Retirement Crisis in America (Sarasota, USA, price, household)
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I agree that this factor in housing is what makes it hard to have enough money to retire on. On the other hand that expensive housing might be the retirement vehicle for people now.
The high wage areas like the bay area allowed people to spend way more on housing than would seem prudent.
I got into the same discussion in a Ca forum about affordability saying the people that make big $$ probably like Ca because it is a nice place and they can afford it. Of people that bought early, rode the appreciation but got their property taxes locked in at a low rate because of prop 13 or okay to. But for people trying to get settled now and buy a house it is daunting.
The other poster didn't seem to think that was much of an issue as he was retired in a lower cost area of Ca and was all set not caring about others struggling now.
Don't forget those that bought in 2009-12... a buy of a generation... the clock had been set back 20+ years in some areas like mine...
My neighbors bought nearly twice the home I have and 45 years newer back in 2012 and we pay almost the same property tax and I bought 9 years prior in 2003
The state basically takes care of older folk who retire broke. Heck, not just retired people either. I know some people working at Walmart and other low wage jobs that get HUD, food stamps, medicaid, etc. It's really the middle class that gets the shaft in this country.
YEP! My SIL purposely works a low paying job and refuses to marry her boyfriend so she can get all the government assistance that she can qualify for, free child care, food stamps, utility payment breaks, etc. She was offered a promotion with full time hours and she turned it down because she would lose her "benefits". That's what's wrong with this country, people who abuse the system. I've said it before, there needs to be a time limit on it!
Prices are significantly driven by school desirability. The best school districts are in the top economic districts (i.e. - richest districts with a lesser number of students from economically disadvantaged households) The top NoVA (Northern Virginia) complaint is about traffic, as Fifty Percent Off said. Taxes - eh. Not as high as Maryland, and not that high compared to other states up north such as NY.
Prices are significantly driven by school desirability. The best school districts are in the top economic districts (i.e. - richest districts with a lesser number of students from economically disadvantaged households) The top NoVA (Northern Virginia) complaint is about traffic, as Fifty Percent Off said. Taxes - eh. Not as high as Maryland, and not that high compared to other states up north such as NY.
You have no idea of what you are talking about. Nica is a poor country, but has an amazing culture and abundant amounts of food. It literally grows on trees. The people live a simple life. You can get Zika in many places, even Florida. Nica has a high quality health care system which supports expats for $300 a year. That’s right, a year. Nica is in Central America not South America. They had a revolution back in the 80 and 90s and it was supported by the US. The revolution ended a possible communist regime. The country has been in peace for well over 20 years. Some parts of Nica were once colonies of England and the main language in those parts is English (Corn Islands, etc.). They have amazing museums and ancient ruins. Hell, I walked in a guys back yard and there were literally ancient inscriptions carved into rocks in his back yard. They have an Amazing University in Leon. The second oldest in Central America. You can drink their water, although just like here in the US, I’d filter it. In fact, my stomach was the strongest it has ever been when I was there. No processed foods, etc. I did not witness nor hear about anyone being abused. I only hear about that here in the US regarding our movie stars and politicians.
Besides the point though. My point is that if you are struggling in retirement here in the US, there are many places around the world where your dollar will go a lot further. Stop living a boring life.
A good friend of mine moved to Ecuador last July and after several months determined she will never live in the states again. No GMO foods, fresh foods, you don't have cars, you use taxis, buses or walk and she has lost 20 lbs. Health care In Ecuador is rated higher than the US. Yesterday I sold my RV to a couple who lived in Phoenix and his sister had 3 back surgeries and she was on various pain killers and drugs, she literally was dying. She moved to Ecuador, got off the drugs, she uses marijuana for her pain killer and they said she is a changed woman living her life happy again. His mother joined the daughter and the mother is from Ecuador and she is getting a dual citizenship and her health care will cost her $75 a month. You can live cheaper and the pace of living is slower. People in 2nd world countries value their families. Another friend moved to the coast of Ecuador and she is doing amazing. She bought rental property there.
A good friend of mine moved to Ecuador last July and after several months determined she will never live in the states again. No GMO foods, fresh foods, you don't have cars, you use taxis, buses or walk and she has lost 20 lbs. Health care In Ecuador is rated higher than the US. Yesterday I sold my RV to a couple who lived in Phoenix and his sister had 3 back surgeries and she was on various pain killers and drugs, she literally was dying. She moved to Ecuador, got off the drugs, she uses marijuana for her pain killer and they said she is a changed woman living her life happy again. His mother joined the daughter and the mother is from Ecuador and she is getting a dual citizenship and her health care will cost her $75 a month. You can live cheaper and the pace of living is slower. People in 2nd world countries value their families. Another friend moved to the coast of Ecuador and she is doing amazing. She bought rental property there.
Great to hear and congrats to them. I love the US, but there are much better places in the world to retire, especially if you are broke.
A good friend of mine moved to Ecuador last July and after several months determined she will never live in the states again. No GMO foods, fresh foods, you don't have cars, you use taxis, buses or walk and she has lost 20 lbs.
The whole "don't have cars" so have to walk more doesn't make sense since she could have walked in the US as well, why not just ditch her car in USA and walk everywhere? Also with the no GMO foods thing, how is the water quality there? How about no restaurant standards or inspections? Is she enjoying washing all her fresh veggies in water she had to boil two hours earlier to make it clean? The meats that are hanging in the butcher shop in the heat with flies on it, the kid occasionally waving a plastic bag attached to a stick to shoo them when she bothers to look up from the TV? How about not being able to flush toilet paper, does she like piling that into the trashcan next to the toilet and considering the hygiene of it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Granite60
Health care In Ecuador is rated higher than the US.
No, it isn't. It might be cheaper, and it is probably a lot better than many people in the US would assume, but it isn't rated higher. US has better trained doctors, better facilities, better standards, just about everything is better except the cost.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Granite60
You can live cheaper and the pace of living is slower. People in 2nd world countries value their families.
Absolutely! You can live cheaper in Ecuador. You can also enjoy power outtages, bars on your windows and razor wire around your roof, corrupt police, civil unrest that can often block highways and disrupt supplies of goods, sidewalks that have holes big enough to fall into, etc. cheaper isn't always better.
Regarding valuing their families, I think overall that is a valid point but only because people in Latin America live with their families more into adulthood. There are plenty of people in the USA who love and care for their families more, and plenty of people in Latin America who treat their families like crap. Spousal abuse and cheating on a marriage are far more an expected/accepted part of the culture in many Latin American countries than in USA, so if you want to factor that into valuing their family have at it.
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I agree with you
