A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor

Good morning, Smart Movers. I had to unsubscribe from a few YouTube channels this week. Clarity is priority — and the algorithms have become a storm of doom and gloom, endlessly instilling fear, lowering confidence, and making us more unprepared for real life.

As a researcher, knowledge seeker, and data diver, I get it — it's my job to go into the weeds, find the real, recent, and actionable relocation and investment news, and beam it back to you. But I also know how much mental weight it can carry when you're just trying to stay informed without getting dragged under.

Here’s what’s happening out there and you’ll spot it in a second once you know.
I hate even calling them "content creators," because most aren’t creating anything. They're repackaging fear—dark, directionless, and profitable. They aren't even-keeled. They’re anchors, dragging masses into a sea of anxiety without a lifeboat in sight.

They’re using the same secret sauce mainstream news perfected decades ago: fear, doom, bad news, no solutions, and endless scare tactics — wrapped neatly in a clickbait title and thumbnail, featuring their faces twisted into anything but a damn smile. The perfect gift, with a nice bow on top.

Here’s what I commented to one of them just yesterday.

Now I know what some of you might say:
"But Strizzy, it's dark out there — there are wars, prices are insane, mental health is collapsing, crime is rampant — it’s real!"

And you're right. I'm not here to sugarcoat it. The storms are real.
But the question is: where are the solutions?

Because real sailors, real movers — we don’t just point at the waves.
We plot a course through them.

Those doom merchants you see aren’t incentivized to give you solutions. If they actually showed you how to survive and thrive, how to build a War Chest, gain skills, relocate smart, invest smart, they’d lose their anchor point. They’d lose your constant attention.
They’d have to sail their own damn ship.

Scroll through their old posts, last year, two years ago — you'll notice the pattern.
"Collapse coming today."
"Everything ends tomorrow."
"The system is exposed."
Always dangling the "end of the world" like a carrot you can never quite catch.
Meanwhile, real life … your life … is waiting.

What could you have done with two years of steady, strategic action instead of riding their constant waves of fear?

I’ll tell you:
You could have built a small fortune.
You could have relocated to a better state.
You could have stacked cash, assets, skills, and peace.

Unsubscribe from anything that doesn't serve your goal, your purpose, or your path.
Cut the anchor. Raise your own sail. You’ll feel lighter immediately.

On the flip side, steering from the AFT, I’m uploading a brand new video to The Strizzy Report YouTube Channel today.
This isn’t theory or hype — it’s exact steps to learn how to identify cities, towns, and counties that are on the rise.
Real methods to spot major development, infrastructure upgrades, and capital flows so you can position yourself early — before the mainstream catches on.

We’re not passengers here. We’re captains.

Stay focused. Stay free. Stay smart.

🏠 Real Estate Update: “Price Cuts” Are Spreading

Price Reductions: As of April 20th, 35% of active listings nationally have reduced asking prices. (Redfin Data)

Top Cities with Price Drops:

• Phoenix, AZ (-5% YoY median home price)

• Austin, TX (-4.2% YoY)

• Boise, ID (-3.7% YoY)

Mortgage Rates: 30-year fixed sitting at 6.62% — still double pre-2022 rates.

Builder Confidence: Down for the second month straight. Permits for single-family homes dropped 9% month-over-month.

🏠 Reality Check: Builders and sellers are flinching. Renters hold the power through summer 2025.

🏙️ City of the Week: Rapid City, South Dakota

If you want a place that’s quietly building wealth while the rest of the country battles high costs and bad policy, look at Rapid City.

Tucked against the Black Hills, Rapid City has been steadily rising as one of the best-kept secrets for Smart Movers — not because it’s trendy, but because it’s fundamentally strong.

✅ Median Home Price: ~$340,000 (well below national average)
✅ No State Income Tax: Keep 100% of your remote income
✅ Stable Economy: Anchored by healthcare, tourism, and small business growth
✅ Infrastructure Growth: Broadband expansion + $100M in local upgrades underway
✅ Remote Worker Friendly: Co-working hubs, entrepreneurial support, and lifestyle freedom
✅ Population Growth: 7% increase since 2020 — and still not overcrowded

You won’t find Wall Street execs setting up shop here.
What you’ll find are working families, remote workers, small business owners, and veterans — people trading stress and high taxes for mountains, mobility, and manageable living.

Rents? Still averaging under $1,400 for a 2-bedroom.
Groceries? Cheaper than Denver and most major metros.
Gas? Consistently below the national average.
And the local government? Focused on growth, not squeezing every penny from its residents.

It’s not flashy. It’s not hyped. And that’s exactly why it’s powerful.

Smart Movers aren’t chasing what’s "hot." We’re planting flags where freedom, fundamentals, and future growth actually align.

Rapid City’s open — but make no mistake: the early window won’t stay open forever.

💸 Money & Markets: Where the Cracks Are Widening

• Credit Card Delinquencies: Now at a 13-year high. Bank of America just reported a 16% jump in late payments over Q1.

• Inflation Reality Check: The official inflation rate is 3.5% (Mar 2025), but core essentials like housing, food, and healthcare are up 5–7%.

• Savings Rate: American savings have fallen back to 3.1% — near 2007 levels — while personal debt soars.

• Gold Prices: Hit a new record high — $3,227 per ounce — as investors quietly shift out of stocks.

• Markets: S&P 500 is volatile, rebounding mid-April but experts predict sharp corrections if inflation numbers worsen into summer.

🔎 Translation: Most Americans are spending like it's 2019, but their financial floor is crumbling like it’s 2008.

