[quote=bearishgurl][quote=sdrealtor]Like real estate this is nowhere near as easy as you try to make it out to be. You could divide middle class into alot more than 3 levels. . . . I would not consider them all to be same class. Would you?[/quote]

No, I would not, sdr, see my post on wealth distribution. It all boils down to size of cash downpayments and terms of purchase.

Conversely, there is the quintessential CV couple in their mid-eighties who drive a 15-yr-old Lexus. (Came over to Ellis Island as children [TRUE].) Have pd. for home in MC/lower-MC area in perfect cond. inside and out as is their car. Too old to travel but active and content. Still LOADED with $$ so as not to be a burden on their children. THERE ARE LOTS OF THESE OWNERS STILL ALIVE IN SD, sdr. “Wealth” has many different faces.[/quote]

Exactly. You cant measure it by income or by assets alone. How you spend your money has a much to do with what class you fit in as how much you have does.

A construction worker making 200K and running a dune buggy in Glamis is far more lower middle class than a young professional who makes 75K but hangs out playing golf at Dad’s CC every Sunday who is decidely upper middle class.