your insurance and property taxes just because you're paying them through escrow, as part of your mortgage payment. It's nice that neither has increased to date, but it doesn't mean that they won't increase in the future. Especially if they decide that they haven't appropriately appraised the value of your home and decide to significantly increase your property taxes.
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  60. Homes (residences) are not assets. Count up all the costs that you put into a house over the years. If you're lucky in ten or fifteen years, you'll break even. In the meantime, it's nothing but a liability. ​@mikehughes8023
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  61.  @swannoir7949  Explain how it is an asset?
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  62. ​@emilyfeagin2673 Nobody had to tell me anything. I lived it. We bought a home in 1990's and sold the house 26 years later, for 4X the original cost. But we easily spent that amount on the house during the years we lived there on morgage, interest, taxes, insurance, maintenance, major replacements, like a roof, 2 ac units, and several different upgrades. Owning a home just for the purpose of living in it, did nothing but drain money. When you buy a house, It doesn't matter if the house is building equity. You can't access that money unless you sell the house or refinance/HELOC. And it takes many years to get your down payment or to have any meaningful equity, because interest payments are so frontloaded. On the other hand, my husband's house became an asset because we were getting rent much higher than the mortgage. The duplex we subsequently bought was an asset, because we took over payments, and was getting 2x times rent than the mortgage, and was a greater asset when we later sold it to purchase 2 nicer investment homes. The house we lived was like a forced savings account. If we had rented for the first 10 years instead, we would have been able to buy more investment properties, and then later bought our dream house- in cash.
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  63. Yes. Younger boomer at 62, so also on the cusp of the "latchkey" Gen X generation ( which appears to be the forgotten generation)​@Handsome_Hustler_88
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  64. Consider house hacking. Buy a multi-plex, or a house with a guest house, or designed in such a way that you could live in one part of the house and rent out the rest. Let your renters cover most are all of your mortgage. If you live in the house, you can get an FHA loan with a low down payment. ( Put try to pay at least 10% down to avoid having to pay mortgage insurance.) You only have to live in the house for a year, before you can turn it into a rental property. Later, after you build equity, you can rent out your unit, and purchase another property and do the same thing. Make sure that your home works for you. Real estate is a great long-term investment, if it's more than just your residence!
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  65. I agree. I live in a large city in Arizona. I'm retired and considering purchasing a home as an investment. I get feeds about houses for sale. I notice significant reductions in home prices, as well as longer days on market. My sense is if I wait for a year or two, I'll be able to buy a property at a pretty low cost. But I think it's problematic to take the word of so-called experts about what will happen in the housing market as a whole. It is very city and market specific.
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  66. Retired HR professional here. I can't in good conscience advise this person to go back to school and spend all that money on student loans. I have an undergraduate degree in personnel management. And i'm probably one of the few people who actually worked in their degree field. I had a very successful 30-year hr career at a major university, though I have to admit my degree didn't really prepare me for the real world of human resources. I had many people ask me why I didn't go back and get a masters. My answer is that I advanced pretty well in my career without one, because I was smart, effective and a good manager. It's a shame the way salaries have not kept up with living cost for these younger generations. I agree that he should consider a trade or get a side hustle. But it really is difficult to work 8 hours a day, if you don't like what you do. If he's 38 and almost broke, that means he probably doesn't have much in the way of retirement investments. So he needs something that's gonna help him catch up. One of the reasons that I stayed working at the university is because it offered a pension. And despite the fact that people think that pensions have totally gone away, it's not true. Universities, community colleges and school districts on many states offer a pension. They also usually offer pretty good medical benefits. So do other jobs that we don't think of as "government" jobs, such as post office, public works, airport authority, police officer and firefighter. The employment outlook doesn't look good for a lot of people, but it's predicted that there will still be government jobs. Now I admit things are up in the air with the new administration, but it's worth it to check out organizations such as universities or state government, where you have a better chance of job security, longevity and pensions or at least a good 401K matching plan.
