if you were to relocate in the u.s. what state/city would it be? (1 Viewer)

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Relocated to Phoenix area after college and don't see myself venturing far away.

Got into real estate as a then side gig little over a decade ago and will probably continue to do winters in PHX and at least a portion of the summers in Prescott. Love being able to experience all within a 90 min drive....and sports being on and over at a reasonable hour.

 

[NutterButter]

I prefer to just do what I consider to be the cheap route and stay somewhere where I kind of get a small amount of each four seasons but the winter is "easy".  North Atlanta suburbs. 

Those winters are really mild compared to nothern winters.  If I'm still in NJ, I would certainly consider spending some time down there especially at the tail end of winter when its approaching the 60's down there.  So maybe do 2 months down on the gulf coast of florida and then 1 month in georgia for instance.   

 

[wikkidpissah]

I’ve lived in the upper Midwest my whole life. I’d love a place with milder winters. I don’t have a specific place nailed down. I’ve considered Portland, Charlotte, Austin among others. Low cost of living is important to me, but I also like being in or near a large metropolitan area. I haven’t really found a place that marks all the boxes.

again, i must recommend Reno NV to those who enjoy aspects of northern living but no longer want to be brutalized by it. the high desert is wonderful - four seasons, none too severe (less 100 degree days than Boston in the last decade, 40s & 50-degree days w a couple Arctic blasts each winter). the greatest snowmass in the contiguous USA 45 minutes away, but almost none on your doorstep. treMENDous flyfishing and other mountain outdoorsiness in the Sierra, eat out & party 24-hrs a day because of the casinos, can still get a nice house for 150-200K and the cultural advantages of the Bay Area a 4 hr humphop away.

 

[Judge Smails]

again, i must recommend Reno NV to those who enjoy aspects of northern living but no longer want to be brutalized by it. the high desert is wonderful - four seasons, none too severe (less 100 degree days than Boston in the last decade, 40s & 50-degree days w a couple Arctic blasts each winter). the greatest snowmass in the contiguous USA 45 minutes away, but almost none on your doorstep. treMENDous flyfishing and other mountain outdoorsiness in the Sierra, eat out & party 24-hrs a day because of the casinos, can still get a nice house for 150-200K and the cultural advantages of the Bay Area a 4 hr humphop away.

My brother lived in Reno. Gambling towns are cold in more ways than one 

 

[simsarge]

I thought LV had a reasonable cost of living?

As to the OP, Covid and politics have really helped me appreciate how wonderful it is living in HI. If I had to move to the continental US, I think I'd choose Salt Lake City.

Cost of living is pretty steep, right? 

 

[kutta]

Relocated to Phoenix area after college and don't see myself venturing far away.

Got into real estate as a then side gig little over a decade ago and will probably continue to do winters in PHX and at least a portion of the summers in Prescott. Love being able to experience all within a 90 min drive....and sports being on and over at a reasonable hour.

I’ve been in Phoenix 44 years and the summers are just so brutal - agree on Prescott - it’s perfect.

Lets just get @Zow on board.

 

[Zow]

I’ve been in Phoenix 44 years and the summers are just so brutal - agree on Prescott - it’s perfect.

Lets just get @Zow on board.

Eh, I think I'm pretty content in Flag. Nothing against Prescott - got a great downtown - but the golf isn't quite as great and I can't imagine better summers than in Flag. Plus the Yavapai County Attorney's Office is a bit, uh, interesting. 

Gun to my head if I had to relocate it'd probably be a place like the Village of Oak Creek. Probably just something right in town there on the 179 to avoid the ugly Sedona traffic. Tough call would be whether it'd be worth it to join Seven Canyons or play closer at Sedona Golf Resort or Oak Creek Country Club. Be pretty awesome though to have those hikes and views within just a few blocks. 

 

[kutta]

Eh, I think I'm pretty content in Flag. Nothing against Prescott - got a great downtown - but the golf isn't quite as great and I can't imagine better summers than in Flag. Plus the Yavapai County Attorney's Office is a bit, uh, interesting. 

Gun to my head if I had to relocate it'd probably be a place like the Village of Oak Creek. Probably just something right in town there on the 179 to avoid the ugly Sedona traffic. Tough call would be whether it'd be worth it to join Seven Canyons or play closer at Sedona Golf Resort or Oak Creek Country Club. Be pretty awesome though to have those hikes and views within just a few blocks. 

You can’t really go wrong in the entire Prescott-Cottonwood-Jerome-Sedona-Flagstaff area. It’s all beautiful.

