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Snowbird Chronicles: Shocking news about the housing market
Plus: A Smokey mountain escape you have to see
Woody
April 11, 2025
Woody here — your part-time retirement whisperer and full-time newsletter wingman.
👋 Good Morning,
We spent hours this week reading fine print (with actual bifocals), decoding trends, and even virtual-touring a wild Airbnb in the mountains — all to bring you something you can’t get from a cable news crawl or your cousin on Facebook.
If this was forwarded to you, don’t miss next week’s edition.
We’re releasing an exclusive free travel experience guide—with unforgettable stays you won’t find in any "Top 10" list.
👉 Subscribe by clicking the link below to receive the free travel guide.
What’s Inside Today’s Issue:
🧓 Full Retirement Age just changed (again) — here's what it means
🏠 Boomers are dominating the housing market… with cash
🏞️ A Smoky Mountain cabin escape with arcade vibes and forest views
✍️ A one-minute challenge to connect deeper (and feel lighter)
💬 Quote of the Day to carry with you
If you were born in 1959, your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is now 66 years and 10 months.
Not 67. Not 66. It’s the Goldilocks of government math.
🎯 Why it matters:
If you planned to retire at 66, your benefits will now be reduced unless you wait longer. Every month counts.
🗣️ What to say over coffee:
“Turns out I’ve gotta work two more months just to get what I earned. I’d laugh if it wasn’t so accurate.”
🏠 Boomers: Still Running the Housing Game
Despite the headlines, boomers are winning the real estate race — with cash offers, strong equity, and fewer financing hoops.
One report showed buyers aged 60+ made the most all-cash purchases of any generation in 2024. Take that, avocado toast.
📦 Why it matters:
Thinking about downsizing or relocating? You’re in control — and it’s a seller’s market for folks who’ve held on to real estate (and sanity) through it all.
It’s a great time to be a boomer!
🏞️ Travel Spotlight: Gatlinburg Cabin Escape with Game Room & Mountain Views
Forget cookie-cutter hotels. This Smoky Mountain cabin is the kind of place that leaves a mark—and we don’t mean the kind from hiking boots.
📍 Located inside Gatlinburg Falls Resort, just 5 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg and 15 from Pigeon Forge. It feels secluded but keeps you close to civilization (and good coffee).
🛏️ Two spacious levels, two full baths, hot tub, and a game room that’s basically a mini arcade — with pool, air hockey, and a 65” smart TV. Perfect for couples, close friends, or a weekend with the grandkids (max 4 adults).
🍽️ The kitchen’s fully stocked, and there’s a cozy fireplace upstairs (for ambiance, not heat).
🚗 Park right out front. No winding paths or confusing lobby codes—just check in, drop bags, and exhale.
🔥 Why we love it:
Real privacy in the woods — with strong Wi-Fi
Decks on both levels for sunrise coffee or hot tub nights
Arcade nostalgia in the basement (you will lose track of time)
🎲 Book your escape to the Smokies (the photos are amazing)
Two decks with rocking chairs - a hot tub on the lower deck and swing on the back upper dec. This is the back of the cabin.
✍️ Challenge of the Week: The 1-Line Gratitude Text
Want to brighten someone’s day and improve your own mood?
Send one person a text with a real thank you.
No fluff. Just say something like:
“I noticed you always refill the bird feeder. I love that.”
“Thanks for checking in last week. Meant a lot.”
It takes 12 seconds. Costs nothing. Pays dividends.
(We’ll share a few reader-submitted lines next week — anonymously, of course.)
💬 Quote of the Day
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." — C.S. Lewis
Jot it down, tape it to the fridge, or say it aloud the next time you doubt yourself.
🌟 Final Thought
The rules keep changing — retirement ages shift, tech gets louder, and life doesn’t come with a pause button.
But here’s what doesn’t change: your ability to stay curious, connected, and in charge of your next chapter.
We don’t accept advertising. No sponsored blurbs. No clickbait.
Every issue is researched, written, and rewritten (again) to make sure it’s worth your time — and we send it completely free.
🫶 If it made you think, laugh, or exhale a little deeper — the biggest compliment you could give is to forward it to someone who’d enjoy it too. (to forward click the forward button and add a familiar friends email).
👂 And if you didn’t like it — tell us (by hitting that reply button, typing your feedback and clicking send)! We only get better with feedback from this community.
See you next week,
—Woody & The Snowbird Chronicles Team
P.S. Next week’s edition includes a free travel guide to one-of-a-kind escapes most people never find. Don’t miss it.
Bonus:
Whatever challenges you’re going through, keep going!
What's one way we can improve? |
🧓 Social Security Just Moved the Goalpost (Again)