Investments strategy with new administration?

[ultrarunner]

Things just turned very weird.

ALL federal grants are suspended. Health care, transportation, education, food, water, safety, research, military support, FEMA disaster recovery, everything. Simply put, this can crash the economy. Musk declared that was his intention, maybe we should have listened.

https://archive.ph/XOcr9

And:
Here's a discussion that includes people who learned they instantly don't have a salary.

Jyoutz, got a backup plan? Ultrarunner? Is anybody here a farmer? Or a veteran?

Sure glad I'm retired. Used to make my living tracing the use of Federal funds on large public works projects to verify they were applied as intended.

Rents have been holding for me but my units are clean and good renters may go years without a rent increase…

A few years ago the Oakland Unified School District made every employee come in person to pick up a paper check…

The result showed people no longer working for the district, deceased or no longer residing in the State were getting automatic deposits every 2 weeks.

Many were not happy but it demonstrated no one was watching the payroll.

They did something similar with district cell phones and found people that had retired or deceased or had left the district still had active district phones.

Maybe a freeze on the Federal Level is similar?

I believe Social Security and Medicare not affected???

 

[ultrarunner]

I was in San Jose a few weeks ago and I was surprised at all the vacant commercial properties. There were still lots of big-name companies there, Samsung, Cisco, etc., but I sensed things weren't as bustling as they once were. Part of that might be that many employees are still working remote.

I think some other parts of the country have started popping up as tech communities. I saw a story about areas in the Midwest courting these industries, with affordable housing, fun lifestyles etc. I don't think they can ever match the weather, activity and beauty of California. But all those charms aren't worth a lick, if everyone living there is house-poor and struggling to have a life.

Know several that are only shells in California…

Chevron world headquarters is one huge employer with a beautiful campus that is no more… bulk to Texas..

Several under 30 tech I know transferred out of California to Austin… very happy and now own homes.

 

[gsganzer]

Know several that are only shells in California…

Chevron world headquarters is one huge employer with a beautiful campus that is no more… bulk to Texas..

Several under 30 tech I know transferred out of California to Austin… very happy and now own homes.

I know, they've driven our TX housing costs up considerably. I think Governors Rick Perry and Greg Abbott have spent a little too much effort at enticing people/companies to move to TX.

 

[jyoutz]

Rents have been holding for me but my units are clean and good renters may go years without a rent increase…

A few years ago the Oakland Unified School District made every employee come in person to pick up a paper check…

The result showed people no longer working for the district, deceased or no longer residing in the State were getting automatic deposits every 2 weeks.

Many were not happy but it demonstrated no one was watching the payroll.

They did something similar with district cell phones and found people that had retired or deceased or had left the district still had active district phones.

Maybe a freeze on the Federal Level is similar?

I believe Social Security and Medicare not affected???

There are no retired or separated federal employees with phones or other equipment unless they are doing contracted work for the government. All government property is turned in at the required employee/supervisor close out meeting. Also, no retired or ex-employees receiving a standard paycheck. We have to submit a timesheet to our supervisor and they certify every two weeks.

 

[ultrarunner]

I know, they've driven our TX housing costs up considerably. I think Governors Rick Perry and Greg Abbott have spent a little too much effort at enticing people/companies to move to TX.

I’ve seen the ads saying Texas is open for business

 

[two_bit_score]

Especially since there’s so much work to be done with hazardous fuels reduction in our National Forests.

The real question is why did yall allow it to get so bad to start with? Now, you claim it's time to fix the problem you actually created in the first place?

 

[two_bit_score]

I know this is happening. New hires are being told that they don’t have a job. It’s really sad for these young graduates. Especially since there’s so much work to be done with hazardous fuels reduction in our National Forests.

Probably time to cut some of the older "deadwood" staff too.

 

[two_bit_score]

Of course! but will we see a property tax rebate?? NO!

I think houses have been overvalued by CAD for a few years now, my 1 acre alone is appraised at $200k! It was about $30K for years.

Hopefully the actual value doesn't drop much in the next 18 months as that's about when we plan to sell and move.

Don't allow "appraisal creep" to rob you of the value of your property. Protest your CAD market value every year. Learn the process and it can be done effectively.

 

[MossRoad]

Also when a 1000 square foot box sells for $1M+. People can go elsewhere and buy a nice estate for those prices.

location location location

Take our sub $200K 1300sf house on 1 acre, move it up to the shore of Lake Michigan 30 miles away and it's +$2M. Heck, there's a vacant 10,000 square foot vacant lot up there for $1.75M.

 

[MossRoad]

I’ve been eligible to retire for a couple of years now so I don’t need a backup plan. But I’m not really concerned about myself or my position. There are 9 agency regions in the U.S. and only 8 others who manage the Regional program that I do. It’s doubtful that the position would be cut. What’s more likely is we will be tasked with doing even more management without filling vacancies and people will burn out. For the most part, both parties have always liked the Forest Service and USDA in general and have treated us ok. I feel bad for the young people just getting started in their careers and they are the reasons why I haven’t retired. I enjoy mentoring them.

Next thing you know you'll be out raking the forest floor.