Relocating to LA (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette: to rent, home, luxury)

[trappedinthebasement]

Hi. I'm ready to make a big change. My husband and I are interested in relocating to Louisiana for our health. I need the hot weather, the slower pace, the green open spaces, even the humidity. We've lived in Alabama before, we know southern heat.

We are part of a social activity network with hubs in Lake Charles and Alexandria (actually in Pineville) and so we would ideally like to be located within a 35 minute drive from one of these places. I was thinking somewhere between the two even - and started looking at Opelousas.

I like the idea of within 2 hours of Baton Rouge (or a similarly sized city) but am flexible on this.

We will be working remotely, so jobs aren't really a large factor, and we are happily childfree. While we do technically live in NYC currently, we are not attracted to city life. We're homebodies who prefer to go to the outdoors rather than restaurants and clubs. Cost of living is a large motivating factor - we would like to rent a single family home or a trailer (with a preference for the former, the idea of working in the yard is highly attractive) for $600/month or less.

While an urban location is not ideal for us, we do like the convenience of stores/fast food being within a reasonable drive, so lists of chain stores in various suggested towns will be helpful. However, that said, I am near giddy at the prospect of shopping routinely at a Wal-mart, a luxury denied to NYC.

Finally, we are atheists, have non-traditional looks (I have long pink and blue hair that I get compliments from strangers on constantly; even while visiting less urban locations), and tend to speak our minds - any hints on links to finding counterculture, or ways to meet other non-traditional folks in this area, are quite welcomed.

Please suggest some towns for us to look at. Thank you.

[cBach]

There are plenty of "alternative" type of people in Lake Charles, less in Alexandria. If you want to be in the boonies, somewhere like Moss Bluff would be close enough to LC but far enough to be able to have a large wooded property for a cheap price.

[rgathrights]

Originally Posted by trappedinthebasement

we would like to rent a single family home or a trailer (with a preference for the former, the idea of working in the yard is highly attractive) for $600/month or less.

Sorry, but not happening in Calcasieu Parish (Lake Charles, Sulphur, Mossbluff, Vinton) at $600/month or less.

We are in the middle of multi-billion dollar, mega project, petrochemical construction boom (natural gas products) in Lake Charles and temporary construction workers have taken all available low budget housing.

Of course the other forum members are welcome to prove me wrong but you must provide a link and phone number for the listing of a trailer with a yard in the setting the OP requested.

[Lizap]

Based on your original post, I would rule out Lake Charles and Alexandria. The place in the state where I think you would fit best is somewhere in the metro New Orleans area. Your housing budget is going to be a problem though.

[pandorafan5687]

Lafayette is also a college town, have you looked there? Plus it's between Lake Charles and Baton Rouge.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by pandorafan5687

Lafayette is also a college town, have you looked there? Plus it's between Lake Charles and Baton Rouge.

Lafayette would be my second choice.

[trappedinthebasement]

Originally Posted by rgathrights

We are in the middle of multi-billion dollar, mega project, petrochemical construction boom (natural gas products) in Lake Charles and temporary construction workers have taken all available low budget housing.

This is really helpful. By "in the middle" - how long has this been going on? And since you say temporary, you're expecting these jobs to dry up at the 'end' of this project? Do you know the projection for that? (As I type I think I could just try to Google this - but like my image of Southerners, I guess I'm trying to strike up a conversation. Thanks for indulging me.)

The place in the state where I think you would fit best is somewhere in the metro New Orleans area.

New Orleans is definitely way too city for what I'm looking for. Even Lafayette, where I have a friend, is a bit more urban than I think I want - though I'm trying to hold off on making that call until a visit. But, based on Google, I feel like Carencro is more the size I'm looking for. Same with actually in Alexandria and Lake Charles - I'm far more interested in Pineville or other outlying 'towns' (please don't be insulted by these air quotes, they're meant more to help convey an understanding of size and should not be taken as a value judgement).

