I agree--cheap for a reason. 1157 people live in Maupin, Oregon, inexplicably. Its cost of living is 3% lower than the national average, which is affordable for the west coast, but boy howdy! Drop a few houses in the middle of dusty scrub land and call it good.
Moving to a lower cost of living place IS a strategy many use. Jp1 for instance has said he will be moving out of San Francisco when they retire.
Where I live, St. Louis, is pretty affordable, but the gang bangers and their coherts in city government will make living here less appealing for seniors at some point. Too bad, this is a great old city.
UL, Columbus isn't as affordable as I would have thought, At least the Historic district of German Village is very expensive. My $250,000 house would be $500,000 there. I loved what I saw of Columbus when I was there a couple of years ago, but I think I was immersed in the best ot it: German Village, and then the big old city park where I took my class. I cant remember the name of the Park but it was nice, along an old boulevard.
Many Californians just move across the border to Nevada for a big reduction in COL. This is one reason our home prices have escalated. Can’t blame them because selling their tiny house there lets them buy a nicer house here and extra cash to retire on. Plus they are still driving distance to all the beauty of California.
Hermann, MO is a busy little tourist town of 2,500 with a history component bedrock deep, and many social institutions.
For instance, their feral cat group meets at the library and held a recent event that toured Hermann sites at night, a ghost tour. Fun!
If we ever move there permenantly there is enough going on to keep us busy, although I will say that the town is very focused on kid-school stuff. But that is ok, I could ignoe those parts not interesting to me. The mayor of Hermann moved there a few years ago to retired from being a college prof on the East coast. The president of the garden club is from California.
People in Hermann and surrounds have some money. There is a fair number of second homes, and also big historic farms. The crime is largely 0 but it exists, I read the crime report in the newspaper. Mostly drunk driving and possession charges.
My point in all of this is that there are pockets of activity in many areas that are worthwhile. Choose the climate and topography you like, and then start sussing out a town that looks like it has some balls. So many cheap midwestern towns are dying, ya gotta find those that are not dying. And that is not only to preserve your real estate investment (and that shouldnt be an issue for FIRED Millionaires anyway) but who wants to live in a place where the entertainment is watching loose dogs mosey down the road.
P.s. I am glad we have so many states between us and California for the reasons you all state.
Last edited by iris lilies; 9-13-18 at 2:12pm.
California is a beautiful state and being close by we get to drive their and enjoy it without it being a big trip. Every fall we spend 5 days in Placerville which is less than 3 hours away. Good and bad with everything. I actually prefer water to mountains but can’t afford to live on the water. We have a mild 4 seasons which is important to me. Pretty much paradise which is another reason we keep growing so much. Ugh!
Terry, the desert is not paradise.
I am leaving it all for you, you can have all of it.
IL, Reno is gorgeous. It is high desert. Tahoe is also beautiful. Vegas on the other hand is ugly.
Dude, you think I am not generous of spirit or empathetic, yet hereOriginally Posted by Teacher Terry
I am, leaving all of that gorgeousness for you and your friends and family!
If this isnt taking care of my fellow mankind, then I dont know what is.
We spent a couple of days in Reno last summer on our return trip from Yosemite, I don't remember the gorgeous part. Actually my only memory is the first evening there we walked to a nearby casino for dinner and afterwards decided to try our hand at the slots for the first time. I lost my initial $10 investment within about 10 minutes although my wife won just over $100 within her first 5 minutes. Being the level headed person she is, she immediately cashed out and used her winnings to pay for our two nights at the campground and the next morning's breakfast.
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein
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