white collar work now have a ton of people looking for work at the same job. So business can get people to work for less money then before.

However if you work as a division head and head a east coast part of a company. Then you are in demand. My oldest son does that work. He is in his forties. Been in sales his whole working life. He could retire now if he wanted too.

He never bought a house because that can keep you in one area. He rather lease a house.