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  67. This is just another example of why it might be better to rent for well before purchasing a house in today's economy. Many people have been sold a bill of goods with the idea that the "American Dream" should include home ownership. Buying a home in today's economy, will become your "American Nightmare" unless you have significant amount of extra money to support it. A house (residence) is a liability, and when you sell it, it often just serves as forced savings. Do the math. If you live in a home for any reasonable amount of years, and you carry a mortgage. Between the mortgage, increasing property tax and insurance, the interest rate on your mortgage, which sometimes is almost as much as the mortgage, maintenance, upgrades, and major repairs. You're lucky to break even when you sell the home. And if you refinance anywhere along the line, you pay more money because of the closing costs and the fact that your mortgage starts all over again and the interests is once again front loaded. Yes, there were people who bought low in the 70's, 80's and 90's in some markets like California, new York , Texas and Florida and had homes that were worth millions years later. But that is not the case now. That will not be you. People buying homes now are not going to see that level of increase in value in future years. Mostly because homes are unaffordable, for a significant portion of the population, and are vastly over valued now. And with increasing costs that you have no control over such as HOAs, property taxes and home insurance, and wages not keeping pace, some new home owners are going to be immediately underwater for a while. They better have more money than just enough to "qualify" to buy a home. Real estate should be an important part of your retirement portfolio, but only when it serves as an investment property with good cash flow. Otherwise, you're going to find that it's just an albatross around your neck, that will keep your from enjoying other aspects of life, funding your kids education and fully funding your retirement accounts. There's nothing wrong with renting for quite awhile, until you are beyond "affording" a house. ​@GuadalupeCamacho-qo1ol
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  68. ​@Paul_ You said it better than I could. I semi-retired at 54 and completely retired last year at 62. I'm slow traveling through several countries, while i'm still on the younger side. Last year, I was able to visit antigua, panama costa rica, italy, Turkey, Greece, Dublin, London and Albania. This year, Mexico, Costa Rica (again) Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Alaskan Cruise in Sept. Then on to Southeast Asian countries. he couldn't be more wrong in thinking that people or cultures are pretty much the same everywhere. There's a reason why thousands of American expats and retirees have moved to other other countries.
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  69. ​@Paul_Sleeping what a sad perspective to have. I'm retired at age 62. Last year was Antigua, Panama, Rome, Istanbul, Athens, Dublin, London and Albania. I can most assuredly tell you that people and cultures are not the same and for me traveling and meeting new people and having new experiences is exhilarating . Beginning in 2 weeks, off to Costa Rica, Columbia, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, Dubai, Japan and Bali. I'm so excited. I can hardly stand it. To each their own, and if you choose to limit your own experiences, that's certainly your choice. But please don't discourage others based on your own ignorance.
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  70. I'm sorry. That doesn't make any sense. Individuals are not😢😢 criminally charged for discrimination. First of all, discrimination is not a criminal offense in and of itself. Someone who is engaging in a criminal activity, such as assault, might be additionally charged with a hate crime, but discrimination is not a criminal offense in and of itself. Can you just imagine, somebody Changing to a different line at a grocery store. Because the cashier is black being arrested! LOL In fact, businesses with less than fifteen employees are not covered under federal civil rights laws. So, a small mom and pop restaurant could refuse to serve someone in a protected class, without fear of arrest.
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  71. @coolgranddad5430  That's not directly relevant to my point. And, there's been similar legislation proposed in the US. It's not going to happen. For one thing, it would never hold up constitutionally. Secondly, It would be impossible to enforce.
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  72. 😅
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  73. Huh ​ @813infinityfilms123 
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  74. ​ @elizabeth3280 78% of the residential investment properties are owned by mom and pop landlords.
