Where would you move to in my situation?

[Rockport]

Beautiful place, but insanely expensive.

Not true. Depends on what island.

 

[Rockport]

Not everyone takes it well. I loved it. My wife hated it. Would definitely recommend someone try it out first because saw a lot of haolies come in eager and leave quickly. The further away from Oahu, the more you're roughing it. And yes, big island is cheap, but you're also much more likely to lose your home to lava or an earthquake.

A lot of Cowboys fans in Hawaii, BTW. I know we have quite a few on this board. I met a lot of former players every year they went to the Pro Bowl.

There are 10 lava zones on the Big Island. Just have to pick a house in the higher lava zone. 9 is the safest. My house is in 8. Lava zone 3 is considered safe.

 

[Runwildboys]

You should get a studio apartment in Manhattan. That’ll run you about $400K.

Ick

 

[timb2]

Dallas,TX.

Have a popular football team I heard.

 

[nobody]

Believe me, I've looked and I would love to live in Hawaii. Been to all of the islands except Molokai several times but unless I move to the scorched earth by the volcano on the big island, my money isn't going very far.

The main island of Hawaii was under a blizzard warning recently.

 

[lukin2006]

I wish I was in your situation…but as a Canadian who hates winter and have often travelled south…my favourite US destinations are, Arizona, Florida and SAN Diego. Outside the US, Mexico. Good luck in your decision.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

Dallas,TX.

Have a popular football team I heard.

I've been to the Dallas area many times as an adult. I love the Cowboys, but I don't think I would want to live in the Dallas metro. I actually did live there for a while as a young child.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

I wish I was in your situation…but as a Canadian who hates winter and have often travelled south…my favourite US destinations are, Arizona, Florida and SAN Diego. Outside the US, Mexico. Good luck in your decision.

Thanks man, I appreciate it.

 

[Cowpolk]

Dallas,TX.

Have a popular football team I heard.

Lived in Dallas 65 years retired and moved to Bigfoot country Hated the traffic and violence. Oklahoma has some nice areas Mountains and is a good bit cooler in the summer It snows more here but it is not tons of snow for weeks goes away in a couple of days. But they do have a state income tax

 

[Idgit]

I'm not really into golf cause suck at it. Arizona is definitely on my wish list, but my wife hates the desert. Her Mother lives there and I get along with her, so I would move there. I like Tennessee but have never been to South Carolina or Kentucky. My best friend was stationed in Charleston, SC when he was in the military and hated it, which I always thought was strange. Seems like a cool city to me from the outside.

Northern Arizona, above the rim is really nice. Flagstaff, for example.

St George in southern Utah is pretty great, too. Near Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Vegas. Though maybe not cheap enough if you want some acreage.

 

[Ranching]

That's the difficult part. My wife needs human contact in a way that I don't so there has to be people around. I would be happy with acreage with no one around, but she wouldn't. She's compromised enough that if they are just waving in the distance, it's fine. Years ago, I did live in total isolation for a while, and I'll admit that it does get to you after some time. No contact starts to mess with your head.

South Padre Island TX

 

[Sammy]

If you golf, Myrtle Beach is a nice place, though I don't know how much land you could find.

Myrtle Beach is expensive, but Conway, just a half hour drive inland still has affordable properties with an acre or two. Savannah does too.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

Just a quick update. Our house is on the market here in California and once it sells, we're headed to Florida with no intentions to buy right away. We're going to do some short-term rentals and look at different areas because we're not in a rush. Going to check out some other states too so thanks for everyone's suggestions. I've never been able to do this in my lifetime so I'm looking forward to the possibilities. Real estate is starting to turn a bit where we are with these inflated prices so who knows, we might be able to sell and then benefit when this bubble bursts. Either way, I'm excited for the change.

 

[Xelda]

Just a quick update. Our house is on the market here in California and once it sells, we're headed to Florida with no intentions to buy right away. We're going to do some short-term rentals and look at different areas because we're not in a rush. Going to check out some other states too so thanks for everyone's suggestions. I've never been able to do this in my lifetime so I'm looking forward to the possibilities. Real estate is starting to turn a bit where we are with these inflated prices so who knows, we might be able to sell and then benefit when this bubble bursts. Either way, I'm excited for the change.

