Forget Florida. Why Many Retirees Are Settling Down in Alabama | WSJ Your Money Briefing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 พ.ค. 2024
- The rising cost of living in Florida has caused many seniors to seek more affordable locations to spend their retirement years.
WSJ contributor Cecilie Rohwedder joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why more Americans are choosing to live in Baldwin County, Alabama.
0:00 Why retirees are being priced out of Florida
1:43 Baldwin County, Alabama
2:28 Living expenses in Baldwin County
4:10 Choosing your retirement destination
4:52 Will other cities follow Gulf Shores and Orange Beach?
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#Florida #Alabama #WSJ
I’m a financial advisor in Pensacola, FL, and have many clients who live in Baldwin County. What they didn’t mention in this article is that although Alabama has an income tax, they do not tax passive income, and since their property taxes are low, it becomes an especially sweet deal for those living on social security and pensions.
Ever heard of the Biblical Land Parcel? If you are a true red blooded PATRIOTIC American then you will know by what I mean when I said Biblical Land Parcel.
As I understand it, Alabama doesn't tax Social Security or public pensions.
@@whatsitlike6392Alabama especially the florabama area is being slept on. It’s near the beaches and right on the florida line. All people think about is florida florida florida. Thats why everything is becoming expensive.
Retirees who struggle to meet their basic needs are the ones who could not accumulate enough money during their active years to meet their needs. Retirement choices determine a lot of things. My wife and I both spent same number of years in the civil service, she invested through a wealth manager and myself through the 401k. We both still earning after our retirement.
This is true. I'm in my mid 40's now. My husband and I were following this same trajectory. Last two years, I pulled out my money and invested with her wealth manager. Not catching up with her profits over the years, but at least I earn more. I'm making money even before retiring, and my retirement fund has grown way more than it would have with just the 401(k). Haha.
The Alabama legislature is actually looking to remove any income taxes on IRA, 401k and Pension distributions which would really make it in line with Florida.
Yeah. She made a comment that when there’s no income, there’s “no income tax” was irrelevant. Theses passive income were exactly what I was thinking about. Unless they worked it out to already have the taxes taken out - then this is very much a factor.
Florida homeowners’ insurance crisis.
Sixteen homeowner insurance companies have already pulled out of Florida because they were losing money. Several others that did not pull out, are in receivership!
Florida residents be aware, in 2023 your insurance cost will double and maybe triple.
Native Floridian, nowhere in this country is it cheap to live anymore, especially Florida. Retirement nightmare, myself thinking about just leaving the country. The truth is many won’t be able to afford to retire in the future as we go backwards financially in the US. The middle class has basically disappeared in the last 20yrs.
What countries do you have your eye on? I've never been, but I think Argentina would be a nice practical place.............especially if all your stuff is in USD.
@@ascendant95 go to morelia mexico.. close to usa. health insurance are cheap. dntist are cheap. you can live comfortably on $1200 month
Sadly, I’m thinking I may have to do the same thing. Retirement in the US is just becoming financially unreachable.
I agree, I keep hearing of more stories of retirees going to Spain, Mexico, Ghana, Panama and Costa Rica to save money. I’ve even been urging my parents to consider moving to another country once they decide to retire bc it’s so crazy expensive to live here as a retired person. I can’t imagine having all this hard earned savings from working for so long and realizing that it’s not even enough to survive on. It’s wholly unfair :(
They will just not in the US. Pretty much everybody I know retiring overseas where it'd affordable. Good riddance to the west and it's impending collapse.
Went to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach last year and LOVED IT. Great area that flies under the radar for those living up north.
Well balanced description of Alabama. Loved the in depth pros and cons for alabama.
Agreed
It used to be that people lived in NY and spent the winter in Florida.
Now people live in Florida and go to North Carolina in the summer.
Homestead keeps property taxes low.
Isn't it just as hot and humid in North Carolina in the summer give or take? lol If I was one of those people I'd go to Maine or Canada or someplace like that in the summer.
North Carolina isn't any cheaper. The entire South is expensive now due to transplants except for maybe Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama.
@Jesus Christ the usual problem with well developed pretty areas around the world.
@@JesusChrist2000BC Before you act Christ-like and blame Yankees for all of your problems, you might want to look at prices that Yankee scum have to pay up north. In Flint, Michigan where the water is toxic, a shoebox house of about 900 square feet costs $1600 a month. The South is still cheaper. Don't fly that flag just yet.