I feel like I'm seeing stuff in my budget on Zillow, but in a huge variety of places (the triangle between Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Alexandria alone is a big area) and I just have very limited ways to compare Church Point to Eunice. Or even the towns I listed as my triangle apexes - which feels like the biggest city? Which has the most amenities? Which is the one you'd rather not go to?

Thank you very much for any help you are able to offer - I appreciate it.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by trappedinthebasement

This is really helpful. By "in the middle" - how long has this been going on? And since you say temporary, you're expecting these jobs to dry up at the 'end' of this project? Do you know the projection for that? (As I type I think I could just try to Google this - but like my image of Southerners, I guess I'm trying to strike up a conversation. Thanks for indulging me.)



New Orleans is definitely way too city for what I'm looking for. Even Lafayette, where I have a friend, is a bit more urban than I think I want - though I'm trying to hold off on making that call until a visit. But, based on Google, I feel like Carencro is more the size I'm looking for. Same with actually in Alexandria and Lake Charles - I'm far more interested in Pineville or other outlying 'towns' (please don't be insulted by these air quotes, they're meant more to help convey an understanding of size and should not be taken as a value judgement).

I feel like I'm seeing stuff in my budget on Zillow, but in a huge variety of places (the triangle between Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Alexandria alone is a big area) and I just have very limited ways to compare Church Point to Eunice. Or even the towns I listed as my triangle apexes - which feels like the biggest city? Which has the most amenities? Which is the one you'd rather not go to?

Thank you very much for any help you are able to offer - I appreciate it.

I would definitely look in the southern part of the state.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by trappedinthebasement

This is really helpful. By "in the middle" - how long has this been going on? And since you say temporary, you're expecting these jobs to dry up at the 'end' of this project? Do you know the projection for that? (As I type I think I could just try to Google this - but like my image of Southerners, I guess I'm trying to strike up a conversation. Thanks for indulging me.)



New Orleans is definitely way too city for what I'm looking for. Even Lafayette, where I have a friend, is a bit more urban than I think I want - though I'm trying to hold off on making that call until a visit. But, based on Google, I feel like Carencro is more the size I'm looking for. Same with actually in Alexandria and Lake Charles - I'm far more interested in Pineville or other outlying 'towns' (please don't be insulted by these air quotes, they're meant more to help convey an understanding of size and should not be taken as a value judgement).

I feel like I'm seeing stuff in my budget on Zillow, but in a huge variety of places (the triangle between Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Alexandria alone is a big area) and I just have very limited ways to compare Church Point to Eunice. Or even the towns I listed as my triangle apexes - which feels like the biggest city? Which has the most amenities? Which is the one you'd rather not go to?

Thank you very much for any help you are able to offer - I appreciate it.

I must be doing something wrong. For both 65 year old female and male in NC, I'm getting 5.53%.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by trappedinthebasement

This is really helpful. By "in the middle" - how long has this been going on? And since you say temporary, you're expecting these jobs to dry up at the 'end' of this project? Do you know the projection for that? (As I type I think I could just try to Google this - but like my image of Southerners, I guess I'm trying to strike up a conversation. Thanks for indulging me.)



New Orleans is definitely way too city for what I'm looking for. Even Lafayette, where I have a friend, is a bit more urban than I think I want - though I'm trying to hold off on making that call until a visit. But, based on Google, I feel like Carencro is more the size I'm looking for. Same with actually in Alexandria and Lake Charles - I'm far more interested in Pineville or other outlying 'towns' (please don't be insulted by these air quotes, they're meant more to help convey an understanding of size and should not be taken as a value judgement).

I feel like I'm seeing stuff in my budget on Zillow, but in a huge variety of places (the triangle between Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Alexandria alone is a big area) and I just have very limited ways to compare Church Point to Eunice. Or even the towns I listed as my triangle apexes - which feels like the biggest city? Which has the most amenities? Which is the one you'd rather not go to?

Thank you very much for any help you are able to offer - I appreciate it.

I must be doing something wrong. For both 65 year old female and male in NC, I'm getting 5.53%. You must be assuming no annuity payments to spouse on death.