Where are these cheap states to live.

[Looking Glass]

its not just the cost of the house.

when you leave CA, you will find your cost of living will go down dramatically. taxes, commuting, CA fuel prices, on and on. its shocking how much those things really all add up to.

AND!!, Quality Of Life!!

 

[Wheeler]

i left calif 3 yrs ago after 60 yrs......................

2800 sq ft home on 1 acre $337k

gas 3.09 gal

taxs way cheaper

gated lake front community

private dock View attachment 1284716 View attachment 1284717

How much are property taxes? ~asking for a Friend.

 

[Singleton]

My revised plan

1) sell CA house after daughter graduates HS. 2030
2) buy new To me RV and travel and stay at some potential retirement locations for an extended period of time
3) figure out a place that grandkids would enjoy visiting
4) relocate

 

[Neverbowdown]

I don’t think you are going to see the kind of savings you are looking for. You can find cheaper housing but I don’t think I would want to live there. (Anywhere the housing is cheap, it’s cheap for a reason!). Where you will save money is: auto and homeowners insurance, vehicle registration, property taxes, (In some places), fuel prices, utility rates, no State income taxes, (Some States). Things you can’t put a price tag on like FREEDOM, PATRIOTISM and being around nice people! Being retired and having a fixed income it made sense for us. Invested in Real Estate about the same amount as CA but everything else is cheaper. (Idaho).

Here here!!!!! Bravo, couldn't have said it better myself.
Being surrounded by the people you love and like-minded individuals is absolutely priceless!!!
Or........if you can't get along with anybody you can take your introverted ass to the hills and be a Parkabilly which is where some of us belong!!
I can't afford to buy anything in California with the land I plan to retire to without leaving nothing but debt to my kids. Last time I checked that was our goal in life.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

My revised plan

1) sell CA house after daughter graduates HS. 2030
2) buy new To me RV and travel and stay at some potential retirement locations for an extended period of time
3) figure out a place that grandkids would enjoy visiting
4) relocate

Stop in at space 154 this winter and we can share our notes from the last three years as a primer.

 

[Cdog]

I don’t know what you and your wife do for a living but there is tons of industry going up off of the 303loop here in West Phoenix. So surprise & Buckeye probably fit your budget very well from 450 to 550 K with ample employment opportunities + this is your first attempt to get out of California, so should you decide you would like to go back at a certain point in time at least you’re not too far away so it’s not a huge move

Richmond, American has been sending me quite a few emails about available homes and lots. They are offering rate buy down programs in the mid to high 5%.

Hopefully that made sense voice to text and a stoplight

 

[Romans9]

haha.
Funny you changed your screen name.
I signed up on here to post because of you and Joel.
I read some of your homeschooling thread and wanted to comment but I didn’t.

There are lots of false ideas presented in this thread (haven’t read it all) about the midwest.

Let me know if you want me to PM you my phone number and email.
I live in Missouri right between Kansas City and Springfield.
I grew up in Kansas right by Leavenworth and I work all over the Midwest on mobile rock crushing equipment.

I was shocked when I talked to some of the Union Operators from California and found out that the scale wasn’t any higher than Kansas City scale.

Hope everything works out well for your young family!

 

[boatnam2]

My buddy moved to biloxi MS, paid cash for 3bed/1bath for 88k, he tries to tell me how great it is, I tell him he is full of shit, but affordable for sure, 1 block from beach.

 

[Activated]

Funny this came up. We have a list of places to look at over the next couple of years and we start our trek in 2 weeks.

My niece goes to Auburn, so we are hitting a football game there but starting in Nashville. Looking at communities along the Tennessee river in Northern Alabama, headed south from there to Lewis Smith Lake ( wondering if this is too remote for us) and then finishing up outside of Auburn for a few days. Lake Norman, NC is in November…from there we might try to take a look at Watts Bar and some other places. LOTO is on the list but not sure we want anything to do with any type of winter. My wife puts a sweatshirt on if it gets below 80. Lol

If we don’t find what we like, the backup plan will be Havasu and multiple trips back East a year to spend time with family and get out of the oven each summer. Ultimately we want waterfront somewhere that is about a days drive from all of our family. MI, NC, TX, and FL.

