Is Relocating to Southwest Missouri Becoming a Trend? (Springfield, Ozark: crime, new house)

[chitownwarrior]

I've noticed and heard so many stories of people from California (and New York) deciding to relocated to SW Missouri. There was some news about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie building a mansion there, people I've heard talking about it, hearing from family members who are thinking about buying land down there, etc. And now i see so many threads here about people moving to MO.

Why is this??? Why Missouri and not say, Tennessee or Wisconsin? Is it the hills? The climate? The environment? The lakes? Just curious. Seems like a good investment opportunity...

[MOviaCA]

Cost of living is low. Housing is low. Central location in the United States for travel. Plus great and friendly people

[Silvermouse]

Originally Posted by chitownwarrior

There was some news about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie building a mansion there ..

Ewwwww!!!!!

[mamagator54]

Originally Posted by MOviaCA

Cost of living is low. Housing is low. Central location in the United States for travel. Plus great and friendly people

You hit the nail on the head with everything you said. I must add, The Beauty of the area also.


and I second the ...ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww on Bradjolina rumor. Missouri doesn't need them.

[TGS]

Since Brad Pitt is from Springfield, I could see him building a new house for his parents or for his family to stay when they come and visit. I seriously doubt they would live here full time.

[Inoxkeeper]

Originally Posted by TGS

Since Brad Pitt is from Springfield, I could see him building a new house for his parents or for his family to stay when they come and visit. I seriously doubt they would live here full time.

I heard he was trying to pick up a small lake property...some little place called Table Rock...

I struggle to find fault with any home grown Missouri boy that dated both Angelina and Jennifer.

[GraniteStater]

SW Missouri has a good south-central location, but not too far away from an airport like KCI. The COL is VERY low compared with the national average and taxes are also low. Therefore, this is appealing to those looking at retiring to MO. The Mark Twain National Forest in SW Missouri is great along with all of the nice reservoirs. The one thing that is lacking in terms of outdoor activities is winter sports because it does not stay that cold for too long. Summer weather on the Ozark Plateau is actually a few degrees cooler than surrounding areas. However, humidity levels can be fairly high. Overall, SW Missouri will continue to grow at a moderate pace, but will not have any type of growth explosion unless non-farm employment grows at a rapid pace. This may occur in the more populated areas, but MO has traditionally not done a great job with economic growth in the rural areas of the state.

[Inoxkeeper]

P-10 - I agree with your economic growth comment. It's really tough to make a decent living in the Southeast part of the state too. There is a small river next to my place, I can't help but think what a boon it would be to the local economy if it were more like Jack's Fork, etc instead of the creek that it is. There just isn't enough of a tourist draw and you can't farm those hills.

Besides timber and a few farms there isn't much going on, a little light industrial here and there. I have always said that my hometown was a great place to grow up and will be a great place to retire but to raise a family you may have to go elsewhere.

[Darlynn0217]

Hey and don't forget Don Johnson! He is from Crane and is building a new house, somewhere nearby. He also owns property out near Cape Fair, where it is rumored that he will build a golf course and resort. (He frequented Nickols Fine Dining last December, and he's still sooo purdy!!! AND, really a nice guy!)

[Rustic1]

Chitown warrier,

Speaking as one of those NY types moving to MO, I can tell you for us it is a combination of several things. Lower taxes, lower cost of land, lower crime rate, lower levels of gun regulations. Most places in NY the criminals are the only ones armed. Higher quality of life issues include slower pace, friendly people, polite teenagers and fewer regulations on building or zoning.
In MO I found that I could strike up a conversation with anybody, in Subway, Wal-mart, walking down the street. Try that in most places in NY and you get funny looks, folks grabbing their kids, or nervous stares.
Some other states have some of these things, but none we looked into have all of them. I asked one older man in Walmart why the taxes are so low, he said with the appropriate drawl, "Well theres a lot of old guys like me who like it that way. Whenever somebody gets elected and thinks that they are going to "improve" things, next election they are gone. " I hope that between the residents who "Like it that way" and folks like us who are attracted to that situation, that things won't change too fast even with immigration from more Urban areas of the country.
One thing that my wife and I did notice on the way back to NY was public profanity. For the whole time we were prowling around MO, I don't think we heard any salty language, then in a restarant going home we were treated to the group in the next booth discussing one F- ing thing after the next. Really hadn't noticed the absence of swearing until we got there. A small point perhaps, but it is part of the whole package. And make no mistake, I am very familiar with colorful speech, 21 years in the Army Infantry will do that, I just don't need to hear it over dinner.
I expect most folks choosing a rural area, without so many high pay, high stress jobs, regulations, or population are looking for exactly what MO has to offer. Here's hoping we don't screw it up!

Rustic1