Simpleton. (St. George, Hurricane, Washington: to rent, HOA fees, new home)

[scotttenorman]

Hi. I'm seriously hoping to sell my home in Pollock Pines, CA, and buy a home in the St. George area. I have been a few times and really have to say I'm in love. That being said, I love where I live now. It's in the lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada mountains (4k feet), but I have grown tired of the never ending work/maintenance to live here. The summer isn't too bad, but once fall hits I'm either outside burning leaves or cleaning gutters or shoveling snow or cutting firewood, you get the idea. I've got a back problem and all of this doesn't help.

So, my question is, what kind of maintenance issues are out there? I expect routine stuff, but are there any issues that seem to really annoy anyone? From what I've seen when I go out there, it doesn't look like much to do to maintain most homes.

To give some specific examples:
I know cleaning gutters is an issue every homeowner has, but mine are completely clogged after every storm. I've been told that gutter toppers don't work out here, and actually make them harder to clean. When I talk about burning leaves, I'm saying that for the last 8 years I've been here I spend at least three, six hour days burning leaves and branches and other trimmings (it's not practical to take it to the dump). I spend at least a week a year going to get wood, cutting it, and splitting it. I have a large deck (almost 1500 sq. ft.) that in addition to shoveling snow off of in the winter should be treated with stain/water repellent every year, max every two years. Obviously I won't be wanting a house with a deck in St. George. It takes at least a week of work to get pressure washed and sealed (we are talking tons and tons of spindles on the railing around it). A driveway that's 100 feet long that needs to be plowed 20 times a year and that takes at least an hour each time.

Another thing that I've been thinking about. Pollution. When the weather is nice enough to be outside in in the early fall through late spring, people are burning. They are either burning leaves (horrible white irritating smoke) or burning wood to heat their homes. There are times when the whole neighborhood is in a white haze of smoke, and yes I'm guilty of contributing to it. Going out on a walk or bike ride seems like it's worse for my health, than if I stayed home and smoked a pack of cigarettes. I'm sure people burn wood in St. George, but it seems to me that since your low temps. aren't as bad as here it shouldn't be as bad. Not to mention you don't live in a forest, so your access to wood isn't the same. Yes, I have a heater for the house, but it's much cheaper to heat with wood, especially when you are surrounded by it. I know I will pay for natural gas there, but once again, it doesn't get as cold, so it shouldn't be a deal breaker cost wise.

All of the other stuff I've read about. I'm non LDS, and I'm sure it won't be an issue. I don't have kids, and no wife, and I'm not looking. I'm not a party person. Best parts of my day are being outside, taking the dog for a walk, going for a mountain bike ride, going to the lake, etc.

So let me know. My house is currently on the market (one week so far, and already an offer!). Anything you could say that would make me change my mind?

Thanks, and sorry sooooo long.

Josh.

[toby04]

Sounds like St. George is the perfect place for you! I assume the hot summers won't be an issue?
There is little to maintain on most homes. The exteriors are mostly stucco, unless you buy an older home with wood siding. I am a painting contractor and believe me, there is not much exterior work to do! I rarely even see a home with gutters.
Most new homes have low care landscaping. I prefer pellet stoves to woodburning, less mess and smoke.
I live outside of St. George in a rural area. My biggest issue is the wind!
Constantly blowing tumbleweeds and debris into yard!

[Chickrae]

Bought a house in Coral Canyon, Washington City by St. George a couple months ago. Not there yet but it seems like the home is basically little maintenance. Stucco and tile roof. Can't wait to get there next year. I love St. George. I think you will absolutely love it there........so much to do!

[scotttenorman]

That's what I was thinking. It just seems like there isn't much to it out there. Thanks for telling me what I was hoping to hear. I really have to think you have got a good grasp on things seeing as how you are a painter.

As for the heat, I'm sure it will get to me now and again. I spent June through October in a small town south of Atlanta GA last summer and have to say that I got used to the heat. It was regularly over 100 with 90%+ humidity. If I can deal with that I am almost certain 110+ dry will be doable. It was pointless wearing a shirt in GA, five minutes outside and I was drenched.

Chickrae I drove by a lot of the homes in the Coral Canyon area, and have to say it's very nice. I would definitely consider something in that area. I really like the Bloomington Hills area too, and I really like the town of Ivins................Oh, I like it all.

Thanks again.

Josh.

