We have two kinds of criteria, the house itself, and the location. Right now we are mainly working with location criteria, scouting out areas we like and don't like. Here is what we are finding:
1. We both do poorly in heavily wooded areas.
2. We both love open meadows.
3. Neither of us wants to drive windy mountain roads in winter. I don't want to drive them in summer.
4. Prefer to live within 10 minutes of a grocery store and hardware store.
5. Would love to be within 15 minutes of sizeable water.
6. Would love to have a decent library, church music program, and vintage movie theater.
7. Prefer historic areas.
9. Would like an area with other retirement age people, but a mix of ages is very good.
10. Prefer to live in an area without Trump signs.
11. Nice to be within half an hour of Lowe's or home depot.
12. Prefer to be within 1.5 hours from family, but will consider up to 2.5 hours.
13. Must be affordable.