****How many others have been priced out of living in western WA/Seattle area? (Spokane: section 8, sales)

[folkguitarist555]

Subsidized housing in western WA has very long waiting lists. I make a hair too much from VA pension to qualify for any subsidized housing any how. Only very low incomes qualify for subsidized housing. Some of those waiting lists are over ,5 years long. I have researched Sierra Vista, to the person that mentioned Benson AZ. I got 6 months to decide where I'm heading.. I'm just starting to research early. Ultimately I believe it makes sense for me to just move to a cheaper region of the United States... Where the rents won't be climbing up sky-high anytime too soon.

[perigee]

Why did you stay here to the point of bitterness? I am usually pretty blunt about letting people know that there are cons to living here, but if the pros outweigh them then great, if not it's time to move, especially if you have the freedom of not being tied to a job.

It has been years since I have been in the southwest, but every time I am down there people bitterly complain about the drug and crime problem, as for Kentucky and Tennessee I know they are suffering badly from the opioid crisis. They were a quick hop to Florida that use to be a giant pill mill. Wherever you decide to move, make sure you really look into the crime issue, both on C-D forums and calling the police station.

Cheap rent usually means a depressed economy and drugs and crime usually go hand and hand with that.

One final note, look into your tax situation, you are leaving our lovely no income tax state to a state that might want a slice of that fixed income.

Good luck with everything, I hope you find what you are looking for.

[Sockeye66]

Originally Posted by folkguitarist555

Subsidized housing in western WA has very long waiting lists. I make a hair too much from VA pension to qualify for any subsidized housing any how. Only very low incomes qualify for subsidized housing. Some of those waiting lists are over ,5 years long. I have researched Sierra Vista, to the person that mentioned Benson AZ. I got 6 months to decide where I'm heading.. I'm just starting to research early. Ultimately I believe it makes sense for me to just move to a cheaper region of the United States... Where the rents won't be climbing up sky-high anytime too soon.

I mentioned the AZ locations. I found a lot of information through City-Data, most interesting was cost of living index. US median is 100, Nogales 82.8 vs. Seattle 120.3. Lot's of other great info to including crime stats, weather, and race info.

I've actually scheduled a week in Oct. in Tubac and will be searching and reviewing areas.

[NW4me]

Originally Posted by NorCal77

Didn't read your post before posting mine.. economic cleansing ha well said It's amazing how much the Mission and Soma have changed in the last 20 years. Valencia St is something else now smh..

Thanks, 77.... of course, people will say, "you can't prevent change." Indeed, but why must we accept changes that are for the worse (for most people)? Another thing to note is how impotent electoral politics was as a way of addressing the displacement/affordability crisis.

[folkguitarist555]

if I were to look at AZ, I would stick with Tuscon, or Sierra Vista I think. For NM, it would be Albuquerque. Prescott is way too expensive these days. I have a handful of smaller cities in the midwest as well.

[Flightoficarus87]

I saw the writing on the wall for COL in Seattle and the surrounding area several years ago. It's definitely a major reason why I went back to school (other than deciding I finally wanted to finish it anyway). Ironically, COL has gotten high enough here (and I think I need a change) that I'm considering moving to CA next year (if things work out/a good opportunity comes up).

I will echo what another poster in here said, and agree that it's rather unfortunate that the tech boom isn't helping out the metros that desperately need it (Rust Belt cities), while creating displacement/affordability crises (and severe growing pains in general) in places that were already doing fine (Mostly in Seattle, SF. Now it seems Portland, Denver, and Austin are getting spendy too).

OP, have you already looked into towns on the peninsulas and coast?

[s1alker]

^Actually Detroit and Pittsburgh are becoming good places for tech jobs but with a dramatically lower cost of living.

[Tall Traveler]

It is unfortunate for people, like OP, that are driven out of places like Seattle or coastal Cali because they can't afford to live there any longer but this happens worldwide, you have to adapt to the changing environment pro and con.

I'm about to retire and deliberately chose to 'retire' in a less expensive locale (Tri Cities) where I bought a new house for about 40% or less what it would have cost say in Woodinville which is a community I like. I also like San Diego and I could retire there but I don't want to tie up so much of my money in housing.

Good luck to OP.....Branson does sound nice for those that like a smaller community.

[wilberry]

The lower middle class is being priced our of a comfortable lifestyle in every desirable western city. EVEN IN the smaller ones.

[Hacker1234]

Very scary.