People are finally discovering what so many of us have already known. I was recently interviewed on Fox and friends about this exact situation.
Dauphin Island south of Mobile is also a growing destination for retirees in Alabama. It’s a chill beach town.
I’ve been diligently working, saving and contributing towards financial freedom and early retirement, but the economy so far since the pandemic has eaten away most of my portfolio, what I want to know is this: Do I keep contributing to my portfolio in these unstable markets or do I look into alternative sectors.
Just try to diversify your portfolio to other market sectors, that way your investment is balanced and you don’t get to make so much losses.
I’m a contractor, and my job doesn’t permit me the time to properly analyze my holdings/evaluate stocks myself, so I’ve had a fiduciary actively restructuring my portfolio for the past 7 years now to match the present market condition and that’s how I’ve been able to stay afloat, knowing when to buy and sell…maybe you should do the same.
@@MarkFreeman-xi3rk I’ve been looking to switch to an advisor for a while now. Any help pointing me to who your advisor is?
In fact, I'm not sure whether I'm permitted to say this, but I'd suggest searching for “Margaret Johnson Arndt” as she gained a lot of attention in 2017. She is both my coach and the manager of my portfolio.
Thanks, I just googled Margaret and I'm really impressed with her credentials. I reached out to her since I need all the assistance I can get.
Alabama has beautiful beaches like Florida no one ever thinks about that and they are underrated.
Yep! That’s because some people like to do what everyone else is doing. Me personally I’m the type of person that likes to do the opposite of what the majority of people do. Never follow the crowd.
They get you with the sales tax. 9-11% is common and unprepared food is taxed. I lived in Tuscaloosa from 09-13.
I’m considering the Huntsville area for retirement (along with Tennessee). I wouldn’t ever consider Florida. It’s just as hot in Florida as here in Houston, and Florida is even more vulnerable to Hurricanes. Alabama does have a 5% income tax, but property taxes are next to nothing. And Huntsville has lots to do and is full of nerdy engineers like me.
Plus Mardi Gras, Food Festivals low cost of living room for a garden or farmer's markets. Fresh seafood, music and arts and crafts festivals along the coast, fresh water and salt water fishing excursions.
Yes!!!
thank you for this information
Having grown up in Orange Beach, housing prices, constant construction, and traffic is already out of control. Snowbirds have been coming down here for years and it’s small town feel is long gone. Retire in your home states.
She's definitely right. All the places she named aren't too far from each other, as far as Pensacola, Daphne, Fairhope, Mobile, etc. Much more congested. Right where fl and al border pretty much.
Gulf Shores is rather well known destination. Not seeing it as a big deal like wsj is pushing.
Many people don't understand those towns like Gulf Shores AL, Gulf Port MS. and other southern gulf towns are some of the best kept secrets that not many people consider living.
Correct!
Yep, I went to the University of South Alabama, Mobile
@@flame-sky7148 me too!
Cool, I used to love going down to Pensacola
Even better yet. Retire overseas and its 10x more affordable than ANYWHERE in the US. Get out while you still can.
This makes it seem that it is all about money. I couldn’t be happy so far away from family and friends. My family will double up be fore we move so far away from each other
The host could not even put a map of Alabama, especially the location of Baldwin county, when Cecile was talking about it for the audience's convenience. What a shame...
She said because cost of living is cheaper in Alabama, everything is therefore more affordable in Alabama, like massages, dinners, grocery bills, and gas. That's not true. 😂😂😂
I moved from Austin, Texas, to McAllen, Texas. Overall, Austin, Texas is 64.2% more expensive than McAllen, Texas; but that's only in housing. Food is cheaper in Austin, massages are the same price, gas is cheaper in Austin. The only thing cheaper in McAllen, Texas, is housing. 🤣🤣🤣
Ha! I just started looking at Alabama
It’s a great place!
Looking for a nice work opportunity with rv lot for my 5th wheeler (FL, AL)
thanks
I hope Alabama stays affordible when me and my wife retire in 20 years.
It won’t be. My family owns two homes in Fairhope and Spanish Fort, Alabama in Baldwin County and the prices just keep rising because of the continual massive influx of people into this area
I'm guessing it's just cheaper
If you must retired in either state…that’s is very bleak…
FL is overrated. Insurance, housing (renting) costs and property taxes are too high
And its hot and humid 8 months a year!
Hurricanes and traffic have gotten pretty bad. I visited in March and the traffic was so bad when and it wasn't even rush hour!?!?!
