61‑year‑old launches third career as flight attendant amid home‑buying crunch

Motivation and rapid airline hiring process

He previously worked as a certified scuba-diving instructor at age 19 and launched a second career around 2008 selling high-end diving trips to affluent customers in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Maldives. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down his scuba-diving market, prompting him to return to Chicago to care for his ill father and spend time with his mother.

He read that major U.S. airlines were hiring thousands of flight attendants and consulted a friend who had worked in the role since 2018. He applied to several airlines and received a face-to-face interview within 72 hours, although personal matters involving his father delayed his final commitment.

Training class includes peers over 60 and their outlook

During his training, he discovered other candidates aged 64, 67, and 70. He refers to people over 50 as "Better than 50" and says Gen-X workers bring maturity, flexibility, a strong work ethic, and good listening skills.

His personal mantra for interacting with passengers is "I hear you".

New routes and advice for career pivots

He has traveled to international cities including San José, Guadalajara, Vancouver, and Montreal since becoming a flight attendant. His domestic flights have included stops in Colombia, South Carolina, and Durango, Colorado.

He advises anyone considering a lifestyle pivot to follow a calling they have not tried before, saying it is worth taking a risk.

Parents rush to save for children’s down payments

Blaylock said people "can’t just rely on pennies from heaven" to secure a property. The survey showed that 14% of parents have already saved for a down payment, while 20% have saved for their child’s college education.

Among those who received this family money, 71% expect to pay it back.

Affordability squeeze as income thresholds rise

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta tracks that qualified income for homeownership should not exceed 30% of annual income. As of August, that threshold was $126,849, while the median household income is 32% lower.

He added, "Well, that’s less likely today".

Bennett Parrish of J.P.