👉 Smart Movers Stack Cash + Assets — and stay liquid.

🧾 ^{Legislation Moves: Quiet New Taxes You Need to Watch}

🔴 California – Fast-tracking a mansion transfer tax on homes over $2M — even relocators could get hit at closing.

🟡 Arizona – Proposed 15% cap on annual property tax increases statewide — great news if you’re moving in.

🟢 Georgia – Early-stage push to eliminate state income tax entirely by 2028 — still hurdles, but momentum is building.

🔴 Pennsylvania – Quietly raised vehicle registration and driver’s licensing fees effective April 1 — targeting middle-class earners who drive more.

🟢 South Dakota – Expanding broadband infrastructure through public-private partnerships — a major plus for remote workers and rural investors.

Stories and Opinions and Facts

👷🏾‍♀️ Job Market Snapshot: Remote Work Tipping Point

In April 2025, the U.S. economy added 203,000 jobs, with healthcare (+49,000) and professional services (+27,000) sectors leading the way. Growth in outpatient care centers, mental health services, and accounting support roles continues to drive steady hiring. (Actalent)

The transportation and warehousing sector gained 19,000 jobs last month, primarily in last-mile delivery and logistics support, reflecting ongoing strength in e-commerce and supply chain rebuilding. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Meanwhile, manufacturing employment continues its slow decline. Despite heavy political focus, automation efficiencies and global supply shifts have led to job losses in U.S. manufacturing hubs — even Germany, a manufacturing powerhouse, has seen sector-wide employment drops. (Vox)

AI-related job postings have jumped another 62% so far in 2025, with demand strongest for AI software engineers, ethical AI specialists, and prompt engineers. Mid-sized cities like Raleigh, Boise, and Kansas City are quietly building AI-focused economic zones. (Axios)

States like South Dakota (+7.8%), Idaho (+7.2%), and Vermont (+6.5%) are leading in job growth, while major markets like California (-3.1%) and Illinois (-2.7%) are showing net declines in overall employment. Regional strategy matters more than ever for career mobility. (Workforce Analytic Insights)

🔐 War Chest: Your Summer Stack Mission

Before we dive in, let’s be clear — this isn’t financial advice. You should always consult a licensed financial advisor, CPA, or legal professional before making any major money moves. What I’m sharing here is a battle-tested blueprint based on patterns, cycles, and strategies that have consistently protected and elevated smart movers during uncertain times.

Between now and July 31, here’s what we’re locking in:

First, stack your cash reserves.
If you don’t have at least 4–6 months of living expenses sitting somewhere accessible (not locked in a high-volatility ETF), that’s your priority. Think local or regional banks, credit unions, or even high-yield savings accounts. A few to research: Ally Bank, SoFi, LendingClub, and First Republic (regional).

Next, secure physical assets.
I’m not talking about speculation. I’m talking about real things: physical silver, small gold allocations, hard goods like backup power supplies, clean water systems, or even small strategic land plots. If you’re just starting, check out SD Bullion or Money Metals Exchange for physical metals — and look into raw land listings on LandWatch or AcreTrader for small land investments.

Third, focus on debt management.
No new high-interest debt. None. If you’ve got credit cards, personal loans, or adjustable-rate debt dragging you down, start a targeted pay-down plan now. (Resources to check: Undebt.it for free snowball/avalanche payoff planning.)

Fourth, sharpen a high-demand skill.
You don’t need a four-year degree to get recession-proof. One income-producing skill — whether it's tech certifications, remote service skills, cybersecurity, or digital marketing — can reposition your earning power fast. Resources worth checking: Coursera, Udemy, Google Career Certificates, Skillshare.

Finally, map your mobility plan.
If relocation is on your mind (and it should be), pick your top three states now based on taxes, cost of living, lifestyle freedom, and job access. Get a rough plan together before the next interest rate or housing price spike. (Quick resource: use our 12-Month Relocation Blueprint Ebook assist your planning and execution)

At the end of the day, those who stack strategically during the downturn are the ones who feast during the recovery.

🧠 Freedom Puzzle of the Week: Smart Mover Math Challenge (Last week answer: Tennessee)

Scenario:
You earn $90,000 per year working remotely.
You have a family of four and your average annual expenses are:

• Housing: $21,600 ($1,800/month)

• Food: $13,200

• Healthcare: $8,400

• Transportation: $7,200

• Miscellaneous (insurance, school, internet, entertainment): $6,000

Total Core Expenses: $56,400/year

Now, factor in state income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes.

Question:
After taxes and expenses, which state would leave you with the highest amount of money left at the end of the year?

Choose carefully:
A) Texas (no income tax, but high property taxes and rising home insurance costs)
B) Pennsylvania (flat income tax, moderate property taxes, cheaper housing in rural areas)
C) Florida (no income tax, but skyrocketing insurance premiums + coastal risk)
D) South Dakota (no income tax, low cost of living, but harsh winters and fewer services)

🎁 Email your answer to [email protected] with subject “Freedom Puzzle”
We’ll reveal the answer and shout out correct responders in next week’s issue.

Laying low,

Stacy
Strizzy Report & The Comfort Killers

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We’re almost ready to release the Freedom Index App — your tool for comparing states by taxes, cost of living, mobility, and real opportunity.

If you want to beta test before it drops, stay subscribed. Pro members will get first dibs.

▶️ New Video: This Is The New Texas. Texas Was the Move in 2015. In 2025? Look Here Instead.
👉 Watch + Subscribe now at The Strizzy Report YouTube

Also have no fear, I’ll be dropping opportunities when I see them.