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  75. ​ @elizabeth3280 By most estimates, 78% of residential investment properties are owned by mom and pop landlords.​ and they were just as likely to raise rents as corporate investors. Many companies and amateur investors that bought up properties were trying to capitalize on the whole airbnb craze-which oversatured the short-term rental market. Now, many of them are trying to offload those same properties. Fidelity? Huh? The biggest investors are Invitation Homes, Homes for Rent, Blackstone and Greystar. Fidelity is not even a major player. All this fear mongering about how the big bad companies are taking over the market, ignores the basic rules of supply and demand. During and post-Covid, interest rates dropped too far, demand accelerated, and buyers drove up the housing market prices by overpaying for homes. Inventory is greatly increasing now. There will definitely be some sort of correction-just a matter of how much.
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  76. ​ @elizabeth3280 By most estimates, 78% of residential investment properties are owned by mom and pop landlords.​ and they were just as likely to raise rents as corporate investors. Many companies and amateur investors that bought up properties were trying to capitalize on the whole airbnb craze-which oversatured the short-term rental market. Now, many of them are trying to offload those same properties. Fidelity? Huh? The biggest investors are Invitation Homes, Homes for Rent, Blackstone and Greystar. Fidelity is not even a major player. All this fear mongering about how the big bad companies are taking over the market, ignores the basic rules of supply and demand. During and post-Covid, interest rates dropped too far, demand accelerated, and buyers drove up the housing market prices by overpaying for homes. Inventory is greatly increasing now. There will definitely be some sort of correction-just a matter of how much.
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  77. ​​ @r9999t i would argue that just as many people were outbid by other private buyers. And by most estimates, 78% of residential investment properties are still owned by mom and pop landlords.​ And they are just as likely to raise rents as corporate investors. Many companies and amateur investors that bought up properties during Covid were trying to capitalize on the whole airbnb craze-which oversatured the short-term rental market. Now, many of them are trying to offload those same properties. All this fear mongering about how the big bad companies are taking over the market, ignores the basic rules of supply and demand. During and post-Covid, interest rates dropped too far, demand accelerated, and buyers drove up the housing market by overpaying for homes. Inventory is greatly increasing now. There will definitely be some sort of correction-its just a matter of how long and by how much.
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  78. I don't know. Several of my high school classmates and I went to attend funeral services for a classmate in California in Sept. They were four of us in a 4- bedroom, three bath house, and the parking was able to accommodate all 3 of our cars. My portion of the cost was less than 200 for 2 nights. I remember thinking $800 for 2 days ain't bad. I did feel a little bad for the neighbors, because the house was on a corner lot in a very residential neighborhood. And really close to the next door neighbors' house. Lucky for them, we weren't loud or partying or anything. But I could imagine it's not always like that.
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  79. That young lady is so correct! The american dream of being a homeowner is an illusion. A home is not an asset. It is a long term liability. Unless you purchase a house for cash, you will likely spend more money during the lifetime of living in a home, then you will make when you sell the home. I recently divorced and my ex husband and I sold our home that we had lived in for 27 years. We sold it for more than 4x the original cost. However, the sell price in no way covered all the costs in mortgage, interest, maintenance, upgrades, property taxes and insurance. The only reason that we truly built real estate wealth, was because we held on to my ex- husband's original home and used equity to purchase two additional properties. We had great cash flow and easily paid off the houses and had extra income all those years. This means when we divorced last year, each of us had a home to move into with no mortgage! We need to stop telling young people that buying a house is a sign of success and wealth building. There are many good reasons to rent - especially in their younger years. It provides better flexibility when you need to change jobs, It's easier to move to a larger place as your family size expands. You'll have more money to invest for retirement and for leisure activities. Don't believe all that hype about how it's just as expensive to rent as it is to pay a mortgage . There's a reason why we call it "house poor". It is really expensive to maintain a home and you have no control over the rising cost of property taxes and insurance. When you rent, all of that is someone else's problem. Good grief! We need better financial education in 7-12 grades.
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  80. I'm doing my second scouting trip in Panama in February ( coronado Beach and Boquete. Also, having some dental work done in Costa Rica while visiting for a month. Then, on to the Yucatan area of Mexico.
