Durango — The San Diego Of Colorado When It Comes To Real Estate Investing

Things not always going as planned is par for the course when traveling. As you’ve no doubt surmised, I”ve been without wifi since early Friday morning. I’m writing this as we careen bumpily through the air back to Paradise from Durango via Denver. The thought of turning on the laptop tomorrow morning has me feeling like I used to sometimes when I had to run 15-20 miles while training for marathons. I knew I had to do it, but, well…

The email is gonna be daunting, as Josh, the Brown coming right after the ‘and’ in Brown and Brown, also wasn’t able to access email. Even with slivers of time appearing in our schedule, we either were away from our ‘puters or with someone. Life in the left lane — seminars in Durango. Sweeeeet.

Speaking of seminars. The best question of the day? “What’s yer take on cash reserves?” Thanks fer teeing it up, Big Guy. Gotta love those Sominex Accounts. Old Skool all the way.

So, Durango.

San Diego is still Paradise. But it has nothing, nada, zilch on the infinite gorgeous views offered by Durango. Whether is was by glancing down Main Street downtown, or any of the various places we found ourselves, the views were incredible. Mountains, rivers, streams, farms and ranches with cattle, horses, and whatever else we saw lookin’ back at us. Durango is much like San Diego in some ways. Real estate in Durango was, like San Diego, very high priced.

Though real estate investors there love their town, unlike many Californians, they realize Gettin’ Outa Dodge will be the difference between the retirement of which they’ve dreamed, and a life sentence. Vanessa, our hostess with the mostest, brought her mom, Susan, with us on a side trip to Silverton. She showed us some of the most gorgeous land we’ve seen in person. The views? Ya had to be there. Yet when told she’d need to tax defer (1031) Outa Dodge, using that land, her lower lip quivered only slightly. She knew intrinsically her retirement would indeed be far more abundant using that equity.

‘Course I won’t even get into being 75 years old, retired, and living in a town 10,000 feet in the air (or rather, lack thereof) where almost everything needs to be trucked in. Everything of course except beer. They have their own brewery there. 300 year round residents, and the town has a brewery. Gotta love it when folks know their priorities.

Notice the BawldDNA havin’ it’s way with the younger Brown’s hairline? Just sayin’…

Also met an agent there who knows his stuff. Is Old Skool like me. As very young men, we obtained our licenses in the same era. He was a fun guy with whom to talk — not only about stuff back in the day, but current events. We laughed more than once. It’s not often we find someone like him on our first visit. Bodes well for the future.

Tomorrow I’m gonna show what would happen for the average Durango real estate investor if they stay, vs Gettin’ Outa Dodge. ‘Course in their heart of hearts they realize staying makes no sense, objectively speaking. I realize how tough it is to finally realize the party? She’s over. Time to move on. Had to decide to stop selling San Diego investment properties to our clients ’bout five years ago.

As I told some folks on twitter.com today (@BawldGuy) — My body/mind feels like 80% sawdust, 20% filler. That’s not a good thing. I know this, ‘cuz Grandma once told me as a teenager, that’s how I seemed to her that day. Immediate nap ensued.

Is it time for you to Get Outa Dodge? Yes? Not sure? Here’s how ya find me. Let’s talk ’bout real life consequences of makin’ good decisions now. Purposeful Planning is all about good decision making. Have a good one.

Related posts:

1. Headed For Durango, Colorado — But Why?
2. What Gettin’ Outa Dodge Means To A Real Live San Diego Real Estate Investor
3. Purposeful Planning And Tax Shelter For Real Estate Investing
4. Purposeful Planning, Real Estate Investing, And Analytical Objectivity
5. How Can San Diego Real Estate Investors Improve Their Current Strategy?