 

[Zow]

You can’t really go wrong in the entire Prescott-Cottonwood-Jerome-Sedona-Flagstaff area. It’s all beautiful.

Camp Verde/Rim Rock is quietly decent too - especially down by the river. 

 

[Joe Bryant]

Thanks for discussion on this. I love where I live in Knoxville, TN, but I've thought more on this in the last few years. 

I have family in Hawaii and that's a fascinating place. I grew up in Texas and have family there still. 

My work would let me live pretty much anywhere with an internet connection. 

 

[Don Quixote]

I like where I currently live in Alexandria, VA. Convenient to lots of museums and historical sites. Weather does not have the extremes of some other areas. Cost of living is pretty high though, and this pandemic has taught me that living far away from family can be tough (my wife's family from New Mexico and mine from New Jersey).

If I could move anywhere, I guess it would be New Mexico (she is from Albuquerque, although lots of good towns out there), given lower cost of living, closer to her family to help take care of the little one, and some good food to boot.

While I haven't set foot in an office since March, I do think we will go back to expectation of going back to office at least semi-regularly once the pandemic is over though, and not really a demand for tax attorneys specializing in mergers and acquisitions out in NM.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I’ve been in Phoenix 44 years and the summers are just so brutal - agree on Prescott - it’s perfect.

Lets just get @Zow on board.

Prescott is that much different from Phoenix? There not that far apart.

 

[kutta]

Prescott is that much different from Phoenix? There not that far apart.

Much different. 15-20 degrees cooler in Prescott. The summer temps rarely reach 100, and Prescott gets some snow in the winter.

Prescott is at 5300 feet elevation so there's pine trees there too. It's like a different world from Phoenix.

 

[kutta]

@Andy Dufresne, one more thing. You're exactly right on the proximity. We have a house in Prescott and one in North Phoenix. With minimal traffic, it's about 75 minutes door to door for me. It's pretty amazing.

 

[johnnycakes]

Much different. 15-20 degrees cooler in Prescott. The summer temps rarely reach 100, and Prescott gets some snow in the winter.

Prescott is at 5300 feet elevation so there's pine trees there too. It's like a different world from Phoenix.

Given the choice, do you take Prescott or Flagstaff?

 

[Van Dyman]

If I could get my wife on board with this I could totally see myself in the UP.  Unfortunately I can’t see it happening.

we are starting our search now in Eastern TN area. Looking for a retirement friendly state where we can make the most of a pension and investments.

If money were no object it would be MT. Sorry Zed....

I always thought the place I grew up (East TN) would be a good area for retirement. It's beautiful and cheap. If you're considering a sparsely populated area, include potential culture shock in your selection process. Western NC is similarly beautiful, IMO, but I don't know how it compares money-wise. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[kutta]

Given the choice, do you take Prescott or Flagstaff?

I'd take Prescott, but totally see the draw of Flagstaff. Flag has skiing and Northern AZ University, so it's a pretty cool town. It's also cooler temperature-wise than Prescott, so the summers are outstanding.

I went to Embry-Riddle in Prescott for college, so I have an emotional attachment there. The Prescott downtown area is better, IMO, and there's just a vibe and feel in Prescott that I really like.

And actually, I did have a choice. We used to have a second house in Flagstaff but we sold it and bought one in Prescott instead. So they are really pretty close for me.

 

[johnnycakes]

I'd take Prescott, but totally see the draw of Flagstaff. Flag has skiing and Northern AZ University, so it's a pretty cool town. It's also cooler temperature-wise than Prescott, so the summers are outstanding.

I went to Embry-Riddle in Prescott for college, so I have an emotional attachment there. The Prescott downtown area is better, IMO, and there's just a vibe and feel in Prescott that I really like.

And actually, I did have a choice. We used to have a second house in Flagstaff but we sold it and bought one in Prescott instead. So they are really pretty close for me.

  I'm just starting to scout out retirement locales.  So far the only real requirement I have is that I don't want to get any snow.  That said, a freak storm every 10 years is tolerable.  

 

[shades]

Chet's house

 

[kutta]

  I'm just starting to scout out retirement locales.  So far the only real requirement I have is that I don't want to get any snow.  That said, a freak storm every 10 years is tolerable.  