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  81. Is what dangerous?​ @DİLEKAVAN-w2z 
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  82. I agree that this doesn't make sense. She mentioned arizona twice. Arizona is a community and is a no fault state. They don't care who cheated on whom. And, It doesn't matter whether her name was or was not on the homes or even the business. The only things that would have not been considered marital assets would have been assets purchased or businesses started prior to the marriage that were kept separate from the marriage. And with five children, she certainly would have been eligible for child support and alimony. She also would have been able to receive up to 50% of his retirement accounts, Unless she agreed to some sort of offset to the equity on the home. The courts would also divide up bank accounts and any debts, such as credit card debt. She's either not telling the truth or she has the world's worst attorney. I just divorced last year at age 62 after 27 years of marriage. I know of what I speak!
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  83. I meant to say it was initially 550/year!
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  84. ​@Steve-318 ...and that never happens disportionately to brown or black people in the US? Stop fear mongering. This is not new. There are thousands and thousands of US expats and retirees in many countries. For every outlier story of someone unfairly jailed in another country, there are thousands more who live contently in other countries.
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  85. Thank you! I'm tired of Al Sharpton, being seen by white corporate and political entities as the only representative of the needs of the black community. He has his role, and we should all be appreciative of his impact over the years. But we need younger black movers and shakers to take the lead.
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  86. Where??
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  87. So.... Let me get this straight. I shouldn't invest in real estate because some people can't afford to buy a house?​@queenofquick4024
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  88. ​@randyhamburger-jg5gr Nope, just careful planning. Boomers (ages 60-79) own 75% of the real estate, and many will live into their 90's Why do people assume (or expect) boomers to downsize?
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  89. You people slay me! The boomers that have the funds and wherewithal to take advantage of a downturn in the housing market by purchasing investment homes, shouldn't do so because it's unfair to other generations of people who can't afford a home? Aren't you some of the same people who complain about big time investors snapping up homes? If people can't afford homes , don't they need to rent from somebody?​@patriot-ny5el
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  90. ​ @indiomonk123 Yikes! I'm in Az Property taxes $2,200/year + $800/year for insurance. Very affordable
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  91. I shouldn't buy an investment property, because some people can't afford a house in their area?​ @queenofquick4024 
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  92. I dont understand about filing for social security only to lose it to something unplanned? Can u explain further?
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  93. Maybe they mean to say, weak in the knees? ​@No8446
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  94. That was my thought as well. Won't the values of homes start going down as more buyers look to avoid purchasing homes with an HOA?​@rchot84
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  95. I live in Arizona. I live in California near my my family and friends in the summer.
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  96. As someone who recently retired after thirty years working in the HR field at a state university, it's a bit humorous to hear some of these complaints. None of it's new. Applicants have always been advised by HR and others that it's easier to get a job when you have one. When employees came to me for advice regarding workplace situations, I always advised them to have a plan and not wait until you're so fed up that you just quit without having a job. It's just a fact of life. An employed candidate is more attractive to a hiring authority than an unemployed candidate. I appreciate that that seems unfair, but this has always been a true fact of life. Also, People who are unemployed tend to display more desperation when they're interviewing. Be prepared to respond confidently as to why you're currently unemployed and why you're being selective about the places you want to work for. 2. People are often told that they're overqualified for job, when the HR or supervisor has some other reason they don't want to hire you. This is not a new thing. 3. Recent college grads have always had a difficult time entering into their career fields when they don't have practical experience. Again this is not a new phenomenon. This is why college students are always encouraged to take an internship or part time job in the same or similar job to gain parallel experience. 4. HR and hiring authorities have historically been very bad at getting back with candidates or sending generic letters or email. People hate giving bad news, or they want to avoid giving a reason In case it gets them legally in trouble. If you are not selected for an interview, they have no investment in you. Many are not going to afford you the common courtesy of a response. This will never change. When you interview ask when you can expect to hear back one way or the other. After that time passes, send a follow up email or phone call. If you still don't hear back, move on. 5. Signing for a temporary or staffing agency, is not a bad strategy. We hire many people at our university through temporary agencies. There's a lot of free good job searching advice on the website. I wish job hunters the best of luck.
