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Old 03-05-2015, 05:51 AM
 
Location: Mount Airy, Maryland
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Not sure why there are so many California suggestions, even with the new tax structure it's still a very expensive place to live.
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Old 03-05-2015, 05:54 AM
 
Location: Mount Airy, Maryland
16,146 posts, read 10,293,441 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davebarnes View Post
Mumbai

I wish this board had the ability to down vote a post. Why would you even say this?
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Old 03-05-2015, 07:18 AM
 
Location: Retired
890 posts, read 877,278 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveinMtAiry View Post
Not sure why there are so many California suggestions, even with the new tax structure it's still a very expensive place to live.
Can't beat the climate, or cultural activities in California. Great scenery. Move away from the main populated areas and costs become reasonable. Taxes are only high on the wealthy.
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Old 03-05-2015, 07:18 AM
 
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We've been looking at moving to the Phoenix area, not for retirement (well, not for a few decades) but because we want a sunny climate, reasonable cost of living, and scenic places to visit nearby.

We're seeing plenty of nice newer houses in the low 200s, I'm guessing that high 200s or 300 would get you the square footage you want. Many areas are safe and pleasant (we liked Tempe and Chandler best, although the suburb of Gilbert is known for being extremely low in crime). Property tax and (I'm told) income tax are low. Winters are 70-80F and sunny (we went in February and spent the whole week in sandals and t-shirts). Big international airport. Some high tech, though not like California. Beautiful places to visit like the Grand Canyon and numerous desert trails and spectacular sunsets.

Politically I've heard the area leans conservative (libertarian?) but I don't plan on striking up political discussions with strangers anyway. I don't recall the health insurance marketplace looking great, but I was looking into an outfit called Meritus for individual insurance and it seemed OK.

The downside - the place is blazing hot in the summers. Mitigating factor: it is a dry heat. I'm told a lot of people try to stay indoors in the air conditioning in mid-summer. We were there in June and found it hot but manageable.
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Old 03-05-2015, 07:44 AM
 
Location: St. George, Utah
755 posts, read 1,114,724 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cherrylimeade View Post
We've been looking at moving to the Phoenix area, not for retirement (well, not for a few decades) but because we want a sunny climate, reasonable cost of living, and scenic places to visit nearby.

We're seeing plenty of nice newer houses in the low 200s, I'm guessing that high 200s or 300 would get you the square footage you want. Many areas are safe and pleasant (we liked Tempe and Chandler best, although the suburb of Gilbert is known for being extremely low in crime). Property tax and (I'm told) income tax are low. Winters are 70-80F and sunny (we went in February and spent the whole week in sandals and t-shirts). Big international airport. Some high tech, though not like California. Beautiful places to visit like the Grand Canyon and numerous desert trails and spectacular sunsets.

Politically I've heard the area leans conservative (libertarian?) but I don't plan on striking up political discussions with strangers anyway. I don't recall the health insurance marketplace looking great, but I was looking into an outfit called Meritus for individual insurance and it seemed OK.

The downside - the place is blazing hot in the summers. Mitigating factor: it is a dry heat. I'm told a lot of people try to stay indoors in the air conditioning in mid-summer. We were there in June and found it hot but manageable.
Same here. We purchased a future retirement/current vacation home in the Phoenix area (Goodyear, which is lovely). BUT I do like it hot, so the summer heat, which is intense, did not deter me. We will vacate back to MT or San Diego for a break during the hottest weeks, most likely, when the time comes. We have a pool in the back yard which is great for a quick dip to cool off in the heat. We still can't believe what you can buy (with a pool) in the Valley of the Sun for $200k-$300k. Very comfortable houses in great, beautiful master planned communities. If you like that sort of thing. We do.

Cost of living is great, we find the desert beautiful, San Diego is a 5 hour drive from our house.