If you don't want a lot of snow, Prescott is much better than Flagstaff. Prescott is also closer to Phoenix by about 30 minutes, so that's an advantage too.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Prescott is that much different from Phoenix? There not that far apart.

i dont know if its the case in Prescott but i know that, from the end of the Rockies in NM all the way down to tropical Mexico, many microclimates exist in the pocket mountain ranges, where summers are nowhere near as severe as in nearby lowlands yet winters are not snowbound. from Timberon NM to Zacatecas & Guanajuato, there a number of retirement communities (at least til narcoterrorism became a problem) enjoying the benefits

 

[jwb]

My brother lived in Reno. Gambling towns are cold in more ways than one 

We felt that the last time we visited Vegas. We talked to a ton of locals about what it was like to live there, and nobody seemed to  love it. We also had friends live there for about five years, and then moved away because they said it felt very depressing overall. 

 

[steelerfan1]

I always thought the place I grew up (East TN) would be a good area for retirement. It's beautiful and cheap. If you're considering a sparsely populated area, include potential culture shock in your selection process. Western NC is similarly beautiful, IMO, but I don't know how it compares money-wise. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks Vandy! We just visited Townsend a couple months back and didn't get that here is where we want to be feeling, but we will continue to look when we take our long weekend trips to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Area. We may look towards Maryville next.

The wife would love to be on a lake and I hear Norris Lake area is nice but to be honest is probably more cash than I'd want to spend.

NC (Our home state now)States tax is a few points lower but they are going put their hands into our pensions and 401k's and SS, where TN won't.

My friend just bought some land in Fancy Gap VA, but VA has some taxing issues too I believe.

 

[Judge Smails]

Thanks for discussion on this. I love where I live in Knoxville, TN, but I've thought more on this in the last few years. 

I have family in Hawaii and that's a fascinating place. I grew up in Texas and have family there still. 

My work would let me live pretty much anywhere with an internet connection. 

My Aunt and her husband both worked at Delta Airlines.  Traveled everywhere, built multiple homes in in up and coming beach cities in Florida.  Bought and sold then did it again.  They spent several years researching ideal retirement spots.  Ended up in Tellico Village outside of Knoxville.  Unfortunately I only got to visit when her husband passed away.  But I remember it was absolutely beautiful.  Seemed to have everything you look for, especially in retirement.  Play a round of golf, boat on the lake, take in the beauty of the outdoors.  It's a spot I could see myself in.

 

[EYLive]

It's 80 degrees and sunny in west Los Angeles today. I went on a hike with our dog, saw plenty of yoga pants and sports bras along the way. I'm not ever moving.

 

[Joe Bryant]

My Aunt and her husband both worked at Delta Airlines.  Traveled everywhere, built multiple homes in in up and coming beach cities in Florida.  Bought and sold then did it again.  They spent several years researching ideal retirement spots.  Ended up in Tellico Village outside of Knoxville.  Unfortunately I only got to visit when her husband passed away.  But I remember it was absolutely beautiful.  Seemed to have everything you look for, especially in retirement.  Play a round of golf, boat on the lake, take in the beauty of the outdoors.  It's a spot I could see myself in.

I do like it. 

4 mild seasons. Smokey Mountain National Park in my backyard. 

The big thing I"m wrestling too is 30 years of relationships. That's giant for me. Hit me up if you come back to visit. I'm just 30 minutes from Tellico Village. 

 

[Tony Jabroni]

New Mexico. Lived there for 2yrs when I was 6. Most beautiful country I have seen. When the sun went down on the San Dia mountains, glorious. 

 

[Terminalxylem]

Prescott is that much different from Phoenix? There not that far apart.

Temperature drops 3-5 degrees for every 1000 ft elevation gain.

 

[Manster]

again, i must recommend Reno NV to those who enjoy aspects of northern living but no longer want to be brutalized by it. the high desert is wonderful - four seasons, none too severe (less 100 degree days than Boston in the last decade, 40s & 50-degree days w a couple Arctic blasts each winter). the greatest snowmass in the contiguous USA 45 minutes away, but almost none on your doorstep. treMENDous flyfishing and other mountain outdoorsiness in the Sierra, eat out & party 24-hrs a day because of the casinos, can still get a nice house for 150-200K and the cultural advantages of the Bay Area a 4 hr humphop away.

Lived in Carson City for 12 years, and I miss that area quite a bit.  Awesome 4 seasons, and definitely not extreme.....you get a touch of extreme, and then goes away.  I'm a fly-fishing and backpacking joneser.  The Sierra is incredible....I miss that range dearly!  The BIG desert mountain ranges out east are awesome too.  Public land, and sparsely populated......funny, my wife liked to go over the mountain to Cali, sac and SF......and I MUCH preferred to go east away from the goat rodeo.....