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  97. I had that same thought. I retired last year at 62. I'm very lucky to have a state pension, and rental income, along with mutual funds and SS. In no way did I ever consider the equity in my house as a source of retirement income. If I was dependent on that, I wouldn't have retired. I have 5 close friends from high school that are around my age and also are retired and own their homes, with no mortgage. I don't have children, but my friends that do , plan to pass along the house(s) to their heirs. I can't imagine that any of them would feel the need to take do a cash out or take out a HELOC, in order to generate income for retirement. I think Adam may be a bit off on this one.
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  98. Finally! I've been following Michael for quite a while, and I just came across this video. He is the first person who recognizes that baby boomers are also investors. Every time I watch Youtube videos about the current real estate market, It's clear that the target audience is younger. Yet, Michael hit the nail right on the head. Stop listening to all the silly talk about baby boomers bringing inventory to the market by downsizing. Huh? Why would boomers sell their current homes only to have to purchase an overvalued smaller house at higher interest rates. Or why would we give up something that is bringing us passive income? The youngest baby boomer is 59, and many of us (I'm 62), are retiring early because some of us still have pensions or strong 401K , solid investment accounts, have access to early ss benefits, and many of us held onto our first homes and purchased additional income property. I am single, have substantial equity in my primary residence, and have a second paid-off investment home and a large amount of cash on hand. Since i'm flexible to live anywhere, I'm looking for the opportunity to house hack-possibly in the Las Vegas area. But I live in a college town in Arizona, and the opportunities here are good as well. So yes, for those who are looking for investment opportunities, this boomer is one of your competitors!
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  99. i'm currently "scouting" in Panama. i was in Costa Rica last month, and I'll visit different cities in Mexico in April. Finally, I want to scout Portugal, Columbia and Peru in the fall. At this point, Panama is the most attractive because of their very generous Pensionado retirement visa and easy pathway to residency, low cost but high quality health care, friendly people, laid-back culture, use of the US dollar and close proximity to US.
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  100. This is why it's so important that people view these types of videos, if nothing more, than to gain new perspectives. There are so many stereotypes and fears about other countries and cultures. Look at videos, testimonies and vlogs from people who have moved to other countries. I think people would be stunned to see the number of people from the US and Canada that have relocated to Mexico, Central and South America, and Caribbean islands in the recent decade.) ( In the AA/black community, it's referred to as the Black Exodus, and that list often includes cities in Africa and Asia (and some Europe.)
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  101. She gets plenty views. You don't have to stay.
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  102. Mexico manufactures/ assembles a significant amount of US cars. (GM reported that they manufacture 25% of their vehicles). I imagine there are other significant production contributions besides agricultural. I wouldn't automatically downplay the impact of "revenge" tarrifs or other actions.
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  103. I really don't know how you young people are making it now. Much less saving and investing enough to have a good retirement nest egg. When I started working for the University that I graduated from, making $15,600 in 1991, my ultimate goal was to make six figures. Little did I know that the real value in working 26 years for a public university, was that I would receive a lifetime pension, as well as investing in an IRA. I'm a young baby boomer that retired last year at age 62. My pension is $70,000 a year and I took early social security that now pays me $25,000 a year. Because I'm worried about possible cuts to social security, I moved $100,00 of my IRA to a lifetime annuity, that pays me $7,000 a year for life. I admit that it gives me some comfort to think that I have six figures a year in guaranteed retirement income. But after taxes, even that's not really as much as it sounds. Thank goodness my house is paid off. I don't have any children, but I really am sympathetic to what the younger generations are going through. Wages have remained stagnant relative to living expenses for over 20 years. I'm pretty solid financial-wise, but I'm still scouting out other countries where I can live part or full time. You can live like royalty in places like Mexico, Panama Columbia, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Phillipines. That may be something that future generations need to consider.
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  104. Add: Adam Tagget and Melody Wright. Also Orlando Miner - mostly for the entertainment factor.
