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I'm trying to find a US location (city or suburb, nothing too rural) with affordable housing (preferably $200k or less for home in SAFE area) with great public schools. Is this possible? Where do you suggest I look?
What about jobs? Is your skill set such that you don't need to pin down employment first? are you looking for a condo in an apartment building, a townhouse, or a Single family home for that 200K? What is your definition of 'safe'? I think you can probably rule out any Metro area on the east coast in that price range
More likely in the northeast of maybe midwest than other parts of the country. Even so there is considerable variation between towns and school districts. Usually very good schools are associated with higher real estate taxes and higher real estate prices.
Few of us get to make this choice independent of job options. Most get a desirable job and then try to pick a place to live nearby.
What about jobs? Is your skill set such that you don't need to pin down employment first? are you looking for a condo in an apartment building, a townhouse, or a Single family home for that 200K? What is your definition of 'safe'? I think you can probably rule out any Metro area on the east coast in that price range
My job isn't tied to my location. I'm definitely looking for a single family home. Thanks!!
We moved from a HCOL area to the Midwest (southcentral Ohio) and live in a wonderful suburb of a big city with everything you could want in terms of culture and outdoor activities (sans ocean, but lots of rivers), four seasons, schools in the 7-10 range on the Great Schools scale, and tons of single family homes in the 140-180k range in these districts if you want a well maintained older ranch in a safe neighborhood (fully updated or newer and your price range will jump up a little, more in the $220k range for 2000 sq feet of updated space)
Can’t beat it for a balance of cost of living and quality IMO. Here or parts of Minnesota were our top choice on the metrics you listed.
I'm trying to find a US location (city or suburb, nothing too rural) with affordable housing (preferably $200k or less for home in SAFE area) with great public schools. Is this possible? Where do you suggest I look?
well, there are good schools and lesser schools in each state. And a good elementary school may not mean a good middle or high school, or vice versa.
But I guess you'd start with the top 10 states as rated by some outfit you trust. I don't trust them, but Wallethub puts out a list of each state.
Within those states, you should be able to find data on individual school districts. Pick the best 5-10 that aren't rural by your definition. Then look in those locations for houses under $200K.
at the end of the day, you've got between zero and 50-100 places to consider.
I'm trying to find a US location (city or suburb, nothing too rural) ...with great public schools.
The common denominator for great public schools is actively involved parents who have adequate time and resources
and the inclination to prepare their children well ...and later to expect them to produce.
It also almost always means a stay at home parent.
These households and schools exist everywhere... that the upper two quintiles live.
These households and schools exist almost nowhere... that the bottom two quintiles live.
(keep your anecdotal exceptions to yourselves)
That leaves you (most really) trying to find that middle quintile world.
It's getting smaller all the time.
Quote:
...with affordable housing (preferably $200k or less for home in SAFE area)
Is this possible? Where do you suggest I look?
That $200K figure less a responsible 20% down
leaves you with a $160,000 mortgage
(or more with PMI etc) and implies an income (2.5:1) of $64,000... from one earner.
Last edited by MrRational; 11-07-2018 at 02:29 PM..
Yes, the living is good, the real estate prices are low and the property taxes are outrageously high.
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