Keeping it "real": Retiring to a $25,000 to $50,000 Condo or Home (friend, drug)

[accufitgolf]

I think some might be going at this backwards. The first thing to determine is where one wants to live then how can one afford to live there.
'
As an example, I have lived in Chicago, I love Chicago, and I visit there regularly, but there is no way I would live there due to the winter weather alone. So no matter the "deal" the answer is I would not live there from November to March.

I say find where you want to live first. Cost to live there is secondary.

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by accufitgolf

I think some might be going at this backwards. The first thing to determine is where one wants to live then how can one afford to live there.

Good advice. That's how I'm approaching this "exercise."

As an example, I have lived in Chicago, I love Chicago, and I visit there regularly, but there is no way I would live there due to the winter weather alone. So no matter the "deal" the answer is I would not live there from November to March.

Lifestyle, including weather temperment is an important factor. It is for me. We have people buying in my building in Chicago ... coming to us after having lived in Florida for 15-20 years. For the most part they're coming from 55+ communities. They're almost all single women. Widows in their 80s. Moving "back home" to be close to their children ... as they live-out their lives. Weather has become a secondary issue for them. I have senior friends who've moved from Chicago to Phoenix and Tucson. They live there year-round. Both of those cities experience more than 100 days each year with temperatures over 100F. They deal with it. Different strokes for different folks!

[katie45]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

I felt the $3,000 fee for the facility upkeep here in Sun City to be a bargain. To keep something nice one often has to chip in either by ways of taxes or fees. I like the pristine little city and the golf courses are very well maintained as are the recreation buildings. I don't use many of them, just the pool/gym and the art room. It beats the $70,000 membership fees and I also noticed that while checking out some of the lower end Florida condo's.

So where do you go? All retirement spots will have HOA fees, some very high in my opinion, or a rural little town without much support service due to lack of taxes or dues, a college town which can be in high tax zones? You will find your place, but it will surely have some negatives to deal with. Best of luck

I am in agreement; no place is perfect and hopefully we'll all find a special place that's right for us.

[Happy in Wyoming]

Originally Posted by gomexico

Lifestyle, including weather temperment is an important factor. It is for me. We have people buying in my building in Chicago ... coming to us after having lived in Florida for 15-20 years. For the most part they're coming from 55+ communities. They're almost all single women. Widows in their 80s. Moving "back home" to be close to their children ... as they live-out their lives. Weather has become a secondary issue for them. I have senior friends who've moved from Chicago to Phoenix and Tucson. They live there year-round. Both of those cities experience more than 100 days each year with temperatures over 100F. They deal with it. Different strokes for different folks!

The big difference between Arizona and Florida is humidity. But about half of Arizona has cooler or much cooler weather. If you draw a line from the NW corner of the state to the SE corner you may assume that anything south of that line is furnace hot but north of the line quite delightful in summer. The far SE corner of the state is great at any season. Obviously this is subjective but check Bisbee or Pearce. They are, however, close to the border.

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by Happy in Wyoming

The big difference between Arizona and Florida is humidity. But about half of Arizona has cooler or much cooler weather. If you draw a line from the NW corner of the state to the SE corner you may assume that anything south of that line is furnace hot but north of the line quite delightful in summer. The far SE corner of the state is great at any season. Obviously this is subjective but check Bisbee or Pearce. They are, however, close to the border.

I lived and worked in Tucson, and had an office in Phoenix as well. So I'm familiar with the hgh-temperature locations and seasons. The only places I'll consider relocating to in Arizona in close to Tucson. Tucson and probably a 30-minute driving time circle around there. I like the hot/dry climate as contrasted with hot/humid ... though I've spent lots of time in Mexico and particularly the Pacific Coast areas where the temps are high and humidity percentages to match. My sister is in Tucson, and friends I worked with and keep in contact with ... military and civilian. I was on the DoD civilian base oversight committee for Davis Monthan AFB. Excellent medical centers in Tucson. University city with all that it typically includes. And it's an easy drive into Mexico, for which I have great fondness. Thanks.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by xz2y

There are plenty of homes in Detroit for $1, but the catch is you have to pay all the back taxes.....and to say the least, the locations are questionable.......essentially you are buying land and the house is a tear-down in a very bad neighborhood. But, it's a house for $1!

