Lately my wife Cat and I have been thinking about buying a home, because it looks like by the end of this year we’re going to have a little Actual Money, and enough with the renting already. The problem is that we can’t afford to buy a home in San Diego, where lawn mower shacks go for $350,000 — more if they have a window.
Check this out, for instance: Yesterday we went to painfully gorgeous downtown San Diego to check out condo prices. Typical of the places we looked was a 726 sq. foot, one-bedroom, one-bath, no laundry, no view condo for $490,000–PLUS $660 per month homeowners association fees.
Seven hundred twenty-six square feet is small. Moving there would mean only one of us could ever be home at the same time. So forget it. And, as I say, that unit was typical of the condos we looked at down there. And that’s after housing prices have been dropping in San Diego for a while.
San Diego has the best weather in the history of beach towels. We love it here. But it’s crazy expensive. Neither of us has ever lived outside of California, though, so when we try to think of where else in the country we might like to live, sort of nothing comes to mind. We just don’t have any experience anywhere else.
“Ask your readers for their input!” said Cat this morning. “Ask people to tell you about where they live — how much houses are, what the weather’s like, what it’s like living in whatever weather they do. Maybe we should move to the Midwest! Maybe the Northwest! Maybe Tupelo, Mississippi! You’ve got up to four regular readers! Ask them if they’d recommend where they live, and why!”
Four readers. She thinks she’s so funny.
She knows I have five.
Anyway, if you’re inclined to share with us stuff about where you live, and whether or not you think we might like to live there, we’d sure appreciate the input. Thanks!
![John Shore on The Huffington Post](http://johnshore.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/huffpost.jpg?w=120 "John Shore on The Huffington Post\")
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
« 1 2
Sweet! My dad lives in NC! So I should totally check out your suggestion. Thanks for it!
Check out Jacksonville, NC. I live in an expensive part of the world too. If my wife didn’t want to own our residence … I would put a big chunk of my real estate portfolio in Jacksonville NC. We own just one house there purchased for $120K. Rent exceeds mortgage P&I + Taxes + insurance + management fee by about $200 per month.
um… lets go for NC!!!!!!!! Its a nifty state, lots of history. We fought with the SOuth in the confederate war. Very culturally mixed. Lots of colleges to pick from. We have Winston- Salem, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Durham… You know the awesome thing about Durham? It has Duke University. It has like the absolute coolest medical hospital there (Duke) and NC is right there in that whole medical feild. We have lots of pretty Scenery, and…. bad drivers. SO if you like to vent, well get in your car, and about 20 minutes from then you’ll vent. Lots of words. lol.
What else? If you are interested in Assisted Suicide, I’d go to Oregon, cause its legal there. If you arent… then NC is perfect!
And your dad lives in NC!!!!!!!!! ( Hah! I pay attention!)
First time reading your blog and I’m really enjoying it. I live on Cape Cod… yep, the Cape cod of the Kennedy’s and Clinton’s. I did not grow up here (I grew up on the “mainland” in Plymouth MA which I loved). We moved here to be closer to my husbands base (Otis Air Force Base). I must say that I like our town (Sandwich, MA) which is VERY cape cod and country and beautiful. It is the oldest town on the cape and the seasons are wonderful here (usually not too much snow). As it is a lesser known/traveled town on the cape, our tourist season isn’t too bad. And being only two exist over the bridge, we don’t hit much traffic either (well that might be because we avoid going off cape on Fridays, Sundays or Mondays during the summer!). I love having four seasons though the winter cold is definitely harder on me the older I get. I love living near the ocean as well.
We bought our house in 2005 for $317,000 which was a bargain back then. It is a 3 bed, 2 bath cape on 1/3 acre in a nice cul de sac. Considering the 2 bed 1.5 bath ranch two doors down went for $328,000 a week later, I count us lucky. The house is about 1400 sf and it was perfect for us – we truly love it. I do wish I could pick it up and put it in Plymouth (which still feels more like home to me) but it’s a great place to raise a family. Good luck with your looking!
PS – not a huge Christian population in MA… very liberal state but you can find some good churches and good people.
