Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm on disability and get, after MediCare deductions and no taxes, $1,600 net per month. Rents in California are getting obscene, particularly in the less than $1,000 per month range (I am living outside Sacramento) as everyone is downsizing to that level, so competition for rental housing is INTENSE! FIERCE! It's getting cheaper to buy than rent here. I've got to move, but can't afford this new reality, so feel I should leave California.
I do have about $50K I could put down on a house, but after reading on this forum, seems like everyone would discourage me from buying with my "take home." I'm tired of being at a landlord's mercy, but realistically, where could one live on my meager net take home of <20K annually? By the way, I could get my parents to co-sign on a loan for me.
Requirements: Peace, quiet, seclusion (say 1 to 1-1/2 hours from big city as I need medical resources), weather I can HANDLE with my disability (which means no heavy snow removal and no severe extremes in climate).
Preferences: Not too conservative an area, politically, though I know that's a stretch. (Why are liberal areas so much pricier when conservatives have all cash?)
I'm really wondering what areas in the country would be feasible. I'm not looking for smart-ass answers, please. This is my reality, and to me, it's serious. I was a graduate educated professional who lost my health - it could happen to you, too, so please be considerate and respectful in your replies. I don't have future higher earnings to hope for. Thanks.
Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, etc. The cost of living in these places is very cheap and jobs are sparse. But since you have income and don't need a job, you're in business.
I like Kansas and Nebraska. Nice people. Beautiful sky. Clean air.
I'm hearing someone who's afraid to leave California? That's a problem.
You can live decently in middle America on that income, or you can be impoverished in California on the same income.
You could buy a decent condo in Las Vegas or Phoenix for well under $50,000 in which you would only have to pay the HOA fees for it. For the record, I net $300 a month less than you and I do just fine in Vegas. My apartment is only $365 a month. California is just highway robbery, plain and simple, where only the wealthy survive.
Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, etc. The cost of living in these places is very cheap and jobs are sparse. But since you have income and don't need a job, you're in business.
I like Kansas and Nebraska. Nice people. Beautiful sky. Clean air.
I'm hearing someone who's afraid to leave California? That's a problem.
You can live decently in middle America on that income, or you can be impoverished in California on the same income.
Your choice.
I'm only afraid to leave California weather. That is, after all, why the State boomed in the first place and why everyone wants to be here.
Can you be more specific about areas of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and/or Oklahoma? Any liberal towns that aren't flat as far as the eye can see, preferably with access to mountains?
I honestly don't know, but I have a VERY left leaning friend who moved to West Virginia and seems super happy there. But I'm sure it gets cold.
You sure Vegas wouldn't work?
BTW, there are parts of Los Angeles where $800/mo gets you into a small studio in an ok area. And there is low income housing in ok places in downtown LA. This place is only a couple blocks from the red line subway(FYI Kaisers biggest So Cal facility is directly on the red line)
I think as long as you stay away from Market rate apartments on the coasts you will find life quite affordable even on your income. However, why on earth would you want to leave our fair state? Have you considered a Manufactured Home (Mobile Home)? With over 100 municipalities in California under some sort of rent control, and mobile home prices at obscenely low levels, you could buy a home near a city, have your own detached home and affordable rent aggressively protected by rent control.
You could live in Palm Springs, many beach communities and LA and have rent below $500. That's bad for landlords but great for folks on fixed incomes. Best of luck in your search.
Last edited by ApartmentSage; 02-11-2011 at 11:49 PM..
Reason: Needed to add content.
Many areas in Texas are very affordable, and offer access to cities, and the weather is usually nice! Think Metro San Antonio (fredericksberg, Schertz, Hondo, New Braunfels, Castroville- CHEAP and within 45 minutes of downtown San Antonio). There's a ton of tiny towns outside of Corpus Christie where you still have beaches within driving distance, a rather large city, and it is CHEAP when you get into the outskirts. Metro Austin will be more expensive. Metro Houston is gonna be hard because Houston is so sprawling that you'll have a bit more drive to downtown, by Cypress, Stafford, Spring, Pearland, Sugarland, Humble, are very affordable, and still have great amenities as they are all near Houston City Limits. I'm not familiar with Metro Dallas, but could be worth looking into.
I have a 2 bedroom apartment in a really nice area of Houston Proper and I pay $700 a month. You might get MUCH cheaper if you look a little father out.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
You don't need to leave the Garden State