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  105. True. Your residence is a liability. But, having outside investment property can be a critical part of a retirement portfolio. I am a divorced boomer who owns my house outright, along with a separate rental property. I would like to buy another one, but the market is still too bumpy. So, I'm converting a detach garage into a studio apartment, intel housing prices come down and I can purchase another investment property. I don't see my property investments as depriving others. People will always need someplace to rent with an ethical and reasonable landlord.
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  106. ​ @Adroit1911 That's a bit naive. Rental investment should definitely be a part of your retirement portfolio. The more diverse, the better. Stocks are just one part of it. In the long run, it's really the most reliable. The home that you live in is not an asset until it's sold. It's just a huge liability and drain on your income. It's even more critical to encorage the next generations to purchase homes for cash flow.
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  107. ​ @thomasmorrison3279 I was in Bethesda for the first time about five years ago. I was surprised at how much I liked that area.
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  108.  @Patricia-k3w4q  I'm a female Black American here in Panama on a "scouting" trip. I met some french women from Montreal, and they say that China's investment and development in Canada has been increasing exponentially in the last decade. I was also amazed to see the degree of China's investment here in Panama. That is probably why Trump made the false statement that China is "controlling" the Panama Canal.
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  109. I understand that people automatically think of the worst case scenarios when they think about being a landlord. But a lot of it has to do with location. I managed 3 rentals for over 25 years when I was married. No vandalism, no evictions. I know what I'm doing. My current house is near a major university and 3 hospitals. I've been renting a room/bath in my house for the last 2 1/2 years to traveling nurses. Not only do I get extra income, but I have someone to watch the house while traveling. Recently, I rented my house for 3 months to a snowbird couple. They used my housekeeper and left it as clean as they received it. On July 1st, I'll be renting my house for 6 months to a professional couple from the university. Mid-term renting (30 days-6 mos) is often overlooked as a renting strategy. ( I would never Airbnb my house!) FurnishedFinders has been a great platform to use to match renters with tenants. As I said, I'm looking for the next investment opportunity to house hack a home where I could live there part time and rent out the rest. Every investment brings some degree of risk. But it shouldn't always be an absolute impediment to building wealth. ​ @DIVISIONINCISION 
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  110. ​ @DIVISIONINCISION I managed 3 properties for 25 yrs while I was married and working full time. No vandalism and no evictions. I know what i'm doing. Much of it has to do with location. My home is near a major university and several hospitals. I've used Furnished Finders, which is a great platform for midterm rentals. (30days-6 mos) You are primarily dealing with professionals, snowbirds or retirees. I've been renting a room and bath in my home for hours for 2 1/2 years to traveling nurses. Not only did this give me extra income, but it also meant there was somebody to watch my house when I traveled I just had a snowbird couple rent my house from Feb-May. They used my housekeeper and left it as clean as they found it. Today I'm doing a walkthrough with a professional couple from the University who will rent my house for at least 6 months. (I'm living a nomadic retirement life- slow traveling through different countries.) I do fine with my ss benefits, pension, and life annuity, but the extra $1,600 comes in handy. I agree that being a landlord is not for everybody, but people shouldn't automatically dismiss the idea, just because people love telling their horror stories. Get a management company if you're that uncomfortable.
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  111. This is certainly true in Tucson, Az. The one Conns store- that I know of because I used to shop at frequently- is closing. And one of the biggest, long-standing and most popular local furniture stores, Sam Levitz, has also announced that they're closing all of their stores, except one. You can definitely see the domino effect of a declining housing market.
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  112. But moving abroad doesn't have to be all or nothing! It seems evident that many people will have good reasons to return to the states ( or move to a different country), including family obligations, sense of community, meeting a new partner, tiring of language and cultural barriers, and a desire to "age at home". That shouldn't preclude people from considering an experience living abroad.
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  113. ​@dotumph Even the most critical pundits agree that the amount of votes she received was astonishing given that she had 11 weeks to campaign, she was not allowed to distance herself from Biden, and she's a black woman. It's amazing that even Mexico has has a female president, but this country is so firmly entrenched in male superiority. That even many white women, don't believe in or support the idea of a female president. How else do you explain Hillary Clinton also losing?
