Where to retire.

[JoeW]

Not that I'm that close to retirement, but Ladyfish's post about most stressful cities has raised a question in my mind. Which coastal city has the lowest cost of living? I'd love to live within 20 min of a coast (Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf), but California property rates are way too rich for my blood. I'd like to hear from those of you who do live within 30 minutes of a coast. What's the median price of a three bedroom single family home in your area?

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Where to retire.

If you look at those cities the most stressful are also the most liberal. Hmmmmm. <br /><br />3 Bedroom, 2 bath on water can run $150-$1M here.

 

[JoeW]

Re: Where to retire.

Ladyfish,<br />By $150 I assume you mean $150,000, correct? Coastal property in the $1M would be a bargan in CA.

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: Where to retire.

Our weekley newspaper, "The Woodside Almanac" just arrived a bit ago. I looked thru the realestate section and found a 2 br., 1 ba. home, in a "natural country setting". The house is in an older section of town and looks about 50+ years old. The lots in that area are apx. 1/4 acre, more or less. I don't see a garage in the property picture.<br /><br />The selling realtor boasts in the ad, this is the lowest price home listed at this time in Woodside, as of 1-8-04, per the realestate multiple listing service (MLS). The home is about 30 minutes from the Paciific Ocean. That's the good news. <br /><br />...The bad news is, The home is listed at....$899.000..... <br /><br /> ...Bob in Calif...

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Where to retire.

Hopefully in ten years I will be able to spend my summers on Steamboat Lake in Minnesota until the ducks head south. No Florida snow bird here...Maybe somewhere near the coast in Texas. Would like something near the ocean or close to it as possible so I can do what I enjoy doing the most,fishing..

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Where to retire.

Mars looks promising,lets hope that rivers and lakes teeming with fish are discovered

 

[JoeW]

Re: Where to retire.

Bob, Wow! 30 min. from the coast and < $1M. It must be a real dump. <br />Right now I'm betting that Galvaston is one of the least expensive coastal areas in the nation (at least of the areas that don't freeze over in the winter). I just might plant my eye on that area. I've heard that Texas, in general, is pretty reasonable.

 

[JB]

Re: Where to retire.

Small towns in south central Texas are nice living, Joe. About 100-150 miles south of The Hideout. <br /><br />Decent 2-3br, 2 ba, carport homes can be found well under $100K. Closer to the coast (south of Austin) the prices go up fast. Really hot in summer, but fishing all year round.<br /><br />Getting close to the coast will cost you anywhere.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[11 footer]

Re: Where to retire.

I vote for someone down south, as I sit in MA.<br /><br />Its three degrees here right now, my dad and my cell phones are getting call after call from tennets who eaither have no heat, or pipes are froze.......it sucks <br /><br />I would miss snow, but nothing else.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Where to retire.

been hearin' more & more people movin'to south carolina.. charleston area.. they all love it.. especially the people there.. none friendier..

 

[Trent]

Re: Where to retire.

Hush....Jb. Them guys might move down this way. You forgot you live at the "Hideout" Keep doing that and it will be the "Lookout"

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: Where to retire.

JoeW.....<br /><br />Larry Ellison, the founder the Oracle Corporation, now lives here in town. He bought up about about 45 acres and has spent apx. $40,000,000 on his estate.<br />His property taxes run at least $500,000 a year! <br /><br />Being worth BILLIONS, he has a security force larger than many city police departments.<br /><br /> ...Bob in Calif...

 

[BrianFD]

Re: Where to retire.

Been thinkin' about this topic for a while (not that I'm anywhere near retiring). I've always wanted to visit Australia and see what it's like to live there. The wife's not too pleased, knowing that 9 of the 10 most poisonest (is that a word??) snakes live there. And she's not too keen on the huge spiders she's seen on the travel documentaries, either. But I say, "What the heck?!" Might be worth investigating, anyway.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Where to retire.

There's several small communities on the Oregon coast, and housing is dirt cheap.. That is...If we can keep the Californian liberals out of them! <br /><br />I wouldn't recommend retiring here. Not anymore.<br /><br />We don't call our current governor "Governor tax-and-gouge-me" for no reason!<br /><br />H.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Where to retire.

Georgia is pretty cheap. We had guys buying houses in Savannah all the time, and then there are smaller communities farther south towards Florida. Not a lot of hurricanes hit that area, they go either north or south, but it gets the fringe benefits like heavy rain and things like that. I hated it there, but I think that it was because I was in the military there. as a civilian it probably isn't too bad.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Where to retire.

