[modon]

We've had enough fun in the snow...as in plowing, blowing & shovelling...have been told that a great place to relocate to is Mountain Home, AR or above the line in MO at Branson area or Nixa...anyone have experience with both areas?
i'll need to find a job of course, and a new home in the $100K - $150K range...currently have a small business doing custom embroidery & screen printing plus am a designer at Home Depot...
Would appreciate any views, advice or recommendations...
MODON

[73-79 ford fan]

In this economy, I don't know if that is a good enough reason. If you have a large amount of savings then finding a job quickly is not as important. Benton or Washington county Arkansas would probably be your best bet in this state as far as finding a job in this economy goes. I myself am looking to do the opposite and move to Nebraska. I have to say, the summers in AR can be hard to tolerate for some. I would much prefer cold winters and mild summers with a good economy like Nebrasaka has than brutally hot summers with almost nonexistant winters and a bit worse but not terrible yet, economy like this area has myself. I myself have a hard time with the summers here. I think the summers here are brutal and are not to be taken lightly myself. I find the sun angle brutal at this latitude.

[ladynlove334579]

I don't know too much about Mountain Home, but grew up in Springfield where Nixa is basically a suburb of. I love Nixa, think it is beautiful and the people are great. The schools used to be some of the best in the SW MO area, but I'm not sure if that's still true. As for jobs, it is about 10 miles from southern Springfield, and 4 miles from nearby Ozark, so there are lots of various opportunities for employment, and I hadn't heard that the area was too much affected by the economy as most otheres. Winters are fairly mild there, with the occasional snow, but the summer can get bad. I've found that central AR is so much worse in the summer though. As for myself and my family, as soon as we are married next year and are able to make the move, we are moving back to the Springfield area from here. Most of the area is really nice, but we're either going to Nixa, Ozark or southern Springfield, as I think they're the better parts. Can't wait to get back home!
If you have any other questions on anything there, I would be happy to answer if I can, or get the answer for you, don't hesitate to ask! Good luck!!

[ladybug35]

I'm from Mountain Home, and I like it waaaaaaay better than Nixa. The climate is similar, I just find MH to be a better place to live and work. That said, the economy there right now is really bad.

[marmac]

Never lived in either.
Been to both many times.

The areas are hard to compare because Springfield is about 8 times bigger than Mountain Home and Nixa is basically a suburb of Springfield. That means commuting to Springfield would be normal.

W/o getting a job in the small city of Mountain Home, where would one comute to.

If a job is a priority( you did mention it) your opportunities would be better in the Springfield area. ( IMHO )

[marmac]

I don't know what it is, can't put my finger on it.

I have checked out many small towns/small cities in Northern Arkansas ranging fron tiny towns to small cities---------Harrison, Mountain Home, NW Arkansas, -----Mountain Home just didn't feel right.

Maybe its just me, but of all the places I've checked in northern AR southern MO, I thought the people I dealt /talked with-------whether restaurant, real estate people, people I met while attending church------the Mountain Home people were the most unfriendly.

Don't know if my perception is accurate, but it is what it is.

[kcraptor82]

I currently live in Mountain Home, and I can tell you the economy here totally sucks. I would never recommend anyone to move here, unless your rich and stupid! This is totally a retirement area, and the jobs here are more centered around taking care of the older people, or food services. Other then that, most factories are closing up and out sourcing. Now mind you, Ranger Boats might be picking up, but for how long? So in summary, this place is a black hole. Personally I think anywhere in Missouri would be a better option then Mountain Home.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by marmac

the Mountain Home people were the most unfriendly.

Don't know if my perception is accurate, but it is what it is.

Very few locals or "ol' boys" in MH.

It offers quite a bit, but it's one of those towns that has enough yankees in it that they prevail.

Upside is, there's aton of recreation, decent restaurants, city services.....

Downside is, if you don't belong to a "club" with a group of people, the social circle is tough.

Scenic, some good food places, a few bigger entities to work at, but it is geared much more toward retirees.