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  114. I'm not sure why Mom and Pop investors aren't using properties for "mid-term" rentals (1-6 months). I make a killing on them and I don't have to manage different tenants every few days or weeks. I'm in Arizona and I have no problem finding tenants and most are snowbirds or professionals (University staff and traveling nurses for example), so no issues with damaging property, non-payment, noisy parties, squatters etc.
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  115. Uh, maybe because the focus of this video was living in other countries on a small pension or social security? The focus was affordability. It is meant to be a starting point for people who might be considering retiring to other countries with lower retirement income. It's up to other people to do their own research and scouting trips to see which countries might meet their other needs and preferences. I doubt anybody would be expected to make decisions based on this short video. ( I've been to 4 of the countries on the list, and I'd have to say it's pretty accurate. Despite what other naysayers have said, many cities in these countries were significantly more affordable in several areas-including. housing, groceries, transportation, airline flights, non-tourist restaurants, and healthcare. Panama and Mexico are on top of my list so far. I'll be visiting Portugal, Peru, Columbia and Spain next Spring, and Asian countries the following year.
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  116. People are already doing that. I have listed a room and mid-term rental on Furnished Finders. Mostly traveling nurses and other healthcare professionals who are on short-term contracts. Many airbnb hosts are turning to similar type of midterm rentals..
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  117. And yet many other economists have said we have been in a recession since late 2023.
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  118. That's simply not true- especially if you're not trying to move into one of the high end areas of the city of choice. I know several people who retired to Spain. Just last year, a friend of mine and her sister brought a house there together. Others choose to rent so they can move around the country. It's not that housing is unaffordable. It's just that getting a long-term visa and/or residency has become more costly or complicated in Spain and some other countries. It is easier in countries like Panama if you get a reasonably priced and competent lawyer.
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  119. ​@anomaly2990 Thank you! That was my first thought.
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  120. Just turn your phone. And it also helps you to watch the video and read comments. Some people just have to have something to complain about.
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  121. My two favorite "housing market" content creators. Rarely do you come across two individuals who are so balanced, factual and humble in their delivery. I follow them both and watch any time.they are interviewed by others. I live in Arizona, and having recently retired i've been on the lookout for another possible investment property. And everything Melody has observed or predicted in the past about the Az market has been accurate. She was right about the shadow inventory; that the amount of new builds was underreported, and not only have housing prices been dropping, and time on market increased, in all the large metropolitan areas, but i'm seeing a huge increase in the amount of price cuts by sellers. Arizona was one of the hardest hit areas in the 2008 It wouldn't surprise me if we start seeing some of the deepest price cuts in Aizona in the upcoming year. So I'm staying on the sidelines for now!
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  122.  @rotorheadv8  Millions of undocumented people also migrated under Rump's first term. Just as he added more to the deficit than either Obama or Biden. Why be so selective about the facts you choose to cite.
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  123. Very true.
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  124. You should check out more youtube videos from people who have relocated or retired to other countries. Many of them talk specifically to the cost of healthcare and the type of procedures they've had and the associated costs. I've been doing a lot of research myself. In fact, i plan to have my major dental work done next year, when i'm scouting other countries, including Mexico, Columbia, Portugal and south Asia.
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  125. ​ @Fubar_The_WEF Good to know. Last year, when I was in Panama, my tour guide told me not to count out Columbia. I am blessed to have retired early last year at age 62 with both a pension and ss benefits. But as a single female comma I am still looking for a more affordable "home base", or two simply slow travel through these countries and live for months at a time.