AZ has a reputation for staunchly conservative politics in the national media, but we have yet to have a conversation about politics with any of our neighbors. It's a nice, laid-back, accepting place with small pockets of various ethnic populations scattered around the valley beyond the obvious white/hispanic population.

However, from your criteria it does sound like you are California bound, if you can swing it financially.
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Old 03-05-2015, 08:32 AM
 
Location: Backwoods of Maine
7,486 posts, read 10,449,334 times
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I won't (can't) suggest any particular city, but as a retiree, I have some suggestions, as you look:

*Avoid California, Arizona, Nevada, etc. This drought will worsen, before it improves.
*Look for LOW cost-of-living. Pensions make you feel rich at first, but after a few years? No...
*Stay away from any place so hot that you need air-conditioning all summer. That will get expensive. It would be better to endure just a little cold in winter, to be able to get outside in summer.
*Just because you can afford $300K doesn't mean you should spend that much. Going into retirement with a mortgage is never a good idea. The smaller the mortgage, the better.

If you still can't decide, do what we did: get a small place in the north, and a small place down south!
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Old 03-05-2015, 08:46 AM
 
Location: Heading Northwest In Nevada
8,893 posts, read 20,292,480 times
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I'm already retired (SS Early Retirement), but wife still works full-time. She hopes to be able to work until she turns 70 in 3 years, if her health stays good. She will get an extra $7k per year for waiting. Anyway, when we are both retired, we are giving it some serous consideration about moving back to south metro Denver, CO. Since we will both be retired, or even with a small part-time job (her), we won't have to travel in the snow like we would as full-time workers. We lived there for 5 1/2 years and absolutely loved the summers.......fishing, boating, casino trips to Black Hawk and, of course, going into RMNP. Loved seeing the wildlife there.

Currently living in northeastern Florida (since early '09) and the population has tremendously increased and traffic is getting heavier and heavier. The weather isn't what we thought it would be, colder w/some nasty t-storms and even Tropical Storms. No hurricanes though. And, we don't go to the beach nearly as much as we thought we would.
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Old 03-05-2015, 10:14 AM
 
16,369 posts, read 30,133,392 times
Reputation: 25417
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nor'Eastah View Post
I won't (can't) suggest any particular city, but as a retiree, I have some suggestions, as you look:

*Avoid California, Arizona, Nevada, etc. This drought will worsen, before it improves.

Advice on AZ from someone in Maine.

There are many parts of those states that are not in water emergencies. If water is a major concern, I would suggest contacting hydrologists in the states that you are interested in who are familiar with the local conditions.

Last edited by jlawrence01; 03-05-2015 at 10:23 AM..
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Old 03-05-2015, 10:59 AM
 
Location: California side of the Sierras
11,162 posts, read 7,602,125 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Graywhiskers View Post
Sacramento.
Everyone is different, of course, but my pollen/mold allergies bother me terribly in Sacramento.
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Old 03-05-2015, 11:09 AM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,639 posts, read 57,683,287 times
Reputation: 46084
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveinMtAiry View Post
I wish this board had the ability to down vote a post. Why would you even say this?
Lived international much?, or do you get employer provided healthcare?
Have you retired pre-age 65? (medicare eligible)

Quote:
Being first-generation immigrants from India, it would be good for my wife to find Asian Indian communities/families/restaurants/stores/cultural associations nearby
seems a reasonable response to OP (Who will no longer be able to get affordable HC if retiring early in USA. Federal Gov made 4 of my 'affordable' options illegal in last 3 yrs) .


We ALL know this is not gonna be an option...
It has never been 'funded', it is funny money and that disappears FAST.

Quote:
We are generally healthy but will have to rely on Obamacare (if it survives) for many years until Medicare kicks in.
Much ezr (and a whole lot cheaper) to move to Mumbai, Malaysia, or Thailand if you plan on needing HC and Asian culture and cuisine.
as with many parts of USA... It is becoming more desirable to visit than to live there (under new rules / lack of natural resources (water...)).
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