What about the NORTH coast?<br />There are some beautiful harbor towns in the UP of Michigan, take your pick, Lake Superior or Michigan. Nice and cool, big water, well insulated women.

 

[Link]

Re: Where to retire.

joew94th <br /><br />Homerr <br /><br />

There's several small communities on the Oregon coast, and housing is dirt cheap.. That is...If we can keep the Californian liberals out of them! <br />

What he said is sadly very true. On both accounts.<br />This is true for both OR and WA. We once were giants in the logging and fishing industries.<br />Now these little coastal towns are depressing to drive through. There is no work to support them selves. <br />It wasn't Californacaters that messed us up!<br /><br />Point 1:<br />It was our own Tree Huggin, Fish Lickin Left wing liberals who would rather see a tree or Fin live and a human die!<br /><br />If your serious, bring your checkbook and start from around Seaside OR and head north on Hwy 101.<br />Go all the way up to the top of WA. You can live in a coastal town (not 20 minutes away) for pennies on the dollar from where you now live)<br /><br />IE: My brother bought a cabin on the coast! 3 bedroom home on 5 acres.. (used to be a working familys home) found out his kids would rather romp the woods where he still lives where we grew up so he put the property back on the market two years ago. Dropped the price to what he paid for it 4 years ago.. still hasn't sold!<br /><br />Point 2:<br /><br />Homerr <br /><br />

If we can keep the Californian liberals out of them! <br />

Another GREAT point! <br />Now I don't blame them as I don't think Homerr does.<br />Homerr: You can correct me here if I spoke out of line for you!<br />But what happens is people who live in CA can sell a single dwelling house for $350K - $1000,000<br />and move up here and not only buy more land than they have ever seen without looking at another person but also buy a business with it.. then they tell their friends.. friends tell friends then all the property is going for CA prices.. and a guy making a meer 70K a year can't afford a single bedroom apartment..<br />This has been going on for years up here.<br /><br />joew94th:<br />If you want to live on the Left Coast do it this year! After this year and this post Californian's well mess it up for you.<br /><br />Link

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Where to retire.

Brian FD<br /><br />You wouldn't be the first American thinking of moving down under.<br /> <br />Yes, we do have some great snakes and spiders but they are not too much of a problem in built up areas. The Croc Hunter Steve lives about 20 min up the road.(crocs are not native to our area - start about 400miles north)<br /><br />Got a good friend from Texas, been here about 10yrs and loves the place.<br /><br />Pretty hot though, like 20 degree C in the winter and well over 30 in summer, with real high humidity, hence you dine outside on the veranda.<br /><br />You would have to leave your guns at home though.<br /> <br />I live 30 minutes from a Marina, and from there it is about 30 minutes across the Bay to an area that is typical Tropical waters, absolutely fantastic.<br /> <br />Only 3m people in our state.<br /><br />Biggest problem you would face is the cultural change and family being so far away.<br /><br />We have a few Americans (all Americans are called Yanks)living here and they range from odd-balls to business types to retired servicemen.<br />It is not every ones cup of tea, but we emigrated because the weather was brilliant every day of the year, there was good opportunity, housing cost are real low, cost of living excellant and the health and retirement schemes brilliant.<br /><br />There are a few down sides but we just ignore them and get on with enjoying life.<br /><br />Tell your wife to find an Aussie to talk too or take a holiday and see what you think.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[BRIAN03]

Re: Where to retire.

Carolina Beach North Carolina. Great fishing/boating and beaches. The number one key to living here is a boat with a Yamaha. Big Yamahas and must be two stroke. Best way to fit in here. This is Yamaha country. ps. The weather is real nice too.

 

[BrianFD]

Re: Where to retire.

Phillip,<br />Thanks for the info, Mate! (Am I gettin' into it??) May just take you up on your offer to come and vist your continent, 'tho it probably won't be for quite some time.<br />I'm always facinated watching documentaries and movies made from Australia (Whale Rider was one of my favorites last year... but didn't like any of the Croc Dundee movies... go figure?!), but admit I probably couldn't name more than 4 of your largest cities and probably only 1 or 2 of your states... Should probably brush up on your country's customs, lifestyles, wildlife and geography before considering a visit. I can almost speak the language (but NOT Aboriginese), lol! Anyway, will give me something to do during these winter months when all I can do is lament that I can't boat or even work on her.<br />Appreciate the reply!<br />G'day!