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  126.  @dbianco_official  In some countries they can be very inexpensive. I'm staying in an all-inclusive resort in Mexico for 2 weeks for less than $90/day
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  127. It's hard to take someone seriously who speaks in terms of the # of weeks people can expect to stay healthy if they live to 60 Who talks like that? And it's misleading. 1000 weeks is almost 20 years! He said that's not a lot of time. Of course it is! I retired last year at 62 and enjoying international travel 9 mos out of the year. If I have another 17 years of good health, i will be thrilled! Then he quotes a study that says the average American loses their health at age 66? This totally ignores the research that shows if someone is able to reach age 65, statistically, women have a high probability of living to 86 and men to the age of 83+. And the number of people living into their 90s, is at a record high. I think most people know how to make educated guesses about their life expectancy (unexpected illness or accidents notwithstanding.) You don't need to fear monger to people about their health, to speak intelligently to how people dqn figure out what they will need in retirement .
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  128. And from what I can see, everybody accuses everybody else of being bad drivers-especially in Az. @jakeworldwide
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  129. ​@ritawhite6169 Not me. I am in Tucson salivating at the prospect of prices falling even further in 2026. I'm retired, but still looking to purchase another investment home. I wasn't surprised to see Tucson on the list. He said there was "some" building here? There has been, ALOT of building in the last few years. During and after the pandemic, we saw an influx of people from California and the northwest, just as Phoenix did. But it was mostly older and established couples. There are some turn offs for people looking to relocate-including lack of infrastructure for managing traffic, and because Tucson doesn't have many large companies, employment is a challenge. In the meantime, the city loosened their permitting requirements to encourage the building or conversions to ADUs. That's what I'm doing with my detached garage, until the housing market falls, as I believe it will.
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  130. And all those American companies will gladly pay the high wages that American employees expect and need.
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  131. Definitely sarcasm. I'm not sure I understand why people think US companies want to bring their manufacturing centers back to the US. Didn't they move them to other countries so they could have cheap labor?​@brandonbloch3144
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  132. Ray J was so out of his element in this so-called debate. His response to everything that made him uncomfortable was to deflect and just would fall back on the "can't we just learn from and accept each other" kumbaya-type language. If Danielle had not been sitting there, he he would not have been able to adequately represent himself as an advocate for the transgender community. Look how uncomfortable he was with questions about his own children. He's just misguided, like a lot of people, In believing that he's being inclusive and progressive By aligning himself with the Transgender Community. And danielle just can't help contradict herself when Candice challenges this concept of an objective reality being about how people feel. And when presented with other examples of people changing their realities, she says, oh yeah, that's not right, but that's not analogous to my situation. Well done Candace. You provided a very respectful and thoughtful perspective.
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  133. Agree. I live in Arizona. There is a noticeable increase in inventory- not only new builds, but also existing homes. There's also a tremendous amount of shadow inventory that is not listed. Sellers are becoming a bit desperate as potential buyers have been boycotting overvalued and overpriced homes. And I think adam missed the mark. Just because the overall national cost of homes hasn't come down much, that's not true in specific markets. I'm on several lists, and I'm amazed at the amount of notifications I'm getting about price reductions - especially for homes that have been on the market 2 or more months. I don't care about reduced interest rates. They're not going be reduced enough to make a significant difference. But I refuse to pay for a house, that is so overvalued due to the 2020-2022 FOMO rush.
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  134. Doesn't surprise me. When rental cars went through the roof after the pandemic, many people just rented U-haul vans and trucks instead. Stands to reason that some people might sleep in them while they are visiting other places!
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  135. That is very naive thinking. Real estate investment should be a part of everybody's retirement portfolio. My mother taught me that once you own property, you always hold on to it and use it to help you increase your income. When I married in 97, i insisted we keep my husband's bachelor home and rent it out. Then we purchased 2 more properties- both with good cash flow. I retired a year ago at 62, but I also divorced. I can't imagine the financial state I would have been in, if I hadn't insisted on having investment properties. I'm not sure I could have retired early if I had to pay rent. We sold our home for 4X what we paid, and we both moved into one or our investment properties-with paid off mortgages. I'm converting my detached garage into a studio apartment to bring in even more rental income, and I'm waiting for an opportunity to obtain another investment property through house hacking. Real estate investment is always a good bet, if you are strategic about it based on your own financial situation.
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