I don't think ur gonna get much for $200k in Reno though....we sold our house in Carson for $250k in '15 and it's currently $340k on Zillow.....1600ish square feet 4 bed/2 bath.

So this is where I'd go back to.....my other choices are Bend or Boise areas.......I'm all about the outdoors......if not for the winters, I'd be into Eastern Idaho/Wyoming/Montana.

 

[Manster]

We felt that the last time we visited Vegas. We talked to a ton of locals about what it was like to live there, and nobody seemed to  love it. We also had friends live there for about five years, and then moved away because they said it felt very depressing overall. 

Reno/Tahoe is NOTHING like vegas.....In my 12 years in NV I went to Vegas once.....it's a craphole.

 

[MAC_32]

I always thought the place I grew up (East TN) would be a good area for retirement. It's beautiful and cheap. If you're considering a sparsely populated area, include potential culture shock in your selection process. Western NC is similarly beautiful, IMO, but I don't know how it compares money-wise. Good luck and keep us posted.

I doubt we ever leave Cleveland. Established relationships that @Joe Bryant mentioned. If we did though - this is where i would want to go. The intersection between cost of living, proximal activities, and weather.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Temperature drops 3-5 degrees for every 1000 ft elevation gain.

Is that a standard general rule of thumb for most anywhere?

 

[Joe Bryant]

I always thought the place I grew up (East TN) would be a good area for retirement. It's beautiful and cheap. If you're considering a sparsely populated area, include potential culture shock in your selection process. Western NC is similarly beautiful, IMO, but I don't know how it compares money-wise. Good luck and keep us posted.

Agreed. Where in East TN?

 

[NutterButter]

Eh, I think I'm pretty content in Flag. Nothing against Prescott - got a great downtown - but the golf isn't quite as great and I can't imagine better summers than in Flag. Plus the Yavapai County Attorney's Office is a bit, uh, interesting. 

Gun to my head if I had to relocate it'd probably be a place like the Village of Oak Creek. Probably just something right in town there on the 179 to avoid the ugly Sedona traffic. Tough call would be whether it'd be worth it to join Seven Canyons or play closer at Sedona Golf Resort or Oak Creek Country Club. Be pretty awesome though to have those hikes and views within just a few blocks. 

How's Sedona?  I'm liking those winter temperatures a lot more.  Of course I'd never want to live there in the summer.  Thinking more as a snowbird destination.   

 

[AAABatteries]

I have a feeling for most the answer will depend on elderly parents and kids.  I’m at that stage of life where I’m slowly moving towards my kids being adults and my parents and In-laws are all living and close by.  My wife will probably insist on being close to the grandkids and I will have no issue with that.  

 

[NutterButter]

I have a feeling for most the answer will depend on elderly parents and kids.  I’m at that stage of life where I’m slowly moving towards my kids being adults and my parents and In-laws are all living and close by.  My wife will probably insist on being close to the grandkids and I will have no issue with that.  

Some factors in there as well.  If the kids stay local, then chances are I'll be in NJ.  But if they move away (especially if they split up), then who knows.   

 

[AAABatteries]

Some factors in there as well.  If the kids stay local, then chances are I'll be in NJ.  But if they move away (especially if they split up), then who knows.   

Yeah - we have four and I’ve wondered what will happen if they spread out.

 

[Van Dyman]

Agreed. Where in East TN?

I meant East TN in general as a good area for retirement, not any specific town. To answer your curiosity, though, I grew up in the Tri-Cities area.

 

[Zow]

How's Sedona?  I'm liking those winter temperatures a lot more.  Of course I'd never want to live there in the summer.  Thinking more as a snowbird destination.   

Fantastic. The Village of Oak Creek that I referenced is basically right there. Sedona proper has a bit of traffic which is why I would suggest the Oak Creek area over it. 

Also, Sedona in the summer is very tolerable. It's about 20 degrees cooler than the Phoenix area. 

 

[Joe Bryant]

I meant East TN in general as a good area for retirement, not any specific town. To answer your curiosity, though, I grew up in the Tri-Cities area.

Awesome. Pal's burger for the win. 

 

[Osaurus]

Fantastic. The Village of Oak Creek that I referenced is basically right there. Sedona proper has a bit of traffic which is why I would suggest the Oak Creek area over it. 

