Below is a review of the posts on Facebook and LinkedIn from the past week. You can check out the full posts by clicking on the links.
NOTE: remember that we now post every other day.
The posts on Monday 8/17/2026, here and here, told us that abandoned construction site becomes ‘coyote condo”. Read on.
The corner property in West Hollywood was expected years ago to be transformed into a condominium development that could house dozens of people. But recently the now-abandoned construction site has become home to a new pack of Southern California natives — the four-legged variety — earning it the nickname “coyote condo.”
The coyotes appear to have made themselves quite comfortable in their new home. Nearby residents say the coyotes lounge in the sun on unfinished balconies, take in a bird’s-eye view of the neighborhood and, of course, communicate with one another. The types of things human occupants might do, except these are not humans.
One neighbor found a silver lining about his new neighbors – see the post. Others are not so enthused about the same thing – again see the post. While they aren’t angry about the coyotes, they want the city to do something about the abandoned site.
The housing project, which was billed as a four-story, 22-unit residential condominium development, has been in the works since at least 2017, but appears to have stalled several years ago. It was slated to replace eight units on four parcels, according to city records. An Instagram account associated with the development hasn’t been updated since July 2022.
Nearby residents also provided a bit of history about prior occupants of the property. Yup, see the post.
NOTE: if you haven’t yet, look at the photos embedded in the post to get the mental picture.
TAKEAWAY: there are sometimes complaints when a new condominium or planned community is being developed. But what happens when construction stalls long before units are ready for occupancy? This is but one example.
The posts on Wednesday 8/19/2026, here and here, noted man downsized to a condo at 68. The home-sale profit doubled his Medicare premium. Be careful – this is all part of future / estate planning – work with a professional.
A 68-year-old widower sold the four-bedroom colonial he had owned since 1994, moved into a low-maintenance condo, and pocketed a check large enough to feel like freedom. A dream, right? Well … two years later, a bill for his Medicare Part B premium arrived at exactly twice the standard amount. Nothing about his lifestyle had changed. His 2024 tax return had.
Here’s the technical explanation: the 2026 IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount)surcharge kicks in when 2024 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for joint filers. How many Part B beneficiaries pay IRMAA at all? See the post. For retirees who triggered a one-time income spike two years ago, their tax return may feel like old news. But the Medicare bill is just arriving now.
The two-year lookback locks in 2024 income
Social Security generally sets each year’s IRMAA using the person’s tax return from two years prior, meaning that the 2024 return drives 2026 premiums. The 2025 return drives 2027. The 2026 return will drive 2028. And so forth. Unfortunately, a subsequent drop in income does not erase a voluntary home-sale gain unless a qualifying life-changing event also applies.
How the MAGI for IRMAA is determined is in the post. Taxable capital gain from a home sale that survives the primary-residence exclusion (remember this can shield up to $250,000 of gain for a single filer or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) counts for MAGI determination purposes.
That’s what hit the widower. He bought the house for $180,000, sold it for $520,000 after selling costs and improvements, and realized a gain of about $338,000. As a single filer, the widower shielded $250,000 of the sale proceeds and reported the remaining $88,000 as long-term capital gain. Adding to that about $52,000 of taxable Social Security, pension income, and interest, and his 2024 MAGI cleared $140,000.
What the second IRMAA tier costs in 2026
CMS published the 2026 brackets on November 14, 2025. The premium for the standard Part B premium cis noted in the post (and it increased from 2025). The widower’s MAGI of $140,000 places him in the second IRMAA tier for single filers (which covers the income range noted in the post). In that tier, the surcharge matches the standard premium dollar for dollar, doubling it.
And then Part D piles more on top (in the amount noted in the post). The one saving grace for the widow: IRMAA is redetermined annually. The hope that holds out for him is described in the post.
Another (small) ray of light is that the 2026 IRMAA income thresholds rose by only about 1% over 2025, reflecting a modest CPI-U adjustment. What does that mean for retirees? See the post.
SSA-44 will not save the widower
The form that people often reach for first is not the one needed in this situation. The qualifying life-changing events for which an SSA-44 form would let Social Security recalculate IRMAA are listed in the post, but a voluntary home sale (with one-time capital gain) is not on the list.
So what three things might change the bill for the widower or anyone else in a similar situation? First, model the bracket before signing the listing agreement. Insert some numbers into a calculation and see whether the sale price will work. An example is in the post.
Next, consider timing before the closing date is set. There are ways to shift taxable income into other years that might help for Medicare premium purposes. Again, an example is in the post. But before just going off on your own, consult a tax professional.
Finally (ok, third), if one of the qualifying events listed in the post actually occurred, file the SSA-44 with supporting documentation. Examples of what would qualify are in the post.
The sale price is not the Medicare number.
Unfortunately a home sale can be the right financial move and still produce a one-year Medicare surprise (like what happened to the widower)..
NOTE: Figures here reflect the 2026 plan year. The sources for alll of the numbers are listed in the post.
TAKEAWAY: The number that matters for these purposes is not the check they get at the real estate closing, but the taxable gain that survives the primary-residence exclusion when added to the rest of the MAGI as a retiree. If and when that combined number crosses an IRMAA line, the premium change will arrive two years later, when the person will not be expecting it.
The posts on Friday 8/21/2026, here and here, talked about the real price of condominium and HOA online rants: how one viral post can trigger costly lawsuits. Living in a homeowners association has its perks — but there are also rules, fees, and, sometimes, disputes.
And when those disputes occur, it is now commonplace for residents to go on the internet to vent their frustrations, with hashtags like those in the post gaining traction. So while it might be tempting to share frustrations on social platforms like Facebook, Nextdoor, or Reddit, doing that can come at a cost. If you live in a condo or homeowners’ association community, think twice before airing your grievances online. Let’s look at the implications if you do that and how you can protect your finances, reputation, and sanity.
Dangers of venting about your HOA. Social media venting brings three major risks:
- Legal exposure. Stating an opinion is fine, but if it goes further (like detailed in the post), it might open you up to a defamation lawsuit. What to do instead? See the post.
- Governing documents. Some HOA covenants, conditions, and restrictions (Declarations or CC&Rs) or Bylaws or Rules and Regulations contain conduct or non-disparagement provisions with fines for violations. Soe examples are in the post.
- Impact on property values. When a community’s public face is full of complaints, every seller in that neighborhood pays for it, including the person who made the post. Some things that have happened as a result of socmedia posts are described in the post. What started out as an argument on social media about gripes with something in the HOA can but a stop to things at the closing table.
How to raise concerns without crossing legal lines. But life happens, right? So when you have an issue with your HOA, take a constructive approach — instead of a confrontational one. What that means, and how to do it, is in the post.
TAKEAWAY: Negative social media posts about your condo or homeowners association might make you feel good in the moment, but could have dire legal implications, including being sued and lowering the market value and salability of your home and others in the community. Just don’t do