[Chickrae]

I liked Coral Canyon because of all the amenities it has to offer. Walking trails, clubhouse, exercise gym, tennis, swimming...all for HOA fee of $43...can't beat that. Ivins is a very pretty area also and I have heard alot of good things about Bloominging Hills too. Hurricane on the other hand is very windy and LaVerkin is to far from anything. I like the fact that Zions National Park is very close.
When are you moving there? What made you decide to leave California and choose St. George?

[scotttenorman]

For only $43 that's a lot of extras. I'm trying to stay away from HOA fees if possible, but once again, if the right house were there, I would definitely consider it. It's very nice.

Don't know when I'm moving there. It will all depend on when/if my house here sells. I am ready to go now. I hope it sells quickly. My plan is to move all of my stuff into storage in St. George, rent a room, and look for a house. It doesn't seem like I need to be in a rush to buy when I get there, so I kind of want to see what the housing market does for a while.

As far as what made me choose St. George? I spent last summer in Georgia helping my Dad and Sister take care of my Mom. She was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in June of last summer. She went from being fine in January to not being able to move anything nine months later. I had a lot of free time when I was there, so I started looking online at stuff in Utah. I love mountain biking and had been to Moab a couple of times in the past. I stumbled upon St. George, and it looked very nice. The fact that it's an actual city didn't hurt. My Mom passed in October, and on my drive back across country I decided to check it out. I obviously liked what I saw. I got back to Pollock Pines at the start of winter. I was/am unemployed, and single. Too much time to think (even with all of the damn maintenance!). I realized how short life is. I decided after a couple of months back here, I would try to sell and move to St. George. My house here is paid for, so my plan is to buy a house there, and pocket 50k (probably a fixer or REO, most likely both). Like I said, I'm simple and cheap, I can live on minimum wage if I have to. I want to work to live, not the other way.

With all of that being said, if I move I will miss it here. There is no place like the Sierras, and it will always be one of my favorite places. I'm just tired. When I tell people about St. George I say imagine Pollock Pines with no trees and no snow! (well just a little snow anyway).

Josh.

[Chickrae]

That was nice that you could help out with your mom. I hope things worked out ok with all of that.
Sounds like you have a good plan and I think you will be happy with your choice of St. George. It does get very hot, but it is the dry heat and nothing like the humidity of Georgia, Texas, or Oklahoma where I live. I love Moab too. So being a biker have you been to slick rock? That is a biker's dream place.
I am sure you will be able to find a nice place to live in St. George after selling your home in CA. Homes have really come down in price as 3 years ago I couldn't of afforded a home there. I think it is a good idea to rent and then buy so you can get a feel for the area. I know we visited 3 different times looking at homes, before we found the one that fit our needs. I am from northern Utah, so it will be a change for me also with the hot summers. After being in Oklahoma the past year and a half, I do know I can't wait to leave the humidity. However, I will miss the friendly people with that southern hospitality here.

[scotttenorman]

It's true about the Southern hospitality. I have never met people as nice, and as giving as the people in my parents community in Georgia. That's not to say the people in California are bad, it's just that a lot of people here would rather look away than say hello. I don't get it. That actually reminds me of something I picked up from my first trip to Georgia. When I would walk my dog, or drive through any neighborhood people would wave. This was weird to me. Nine out of ten people would go out of their way to acknowledge me. They didn't know me, and had never seen me before, yet they waved. When I came back to Pollock Pines, which is a small town of 5k people, I tried it out. When I walked my dog which I do twice a day I would wave at every single one of my neighbors when they would drive by. At first most people just looked and drove past. A few month later, and almost every person who drives by waves. It makes me smile.

I've driven through Oklahoma six times, although I've never stopped for anything other than gas. The two things I remember most is gas being extremely cheap, and wind. I would use big rigs as wind blocks when driving through there.

The reason I went to Moab was to do slick rock. My girlfriend at the time, and I, also rented a Jeep and went to see Arches NP, and Canyonlands NP. All of it AWESOME.

I also must add that when I visited St. George the people there were extremely friendly as well. When I was riding on the trails I would run into other people, mainly hikers, and they were quick to say hello. I ended up having a couple of long conversations with some of them. They encouraged me to do the move, and only had great things to say about their state. I think I will really like it in Utah. I can't wait!

[toby04]

What a great attitude! I hope you find the perfect place in St. George!

[kaytidid]

I am sure with his great attitude, he will find the perfect place in St. George, or WHEREVER he would like to be!