Four years ago; better off or not?

Yes!



Keeping kids out of school and not allowing them to participate in life events was absolutely screwing with people. Worst is those with the least were harmed the most. But most here on too hot have the means to not be affected in major way.

 

I'm a young person with a young family (under 40 with a child under 5), and I've seen my income increase by ~40% and my net worth at least double in the last four years. The previous 4 years under Trump, I did much the same. My family's success has had little to do with which political party occupies the White House.

 

sorry to hear that story.

 

has to be in the limelight being told how great he is and it is the best chance he has to get out of a lot of federal indictments/trials, not to mention he needs the money to pay his legal bills

 

The Cali deal works because median home price in Cali is two to three times what it is in the vast majority of other states. So Cali refugees cash out a million dollar house over there and move to Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, etc. and can buy the same house for half the price. That has been a major driver in Utah where my daughter and her husband (2021 college graduates now with a one YO) are hoping to move out of their 2/1.5 cramped apt and into a home that can better serve a growing family. As a school teacher and a start-up partner they can’t yet swing what it takes to purchase a 3/2 starter home over there. And by starter home, I mean a fixer upper.

They are at about the same place in life when my wife and I bought our first home (3/2.5 in Florida) for $45K. Mind you, it had vines growing into the living room from outside and required a full remodel, which we did every night after work and weekends for three months before we could move in. We bought at about half the median home value back then and way below what two professional DINKs could have afforded. Our Monthly mortgage payments were about $250. Unfortunately for my daughter, half median price for her means about $2500/month for PITI. That is what young families face today because salaries haven’t kept up with home prices.

Now, I have tried to convince them to move to FL or TN but teacher pay is about $10K less a year over here and the start-up for now needs to stay where the investors are close by (Salt Lake area is like a small Silicone Valley).

Not complaining. It is what it is. Fingers crossed for them, though.

 

And, I'd point out, that they don't "cash out." They sell their house to another person. So somebody has to want to live in Cali or at least own property in Cali for that to work. So the "refugees" are finding people moving into the state or people willing to move within the state. The statistics on people leaving California generally ignore international migration and birth patterns.

A lot of this was true pre-covid as well. That is my biggest objection here. In 2020, a teacher and a start-up employee on a low salary weren't buying a house. Or in 2018. Or in 2016.

As I said, the shortage started in the aftermath of 2008. It was just that many of us who were in that stage in 2012-2019 were met with derision and condescension. It is a bit of an insider millennial joke, but the "avocado toast" thing refers to an article that somebody seriously wrote about how the issue in buying houses wasn't that they were exorbitantly expensive in the locations with good paying jobs, but rather because millennials spent too much on frivolities, like expensive avocado toast at restaurants. Frankly, a lot of older generations laid that stuff at the feet of millennials (not saying you did). It is funny how much the conversation changed though when it was their kids, who they couldn't dismiss as screwups eating too much avocado toast, struggling to purchase housing.

BTW, I agree that housing is a huge issue and we need to get creative in solving it. I think we fumbled that opportunity in the wake of Covid, frankly. We should have been pushing on how remote work could have helped solve some of these issues, but, instead, focused on how lazy everybody was that didn't want to commute into the office to work and how it would destroy commercial real estate (which could have been repurposed into housing).

I also hope things work out for your daughter.

 

Speaking of California.
California seeing a sizable influx of new residents relocating from Texas
California exodus: They left the Bay Area, but returned for better life
A Florida boomer said he 'can't move back to California fast enough' due to better weather and a calmer lifestyle

 

Just a personal thing but I would never live in Florida or most parts of Cali. Both are too expensive and Florida seems to be getting crazier by the day.
Northern Cali has appeal but still expensive. Plus, I've always been a mountain guy.

Texas isn't bad, but it is fool of Texans.

 

I love anecdotes. Too bad they mean zero.

California’s population shrunk in 2023 for the third straight year, but exodus slowed – Times-Standard

 

I am so happy you were able to valiantly soldier on in the face of overwhelming odds and idiocy. You are truly gifted and brave.

 

Yeah, Florida (at least parts of it) have been relatively inexpensive over the years. But here's a link that was posted on Drudge the other day about money coming into my area. It's good that people want to come here, but Florida is only going to get more expensive as it gets more popular and crowded.

The new Miami? Florida panhandle city of Pensacola sees swell in number of $1M homes sold as laid-back vibe, stunning beaches and great amenities attract glut of wealthy newcomers | Daily Mail Online

 

Appreciate that. Same to you. Sadly many with lesser means were harmed. I get you seem to have no care with your snarky remarks. But I am upset at what we did to people.

 

I don't think most Americans would say the same.

 

Yeah, tbh this thread doesn't seem to reflect national sentiment according to polling data.

Economic Mood Improves, but Inflation Still Vexing Americans.

"45% rate economy as poor; 63% say it is getting worse, not better...

63% say high prices pose a severe or moderate financial hardship."

Of course this is judging based on "the economy." "Better off" is a more arbitrary standard.

But I think the two primary areas people care about with respect to Presidents are the economy and foreign policy.

 

As conservative/libertarian as I am...I am ready to build a wall.

At least most coming here are of like mind and seeking the amazing opportunities and freedom we provide. But we do not need more concrete! I feel good about our place in Palm Coast. But even there the development is popping up on US 1. I hate it!

 

Not to butt in but at some point it should click that blaming everything wrong in your life on some temporary restrictions put in place in the face of a world wide pandemic that killed millions is a coping mechanism that has better alternatives. Many people seem to be utter shook by change. Covid really changed the way we live - work from home, food delivery, streaming and binge watching, reduced travel, streaming churches... etc. I think you conservatives are utterly shaken by the changes that happened as a result of covid and you all are in a death spiral of anger and sadness. Good luck man.

 

Didn't you pull that QL muscle throwing something at the TV when Biden was on?

 

No, hurt hit suddenly twisting towards a stupid comment I saw on TH.

 

If you actually think I am moping around about me…you are sorely mistaken.

This is about the damage done to those without the means of someone like you or me…

 

Late to the party, but also vastly better off than 4 years ago. Net worth was already substantial, up 140%. Income up more than 25%. Also get to work from home now, great for quality of life.

And no, not just another rich old white guy. Mid 40s DINKs....so middle-aged?