I owned a home in the Warrendale area of Detroit and I found my old house on a Trulia real estate site. The pic was good and it still looks the same, except that the 'bush' under the dining room window now covers it up! In 1974 I paid $17,500 for a 4 BR, 2 BA with full finished basement. One BR and BA was in the basement. In 2008 it sold for $9,000. That made me sad. It was a nice house and I always liked it.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Happy in Wyoming

The big difference between Arizona and Florida is humidity. But about half of Arizona has cooler or much cooler weather. If you draw a line from the NW corner of the state to the SE corner you may assume that anything south of that line is furnace hot but north of the line quite delightful in summer. The far SE corner of the state is great at any season. Obviously this is subjective but check Bisbee or Pearce. They are, however, close to the border.

You are so right about that 'line' down through Arizona. I live just about in the middle of that line and we can get the weather from either side. Makes things exciting around here at times. lol We are desert but not southern desert. We have mountains 'right there' so 20 min. to 20 degrees cooler. Of the whole state I think the Verde Valley has about as close to perfect...for me...weather. Yup, it's hot but being a born and raised desert brat, I can deal with it. We aren't Phoenix hot or Flagstaff cold and that's good enough for me!

[popcorn247]

Originally Posted by LittleDolphin

Great, I'll post some listings...sorry, if there's been any confusion..the listings are NOT in Beaufort, but in other small towns of interest. One is a college town (Oxford Ohio), other listings are in Greenville, SC, which has a nifty re-worked downtown with a riverfront riverwalk and waterfall, lots of cultural events and has been successful in attracting new businesses. Columbia and Lafayette IN are cool small towns that might prove attractive to retirees.

$49999 1167 sf
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...4_M43563-34582

1612 Fairfax Dr. Lafayette IN
$49900 1632 sf
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...9_M48951-62844

3651 Woody Ln Oxford Twp, OH 45056
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...6_M47681-04536
3/1 .45 acre $52,500

2999 N Talley Rd Columbus, IN 47203
2/2 1170 sf
1.35 acres
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...ex=IN542614653

1602 Lawton Ave Columbus, IN 47201
53,900 3/1 1656 sf
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...1_M38349-86735

Prop taxes $496

10 Glenmore Drive Greenville, SC 29617
$60,000 3/2
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...7_M61676-18106

3 Almena Dr Greenville, SC 29617
3/2
$59900
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...7_M56091-82882

15 Orlando Ave Greenville, SC 29609
$55,000 2/1 remodeled adorable
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...9_M63681-83408

311 Furman Hall Road Greenville, SC 29609
3/1
$54,900
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...9_M66828-23948

205 Von Hollen Greenville, SC 29617
$65,000 3/1 sweet bungalow yellow, FP--I find this one charming!
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...7_M62714-18613

I grew up in Lafayette, In. After graduating from Purdue, I moved to south Florida for a job. Been down there ever since. As I near retirement age I am considering moving back to Indiana. I miss the 4 seasons and am tired of the 7 months of hot, humid weather down here. Lots to consider.

[newenglandgirl]

Originally Posted by LittleDolphin

Great, I'll post some listings...sorry, if there's been any confusion..the listings are NOT in Beaufort, but in other small towns of interest. One is a college town (Oxford Ohio), other listings are in Greenville, SC, which has a nifty re-worked downtown with a riverfront riverwalk and waterfall, lots of cultural events and has been successful in attracting new businesses. Columbia and Lafayette IN are cool small towns that might prove attractive to retirees.

1612 Fairfax Dr. Lafayette IN
$49900 1632 sf
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...9_M48951-62844

All your findings, but especially this one, illustrate my point about how one can live in a nice house with reasonable taxes (note that from 2009 to 2011, the taxes went DOWN on this house ) outside of the trendy places in the nation. I have a very good professional friend in Lafayette IN who tells me what great homes can be had for very little. I can say from having lived in the Midwest twice that it's just fine. From being based in the Midwest you can still do your thing in Florida or wherever in winters.

[popcorn247]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

All your findings, but especially this one, illustrate my point about how one can live in a nice house with reasonable taxes (note that from 2009 to 2011, the taxes went DOWN on this house ) outside of the trendy places in the nation. I have a very good professional friend in Lafayette IN who tells me what great homes can be had for very little. I can say from having lived in the Midwest twice that it's just fine. From being based in the Midwest you can still do your thing in Florida or wherever in winters.

That is so true. One of the perks of living in the Midwest is that you are not too far from Florida or other warm locations in the south. If you get tired of the cold spend a month or so in a warm location. Lafayette is a very nice town