@@WELVAS. bs , if you want to see a traffic go to Boston or New York.
@@romanromanowski9038 Do they at least drive on the correct side of the road there?
Absolutely❤
Forget Alabama. Why many retirees are settling down in Europe.
🎤….and this Snowbird you cannot change. Noooo, and this Snowbird you cannot change.
Florida’s problems are way bigger than elevated home prices and getting worse. For example it’s nearly impossible to find homeowners insurance and it’s so bad for businesses you can’t get proper home or auto repair services in some areas. Bad governance is behind most of what’s wrong.
Nonsense. Florida's problem is that too many people wants to live i t.
@Hussein Suleiman same problem is what's causing the housing crisis in Seattle and Silicon Valley areas.
@@Jenn_80you can get your house insured in Seattle or Cali no problem but who wants to insure FL?
Governance is why Florida is booming with people and companies moving there. The problem is the growth is so fast that services and infrastructure can’t keep up.
Same issue with SC where we live.
@@SC_LFC you're only looking at one aspect. As a New Yorker myself the only positive thing governance-wise is the lack of sales tax, but that's been going on forever. As a result the property tax is through the roof.
The bigger thing that makes Florida attractive to high income earners like myself and my friends is the tropical weather, sun, and palm trees. That's really the only thing Florida has going for it. There's no real secret sauce their local gov has. FL as a whole is actually worse for violent crime than blue states. If anything their gov is a detractor as lately DeSantis seems to be on a track to be a mini-Trump which is unappealing to more than half the country.
Just need to make sure if you rent it put that you can move in it when you want unlike los angeles where you have to pay them thousands of dollars and sometimes still cant move in
An average 3 bedroom home in South Daytona Beach, FL is around 277k. It depends where you look in each state.
But the average salary is 57,000. You won't qualify for a mortgage unless you put down $100,000.
Old ppl go to the beach, how often?? Can they drive a few hours away?
is this why he sang sweet home alabama?
No thanks 😊
Before watching the video: Because it’s dirt cheap to live in Alabama because it’s not a desirable market 😆
Their senior governor letting out a monster burp on a live breaking news story instantly sold it for me.
Spoken by someone who clearly has never been there
@@SC_LFC I’m sure it has its desirable/nice pockets, I’m talking about the state market as a whole, Alabama ranks 46th in quality of life by US News/World Report and ranked 49th in GDP/capita, meaning compared to the US, people in Alabama have the least money, so yeah I’m sure it’s very easy to retire there if you’re from anywhere else.
@@ItsmarkyoungExactly. Among other issues. WSJ is highlighting small portion of the state.
You have never been to the gulf coast of Alabama.
Have some friends who lost their home in Mobile, Al due of course to a hurricane. Maybe somewhere else in Alabama.
There's a reason the FL panhandle isn't very populated... same goes for the AL and Miss Gulf Coasts... Hurricane Alley! No thanks.
@@jkmarshall3553 We spent 10 years in the Florida panhandle. Hurricanes can be a problem, but we never had a homeowner's insurance claim from a hurricane. One major reason for the low population density is: government. The largest landowner in the panhandle is the US government/US military; military bases are everywhere, and their testing and training areas/ranges encircle every town, and even extend to the water/Gulf Coast.
Born and raised in Baldwin County and this just isn’t actually true. There have only been a handful of times over the last few centuries that anything truly devastating has hit. Maybe you experienced one of those times but there are entire cities and neighborhoods that have been around down there since the 1800s and are still standing.
Need to look at the cost of insurance. Auto and Home Owners insurance are huge cost drivers in FL.
Yup. Betting that Baldw8n being on the coast and do close to FL means HOI will be just as crazy there.
property taxes, 1/3 of what I paid in Illinois, insurance is much less than 1/2 of what I was paying in Illinois.
It’s called the Eastern shire for a reason. A more relaxed laid back lifestyle.
The problem with Alabama is that they are too many Alabamans living there.
You can't have too many Alabamians.
FL & AL the highest crime states = affordable = potential tragedy
but do they have good hospitals and healthcare in alabama
They don't have hospitals in Alabama they are a poor 3rd world state
@@highlymedicated2438 One of the best medical centers in America is in Alabama. Ever heard of The University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center??? If not, you truly ARE highly medicated.
Speaking of things that only happen in Alabama…
Cecilie pronounced “Mobile” wrong! It’s pronounced “Mo-beel”. The second syllable is pronounced with a long “e”. That’s not because of a Southern accent. It’s simply the correct way to pronounce it.