Listen to the Colorado folks, John. I lived most of my life in Oklahoma City before finally get to move to Denver a couple of years ago. I’ve ended up in north Thorton, close to my son, but I’d much prefer being farther west, with quick access to the muntains, or north up to Boulder or Longmont. The mountains are the draw here. Never think otherwise. Certainly more expensive that Oklahoma City. Denver is very busy, up and coming. Lots of cultural sites and events. OKC is much less sophisticated. Very reasonable cost of living, large area, nice neighborhood north and northwest. It’s pretty flat country and hot and dry in the summer. You have to consider how you feel about such thingsl Visitors always rave about how nice OKC folks are.
Well, hi…
But really, penguins should be part of the rozerum dream rather than sominex…
Of course, I like to tout Fort Collins, but you should check out what 168,000 will get you in Des Moines, Iowa:
http://desmoines.craigslist.org/rfs/472580083.html
(no fake ficus trees in this groovy pad, but Austin Powers would be right at home…)
Are we having fun yet?
The original 'The Lark' was published at the end of the century — not the one which first comes to mind, but San Francisco of the 1890's.
Gelett Burgess, one of it's editors gave the world the famous quatrain on 'The Purple Cow':
'I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never hope to see one.
But I can tell you anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one.'
And, somewhat later, produced a sequel:
'Ah, yes, I wrote "the Purple Cow" —
I'm sorry now I wrote it,
But I can tell you anyhow,
I'll kill you if you quote it.'
Source: (published on the East Coast about a city on the West Coast) Neville, Amelia Ransome. The Fantastic City. 1932: Cambridge, Massachusetts.
published on the web here: http://sfgenealogy.com/sf/history/hbtfc10.htm
(In 1905, Amelia Neville left San Francisco after it had been her home for nearly fifty years — a number which kinda makes you think of John for some reason…)
Awww, thanks nisperos! Originally from Phoenix, currently in New England (military husband). I'd love to be in Colorado though–beautiful place!
Oh and John, we spent a few years in southern Ohio and fell in love with it. Probably along the same vein as what you loved about Indiana. New England has so many wonderful things about it, but the winters are pretty harsh…Ohio has winter, but it's more bearable.
Those are my 2 cents anyway…
I wonder where Skerrib lives? Anyway, they have Avogadro's Number here in Fort Collins: http://www.avogadros.com/ and I think the sandwiches on the menu, — yes, some of them have avocados…
Love your blog Kerri! I didn't take HS Chem, so now I've been enlightened. Nerds are certainly welcome in this town! I think anyone who knows what colorants are — gee, I could use a little help with picking out colors for my wall…
Well, and that post from Lark news… ROFLAO! I so need that group too ; – )
My town just keeps on getting noticed:
Today’s [Fort Collins] Coloradoan (July 10, 2007): http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/BUSINESS/707100303
“Fort Collins has another notable recognition to add to its list. Fast Company magazine recently named Fort Collins as one of the 30 Fastest Cities to Work, Live and Play. The list includes cities from all over the world that are leading the way in business and technology innovation. The newest designation ranks Fort Collins up with world business leaders such as Toronto, London and Shanghai. The magazine, based out of New York, defines a Fast City as one that “attracts fast companies … the most creative, smartest, effective and innovative…”
Check out the article at Fast Company:
http://www.fastcompany.com/cities/2007/index.html
Hey John, by chance, you or your wife have at least one of the following skills?
Web Developer, IT network admin, communications, teaching experience
Well (and it's an open invitation to others as well), ELIC is coming to Fort Collins!!!
Frankly, I don't know which positions will be moved here, but you can read about their move from San Dimas, CA to Fort Collins , CO in our local paper here:
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A…
Here's what one of the posters on the paper's forum says about them:
"ELIC is an Christian organization that places individuals or couples in Asian countries to teach English. The restrictions of the countries – China in particular – do not allow the preaching of Christianity. The individuals that go – go to teach English, and if the opportunity arises to share (by word or life style) their faith on a personal level. The governments of the countries that the individuals travel to allow you in to teach English, if you violate the laws – ELIC and the individual are at risk. Each individual is responsible for raising their own funds and support for their time overseas. Myself and my wife almost went overseas with this group, and find it a good addition to the community. When a good company brings jobs and a good reputation to the community it is always a good thing." posted by History
(They post most recent comments right after an article, so if you want to read all comments in order posted, you have to click on "view all comments")
Here's the link on the ELIC's employment opportunities:
http://www.elic.org/elicdau_employ.asp
« 1 2
{ 1 trackback }