Best of luck with the sale of your home. Moving is stressful, so take extra time for yourselves as y'all go through this. I highly recommend pampering such as pedicures and massages.

Wherever you move, consider the weather events of the area. Hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, lava, tornadoes or a boat load of snow. I'm personally against all of those, but it's a pick your poison. When you finally choose, be at peace with your decision and don't forsake your buds at CZ.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

Best of luck with the sale of your home. Moving is stressful, so take extra time for yourselves as y'all go through this. I highly recommend pampering such as pedicures and massages.

Wherever you move, consider the weather events of the area. Hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, lava, tornadoes or a boat load of snow. I'm personally against all of those, but it's a pick your poison. When you finally choose, be at peace with your decision and don't forsake your buds at CZ.

Thank you. What you're saying is so true and you totally nailed it. We've had a lot of discussions about how no place is ever going to be perfect. You may think it is, but you get there and realize it's not. That place doesn't exist on this rock. Makes it easier to prioritize what matters most. If we do settle in hurricane land, I want an escape plan in the form of another property in tornado / earthquake / flooding / lava / tornado / boatload of snow land.

 

[Jammer]

I'm not really into golf cause suck at it. Arizona is definitely on my wish list, but my wife hates the desert. Her Mother lives there and I get along with her, so I would move there. I like Tennessee but have never been to South Carolina or Kentucky. My best friend was stationed in Charleston, SC when he was in the military and hated it, which I always thought was strange. Seems like a cool city to me from the outside.

I'm late to this conversation, but I can understand the hatred for Charleston, SC. It's my hometown and it has exploded in growth the last few years. Traffic is a nightmare for a city its size. I moved to the panhandle of Florida five years ago (the Emerald Coast as they say) and I love it. I spent most of my life in the south so the humidity and heat is a normal thing for me. It sucks during the summer, but right now it's in the mid-70's in December.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

I'm late to this conversation, but I can understand the hatred for Charleston, SC. It's my hometown and it has exploded in growth the last few years. Traffic is a nightmare for a city its size. I moved to the panhandle of Florida five years ago (the Emerald Coast as they say) and I love it. I spent most of my life in the south so the humidity and heat is a normal thing for me. It sucks during the summer, but right now it's in the mid-70's in December.

Charleston sounds like what happened to my hometown, Austin. Way too many people and way too much traffic there now. That's the main reason I'm not moving back. We're very interested in the Florida panhandle. Can you recommend any particular cities or towns? We're probably going to drive to Florida and were thinking Pensacola might be our first stop.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

Got a full priced offer on our house. If all goes well, we're closing on 1/18 and then we're out of here! I can't say I'm going to miss California. The only thing I'm worried about is the appraisal. The value has shot up a ridiculous amount in a short time.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Charleston sounds like what happened to my hometown, Austin. Way too many people and way too much traffic there now. That's the main reason I'm not moving back. We're very interested in the Florida panhandle. Can you recommend any particular cities or towns? We're probably going to drive to Florida and were thinking Pensacola might be our first stop.

Haven’t been much in the Panhandle, I’ve spent more time in Biloxi and nearby states for the casinos, but like those areas, Pensacola used to be one of your cheapest options for beach living. Little run down and high crime in some parts so definitely research. Ethnically it’s typical Deep South with very white and black and not much in between. Heading more South on the beach, If you prefer your beaches with senior citizens and less craziness, the Gulf Coast from Naples to Tampa is the way to go. Some of those areas like Sarasota have so much money retired they can offer world class performing arts and other recreation you’d normally only see in big cities. Water is calmer than the Atlantic side and lots of dolphins and wildlife. Visit Sanibel and Captiva if you prefer no city lights, a hammock on the beach, seashells and nature. Not much diversity on that side.

Some people love the Keys and the Southern Tip. I personally think it’s overrated. It’s all mangroves and swampland until you get to the furthest Southern islands which are all man made. (Little secret though is many of the best beaches in Florida are man made.) I would recommend instead the nearby Caribbean island paradises. Some are just boat rides away. Fishing is always good in the Keys but you can say that about many parts of Florida.