Yep, I actually made a video about this exact thing. I hear it mispronounced all the time.
Who would have imagined Alabama a refuge from fascist Floriduh?
Florida has way to many people
It’s pronounced “Mobeel” not like a mobile phone
Thank you! This woman’s pronunciations are agrivating. “Ala-bahhhhma”…ugh!
Right
@@Jeannified Obviously, she's not a native American-English speaker. From her surname, she's probably originally German, though I would say her English proficiency/fluency is excellent.
@@kenc2257 It's "excellent enough." As a southerner, it just grated my ear to hear those mispronunciations. Not the biggest deal though, in the grand scheme of things.
If you like dry heat the West Coast is great (California and Arizona)
You can live in Seattle in the Summer (avoid the rain) and San Diego in the Winter
Good on these retirees! 😂😅❤😊
Alabama? lol Ok. On a more serious note, the novelty of "living in Florida" wears off anywhere from 3 weeks to 9 months after you relocate. You might like it after the honeymoon period, and you might not. With it being much more expensive than it once was, I'm not seeing a lot of upside. Food for thought.
Something is wrong, why people have to move from place they born they rise they worked and they lived 4 entire life when getting older? Really ? Is that fine?
I moved to Birmingham in 2017 for college after living in Florida my whole life and have fallen in love with Alabama people talk about it being a poor state and I am sure that in some areas that’s true but where I am in Birmingham that’s not the case. Take police for example in Tampa the it’s just one force that covers the entire city but here we have 5 separate police forces within 10 miles of downtown
I have been to Birmingham many times because I have family there. It's a hidden gem, imo.
under desantis our inflation is super high which makes simple goods like food and gas incredibly high, let alone rents being more than double what they were and if you own affording insurance for your home is almost impossible
The whole country is facing that, and in Florida its probably better than other places. Ron DeSanctimonious isn't anything special either. Everyone will see that when the orange game show host eats him alive on stage. Blaming meatball Ron for high prices is like blaming Putin for stealing our "sacred democracy" from us.
Are you under the impression that governors control inflation?
Lisa, if you haven't noticed, inflation has effected the whole world, it's not just a Florida thing. Wow, just wow!
Stay away, retire where your lived your entire life. Don’t bring that down here. Unless you’re donating the taxes you didn’t pay to fellow Alabamians.
Tornado alley😮
Tick ... tick ... tick... Florida is about to have a really bad ronnie flu.
Weather? Disappearing shoreline?
There is a world of difference between Fort Lauderdale and Baldwin County, Alabama. I don't think it's a fair comparison, You could pick a small town in Florida as a better comparative example.
They’re not comparing BalCo to FTL, they’re saying FTL is a traditionally retired in city and people can’t afford to go there anymore so they’re going to places like BalCo.
AlaBAMa MoeBill come on lady!
THANK…YOU…!!! Her pronunciations are TERRIBLE!!!
Everyone keeps stealing my ideas 💡
I retire in Thailand.
Where in Thailand? They speak English? What about medical care? Medicare won’t pay in Thailand
@@TheTruthSeeker756 Bangkok. Best for you to do a site visit. If you are a US Citizen then you can visit Thailand for 30 days without visa. But Check with Thai Consulate in USA. Thailand is OK for me but MAY not for you. Above all I can speak Thai language since many do not speak English here.
Alabama?? Why not just leave the US? So many retirees leaving this madhouse. Cheap but excellent health care, affordable housing. Great culture.
⭐
Good luck with that 😂
Of course the South is awesome. What about the H word .." Hurricanes" ?
Honestly i’ve lived in Baldwin County since 2011 and we’ve only had one bad hurricane and it was all right besides some docks getting destroyed and trees falling down. And this hurricane season we didn’t have a single hurricane so really it’s not very serious usually
I don’t like somebody with a foreign accent (even though it may be European) telling me about retirement in America.
I bet you, this lady has never been closer than 1,500 miles to Alabama.
There are 350 million Americans in this country, they couldn’t find anybody else to interview about retirement living in Alabama?
Cause it is cheaper ! That’s why!
Forget infrastructure and comfortable living, just come on down to Alabama, the shangrai-la of American housing market 😂
They ran out of states to sell huh?
Just took a look and the houses in that county are also overpriced unfortunately.
Yeah “small town feel”……until pieces like this are made and spread, and too many people move there.
The WSJ doesn't really have a "breaking news"/scoop here. These 2 reporters are discussing current trends.
Alabamas fine as long as you fit their color spectrum.
If you do not love the beach do not live in Florida. I love the beach.
Alabama is a place to go when you really really love your cousin.
They tax on food
If you wanna be successful , you most take responsibility for your emotions , not place the blame on others . In addition to make you feel more guilty about your faults , pointing the finger at others will only serve to increase your sense of personal accountability . There's always a risk in every investment , yet people still invest and succeed . You must look outward if you wanna be successful in life
Well said!
I hope every northeastern person watches this.
Why?
@@Jenn_80 red team success = bad (probably).
@Brian Cullen But IF thats what D Mac meant, how is it a red team success? Northeastern folks movin from one red state (FL) to another red state (AL) ... this is why I don't understand her comment at all 😆
And by the way... i live in Mobile, Alabama and the female "expert" didn't even say the city name "Mobile" correctly.
It is NOT pronounced like the word mobile phone.
I read that Baldwin County is a white flight area with a median age of 42.
Then fly bitch
One of the poorest states I've ever been in. Found it embarrassing. Didn't want to get out of the car
It was not the highlight of my relocation from Florida to Texas in the Uhaul...................that's for sure. Mo-beeel looked pretty depressing too.
A bit of a snob, aren’t you…….????
That was YOUR loss.
These reporter are totally clueless. they have forgot that the coastline of that area get hit by hurricane multiple time a year. also home insurances must be very high for that very reason. so it doesnt matter if your ptoperty tax low cuz insurance will make you sell. reality is southern states on the coast are under thread. i would move to new mexico with no known natural disasters or move to mexico. a city like morelia, leon or puebla. if you like hot and humid close to water then try merida
Merida has got to be so ridiculously hot... I've been looking at Xalapa. The weather year 'round is amazing because of the elevation, and if you need that hot humid mess, Veracruz is only an hour or two away on the Gulf Coast.
@@jkmarshall3553 puebla is great if you want good weather
76% of Baldwin County voted for Trump. Nope, not for me.
@@708robertd Tell that to the families of all the gun shooting victims in Texas. I'm sure they would prefer to live somewhere where the government keeps making it easier for people to get guns and assault rifles. Same story with abortion. If you don't think about or care about politics where you live, there's probably a good chance that it's because you think just like the majority of the people around you.
@@708robertd come to texas lol it'll change your mind. You won't go a day without seeing lets go brandon stickers and trump 2024 flags.
Hallelujah! You want find a lot of Biden voters in Alabama.
It's good that you like to stay in line with your cult and only live amongst "other believers". I hear the new mayor of Chicago is making Beetlejuice look like Barry Goldwater lol. Good luck with that.
@@ascendant95 If my "cult" can keep kids from getting shot at school, or not force me to give birth to my raper's baby, I'm fine staying in it.
Are there any “warm” states where a person of color can live peacefully and have their grandkids. Is it without being followed. Seriously, I’m sadly reminded of why my grandparents left the south. Some of my friends have moved south for economic reasons but I don’t feel comfortable with the idea.
Until this world goes away, don't count on it. All red necks
Maybe Georgia. Also Sarasota FL has a nice Black professional retirement class
The South actually has more black people than anywhere else in the country and it’s not the 1860s or 1960s anymore so it’s incredibly unfair to place those times and those people on the people of today.
Hurricanes, anyone?
....and the South shall rise again. I bet none of the newbies will admit they hated it all their lives and insuted the people there for generations. Now they can only survive in the south beceause the newbies destroyed thier cities they came from.
No facts, please.
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I think I saw your comment somewhere else. Thank you.
Sir this is a Wendy’s
Alabama is the best state.
😅 Any pathetic method to attack the most successful state not destroying itself.
WSJ Agenda is strategically dull 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Just don’t bring your crazy politics over here lol !!!
Ever heard of the Biblical Land Parcel? If you are a true red blooded PATRIOTIC American then you will know by what I mean when I said Biblical Land Parcel.
BAHAHAHHA how can I take this seriously when this "expert" is not even pronouncing the city name "Mobile" correctly.
A perfect state for the post-menopausal...
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Idiot pronounces Mo-BEEL as Mo-Bul.
Another plus is not having a fascist governor.
I'd rather have him than the clown in California any day!
Keep shopping at target groomer…
lol when the local racism isn’t strong enough…