Also, Sedona in the summer is very tolerable. It's about 20 degrees cooler than the Phoenix area. 

I stayed in Oak Creek the last time I was out there. I really like it and it’s way more chill than up the road in Sedona. 

 

[Keerock]

Green acres?

It's the place to be.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Is that a standard general rule of thumb for most anywhere?

Yes.

 

[Zow]

I stayed in Oak Creek the last time I was out there. I really like it and it’s way more chill than up the road in Sedona. 

Yep for sure. My wife and I usually choose to stay there instead of Sedona proper. 

 

[DallasDMac]

I meant East TN in general as a good area for retirement, not any specific town. To answer your curiosity, though, I grew up in the Tri-Cities area.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what constitutes the Tri-Cities area?

Never mind. Google is my friend:

The Tri-Cities is the region comprising the cities of Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol and the surrounding smaller towns and communities in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. All three cities are located in Northeast Tennessee, while Bristol has a twin city of the same name in Virginia.

 

[top dog]

My wife and I have had this discussion a number of times over the years. It usually goes like this...

Me: I'm tired of northeast Ohio winters. When we retire I want to live somewhere warmer. How about Florida or like Tennessee?

Her: Are our grandkids going to live there too?

Me: Damn it. I guess Ohio isn't so bad..

Reality is those relationships will keep us here. 

 

[QuizGuy66]

Thanks for discussion on this. I love where I live in Knoxville, TN, but I've thought more on this in the last few years. 

I have family in Hawaii and that's a fascinating place. I grew up in Texas and have family there still. 

My work would let me live pretty much anywhere with an internet connection. 

I visualize Joe traveling the world on a Bryant Boat

-QG

 

[MAC_32]

My wife and I have had this discussion a number of times over the years. It usually goes like this...

Me: I'm tired of northeast Ohio winters. When we retire I want to live somewhere warmer. How about Florida or like Tennessee?

Her: Are our grandkids going to live there too?

Me: Damn it. I guess Ohio isn't so bad..

Reality is those relationships will keep us here. 

Everybody is different, but January and February are really the only 2 months that make me punchy. I have no delusions we'll ever leave here, so an annual extended vacation during the meat of that time period is my intended course of action. Decades away from that conversation though.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Wife and I lived in Reno for a little while and left just a few years back.  We liked it a lot more than we expected.  That said, $200s ain't getting you much there anymore, unless you're talking living waaay too close to the downtown area than you'd probably want to (it's basically littered with meth heads released from Sun Valley, these days) or you're going pretty small.

South of Reno proper though?  Some pretty nice areas (Southmeadows, Damonte Ranch, Double Diamond, etc.) where you can get a fairly good-sized home (with actual yards/space between your neighbors) in the $300s, last I checked.   Sparks isn't terrible either, albeit it's going toward the meth heads a little, and the costs there have been rising because of Tesla the last couple/three years.

We've discussed maybe going back someday, when work doesn't tie me to a particular region.  Pros:  Price is still pretty right, has a pretty decent healthcare system, Tahoe is RIGHT there, it has in international airport, if you like any kind of outdoor stuff it's your huckleberry, and you cannot beat the views.  Cons: Downtown is trying to revitalize, but has some reeeeeally depressed areas (including the park right on the Truckee, which is a drag.  It could be really nice), there isn't a ton of culture, and you are a touch "isolated" if you're not into air travel. 

 

[top dog]

Everybody is different, but January and February are really the only 2 months that make me punchy. I have no delusions we'll ever leave here, so an annual extended vacation during the meat of that time period is my intended course of action. Decades away from that conversation though.

You are correct. The worst is Jan-Feb, but even that isn't that bad. It doesn't get as cold as the extreme Northwest parts of the country and it really doesn't snow as bad as people think here. Especially living just west of Cleveland, we are outside the snowbelt.  Just not a fan of the winter. After wrecking my knee a number of years ago playing basketball, I like to refer to the Winter season as "ACL Season".  

I don't hate it here and also know we aren't really going anywhere. I like your idea of an extended vacation period when I get to retirement age. Bug out after Christmas and come back when the weather breaks.   I think the South is overrated in the summer anyway. Have family in Florida and South Carolina and for some reason, we would always end up doing some family vacation down there in like July. The heat and humidity was always brutal. Not to mention Palmetto bugs are just kind of freaky.

"Yo Uncle. You guys have friggin FLYING COCKROACHES HERE!" "Naw nephew. Those are Palmetto bugs. They aren't cockroaches."