Starting in next door Miami and up towards Fort Lauderdale is often your younger, hip beach crowd, and much more Latin influence, especially Cuban. If you like good food, drinks, music, and more of an international feel, Miami is the best. Going north with the beach towns on the Atlantic, it changes. West Palm Beach a lot of money and Trump and Company are taking over. The Daytona area north of that is more ‘white trash’ but also one of the cheaper coastal areas. Of course you have what’s left of the Space Coast and probably the best waves, but nothing like the Pacific. St. Augustine is good for history buffs and feels more like the Gulf Coast. Jacksonville is further north and “meh” at best. Best part that North on the coast is Amelia Island. Lots of little beach islands and towns though all over both coastal sides.

in the center of the state is Orlando, which is very heavy tourist and Puerto Rican. If you like all the tourist stuff in Vegas it’s almost the same in Orlando, with of course all the theme parks too. Never a dull moment in Orlando if your family likes theme parks. Around Orlando south until the Everglades and further North are a lot of horse farms, orange farms, wineries, and open land which take up the interior and offer affordable living and land for those trying to avoid the big city housing costs or much of the higher-priced coastal areas. Going much further north of Orlando closer to the Panhandle, you have some typical big college towns for University of Florida and FSU, and the State Capital, but you also start getting hillier, more forests and bears.. basically the extreme early start of the Appalachias.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

Haven’t been much in the Panhandle, I’ve spent more time in Biloxi and nearby states for the casinos, but like those areas, Pensacola used to be one of your cheapest options for beach living. Little run down and high crime in some parts so definitely research. Ethnically it’s typical Deep South with very white and black and not much in between. Heading more South on the beach, If you prefer your beaches with senior citizens and less craziness, the Gulf Coast from Naples to Tampa is the way to go. Some of those areas like Sarasota have so much money retired they can offer world class performing arts and other recreation you’d normally only see in big cities. Water is calmer than the Atlantic side and lots of dolphins and wildlife. Visit Sanibel and Captiva if you prefer no city lights, a hammock on the beach, seashells and nature. Not much diversity on that side.

Some people love the Keys and the Southern Tip. I personally think it’s overrated. It’s all mangroves and swampland until you get to the furthest Southern islands which are all man made. (Little secret though is many of the best beaches in Florida are man made.) I would recommend instead the nearby Caribbean island paradises. Some are just boat rides away. Fishing is always good in the Keys but you can say that about many parts of Florida.

Starting in next door Miami and up towards Fort Lauderdale is often your younger, hip beach crowd, and much more Latin influence, especially Cuban. If you like good food, drinks, music, and more of an international feel, Miami is the best. Going north with the beach towns on the Atlantic, it changes. West Palm Beach a lot of money and Trump and Company are taking over. The Daytona area north of that is more ‘white trash’ but also one of the cheaper coastal areas. Of course you have what’s left of the Space Coast and probably the best waves, but nothing like the Pacific. St. Augustine is good for history buffs and feels more like the Gulf Coast. Jacksonville is further north and “meh” at best. Best part that North on the coast is Amelia Island. Lots of little beach islands and towns though all over both coastal sides.

in the center of the state is Orlando, which is very heavy tourist and Puerto Rican. If you like all the tourist stuff in Vegas it’s almost the same in Orlando, with of course all the theme parks too. Never a dull moment in Orlando if your family likes theme parks. Around Orlando south until the Everglades and further North are a lot of horse farms, orange farms, wineries, and open land which take up the interior and offer affordable living and land for those trying to avoid the big city housing costs or much of the higher-priced coastal areas. Going much further north of Orlando closer to the Panhandle, you have some typical big college towns for University of Florida and FSU, and the State Capital, but you also start getting hillier, more forests and bears.. basically the extreme early start of the Appalachias.

Thank you for taking the time to type this out. Great information and insight. We are plotting our trip to spend some time in most of the areas you highlighted. The only ones we are a definitely not looking at are the Keys, Miami, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville.