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Old 06-24-2014, 10:40 PM
 
Location: Sacramento, CA
4 posts, read 4,592 times
Reputation: 11

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Hi, we're looking to relocate(it's the two of us, age 27 and 30, and our child, 4). Currently we're in Sacramento, CA, but I'm originally from Atlanta. I don't like the weather, it's too expensive, everything to do is a long drive(tahoe, SF, everything is 2+ hrs away), etc. I'd love some advice and opinions on where would best suit us. We just want a good place to settle down. I'd like to eventually purchase a home for ~$80-100k with a decently sized yard(9k+ is decent to me, more is better).

I've been looking at a few places. Michigan, South Dakota, and Colorado sound appealing, but there's just so many places to live in every state that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. We'd like to stay away from the south and east coast(relatively close to Sacramento would be nice since the husband's family lives here, but not necessary). Western Washington looks great but a little pricey.

Ideal qualities for new area:
- Low crime. Decent school system.
- Weather: 4 seasons. No deserts or really hot summers. Rain and overcast is fine with me.
- Low cost of living/affordable.
- No harsh, natural disaster-type weather(hurricanes, earthquakes, etc).
- Not too urban, maybe more rural. Less than 100k pop would be good, but more is doable.
- Good scenery, nature and outdoorsy. Forests, parks, etc. Lakes/rivers are good.
- More liberal, tolerant people; less conservatives.
- Good air quality. Low pollution in general.
- Farmer's markets nearby.

Stuff that doesn't matter/I don't need:
Public transport, lots of shopping or restaurants, near a big city, racial diversity or lack thereof, nightlife.

I know some of the goals I wrote are contradictory, such as low COL and low crime, but hopefully there is a place that matches us well. Thanks for any help!
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Old 06-25-2014, 01:39 AM
 
35,309 posts, read 52,065,266 times
Reputation: 30999
Look into Asheville NC. Nice place that might fit your criteria, we've always had a good time when we have vacationed there..
https://www.google.ca/#q=asheville+n...na&safe=active

http://www.carolinapartners.com/uplo...lle-photos.jpg
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Old 06-25-2014, 02:49 AM
 
Location: Arvada, CO
13,824 posts, read 29,814,960 times
Reputation: 14418
The only place sub $100K you'll find in Colorado will be in a desert/plains type situation, with anything east of or along I-25 subject to severe thunderstorms/tornado warnings during summer, and the occasional blizzard during winter.

What you're really looking for is a cheap college town (based on your criteria), but given your parameters I can't think of any that exists. Your criteria, TBH adds up to a dying/economically depressed/rust belt type of place.

A few that kind of fit:

Vineland, NJ
Terre Haute, IN
Muncie, IN
Lawrence, KS
Battle Creek, MI
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Moderator for Los Angeles, The Inland Empire, and the Washington state forums.
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Old 06-25-2014, 03:06 AM
 
261 posts, read 415,811 times
Reputation: 485
Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Chapel Hill, NC

Bloomington, Ind.

Charlottesville Va.

Roanoke, VA

Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol TN

Carbondale, Illinois

Clarksville, TN

Murfreesboro, TN
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Old 06-25-2014, 03:18 AM
 
Location: Sacramento, CA
4 posts, read 4,592 times
Reputation: 11
Yeah, I feel like our budget's really limiting us, but since we work online, I was hoping that we could find a place that may be a little bad for general employment but still is a good place to live. Sadly, growing up, 100k was plenty to buy a house(back in Georgia), but the husband has southern-o-phobia or something. I'm not expecting to buy a new house for 100k, but an older one we could fix up -- not a total fixer, but an older house or something.

Thanks guys, I'll look up those places you mentioned.
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Old 06-25-2014, 06:47 AM
 
92,260 posts, read 122,526,056 times
Reputation: 18172
Actually, parts of Upstate NY could work. I'd look in and around small towns with a college. Areas I had in mind were in and/or around Morrisville, Hamilton, Aurora, Ithaca, Geneva, Clinton, Plattsburgh, Potsdam/Canton, Oneonta, etc. Location would be the issue, as that would mean moving east, but you can find decent homes within that price range up here. RealtyUSA - Property - Property-List

RealtyUSA - Property - Property-List

RealtyUSA - Property - Property-List

RealtyUSA - Property - Property-List

realtor.com

realtor.com

Last edited by ckhthankgod; 06-25-2014 at 07:16 AM..
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Old 06-25-2014, 07:01 AM
 
Location: Louisville
5,254 posts, read 5,979,523 times
Reputation: 9556
Kalamazoo will meet those criteria with a lower cost of living. Also you can look into Fort Wayne, South Bend.
Grand Rapids has a lower cost of living and a strong Job/ real estate market, but may be too urban based on your descriptions.
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Old 06-25-2014, 07:02 AM
 
92,260 posts, read 122,526,056 times
Reputation: 18172
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjlo View Post
Kalamazoo will meet those criteria with a lower cost of living. Also you can look into Fort Wayne, South Bend.
Grand Rapids has a lower cost of living and a strong Job/ real estate market, but may be too urban based on your descriptions.
I'd say that the Lansing area could work too.
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Old 06-25-2014, 08:58 AM
 
1,359 posts, read 2,470,063 times
Reputation: 1221
Quote:
Originally Posted by qwertyasdf View Post
Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Chapel Hill, NC

Bloomington, Ind.

Charlottesville Va.

Roanoke, VA

Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol TN

Carbondale, Illinois

Clarksville, TN

Murfreesboro, TN
Chapel Hill's real estate will be FAR too expensive. Ditto with Bowling Green, Charlottesville, and even Roanoke.

Based on the criteria, a college town in Upstate NY or the Midwest appears to be the best bet.
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Old 06-25-2014, 09:41 AM
 
26,909 posts, read 43,427,444 times
Reputation: 31683
Quote:
Originally Posted by mossfig View Post
We just want a good place to settle down. I'd like to eventually purchase a home for ~$80-100k with a decently sized yard(9k+ is decent to me, more is better).

Ideal qualities for new area:
- Low crime. Decent school system.
- Weather: 4 seasons. No deserts or really hot summers. Rain and overcast is fine with me.
- Low cost of living/affordable.
- No harsh, natural disaster-type weather(hurricanes, earthquakes, etc).
- Not too urban, maybe more rural. Less than 100k pop would be good, but more is doable.
- Good scenery, nature and outdoorsy. Forests, parks, etc. Lakes/rivers are good.
- More liberal, tolerant people; less conservatives.
- Good air quality. Low pollution in general.
- Farmer's markets nearby.

Stuff that doesn't matter/I don't need:
Public transport, lots of shopping or restaurants, near a big city, racial diversity or lack thereof, nightlife.
I agree regarding the "midwest college town" approach, especially given the desire for a more liberal/tolerant environment and a lower cost of living (including property taxes). Some instances with home values in line include Bloomington IN, Champaign IL, Lafayette/West Lafayette IN, Kalamazoo MI, Duluth MN and Lansing MI.
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