 

[WYRD]

You have a 3500 sq foot house on a 1/4 acre with a 2 car plus rv garage in CA?

Yes minus an rv garage but separate garage

 

[WYRD]

https://www.washco.utah.gov/forms/assessor/property-tax-estimate/#calclink

Almost half what you say!

Link isnt working on phone but I was figuring 1% plus some water school bonds. Sounds like closer to .5 or .6%

 

[playdeep]

If this question was posed during the RDP infancy I'd have said New Mexico...
4 distinct seasons, cheap housing,salt of the earth people etc.
Unfortunately the rate of decline is at warp speed.
Born&raised here never thought I'd say this but it's time to exit.
Albuquerque has become a 3rd. world country...it's a cesspool.
Never used to be that way(ask rrrr)
The northern part of the state is incredibly beautiful...
Santa fe was an incredibly cool little town...almost nirvana..
Then the liberal Californian's discovered it.
Now it's Cali east .
Man...all those transplant liberals phucked that place up...bad.
I'm following this thread looking for ideas as to where to go...

 

[WYRD]

No, it would be about $8k if it’s your primary residence. You get a property tax discount for your primary residence in UT.

If that was in Ladera Ranch, even for that price your property taxes would be about $27k. If it was the CA price in Ladera it would be $55-$60k just in property taxes.

Too bad Utah is closed

 

[angiebaby]

Even if you paid cash that's 15 to $16,000 a year in property taxes

How do you figure? Trulia says the taxes are @$6500 at current assessment of $1.6 mil. That 1% of sales price + extra is a CA thing.

 

[Flatsix66]

Don’t look at the calculation in a 2023 perspective, look ahead 20-30 years. Where do you think California is going to be then compared to other areas you like. California is a crowded liberal shit hole now with nice weather, the hard working people like you are moving out, who is left to pay for it all….tax the rich. Tax wealth. Tax business. The liberal majority will vote in a new tax every time so they get more free shit. I can’t imagine a 2040 California not being an insane tax/fee state for anyone that is a worker in the future. Where is it better? I think you need to find growing areas with like minded people.

 

[Singleton]

Stop in at space 154 this winter and we can share our notes from the last three years as a primer.

I roll out of the Islander next Saturday and don’t return until April - if invited back

 

[stillhustlin]

No one has talked about Moapa Valley or Mesquite Nevada. Moapa is an hour past Vegas off I15. Housing is cheap comparatively. Mesquite is 40 min south of St George and 1.5 hour north of Vegas. Mesquite you can get a lot more bang for your buck than stg. Another benefit of both those is no state income tax.

 

[CLdrinker]

What is decent?

You can buy nicely renovated cottage style houses in the town I live in for anywhere between $250 and $300k, on large lots. Forget new construction for that pice but a mid-90s home in a subdivision can be found.

Living out of town it depends, but there are what I call pocket subdivisions around that offer several acres in your stated price range but you are a ways from anything (which isn't bad).

Beyond that are farmsteads, you buy Grandpa's old farmhouse and barn from the kids and they lease the fields someone to frame.

Currently have 2200 sq ft 4bed 2bath with a 200sqft office with a 1/2bath on almost 1/2 acre built 2005. With large Rv access and full hook ups. So it would have to be similar to that.

 

[Wheeler]

No one has talked about Moapa Valley or Mesquite Nevada. Moapa is an hour past Vegas off I15. Housing is cheap comparatively. Mesquite is 40 min south of St George and 1.5 hour north of Vegas. Mesquite you can get a lot more bang for your buck than stg. Another benefit of both those is no state income tax.

Did Hurricane get filled up with OC transplants? When I was looking at St. George back in '05 some Mormon friends' told me to look there.

 

[Wheeler]

Funny you ask. He just ordered one today. Turns out he is a germaphobe or is guilty of his own concerns and he Noted a few weeks ago he did not want anyone’s dirty couch where they might have done the nasty.

Ask him about the times when you and the misses were outta town and what went on in your bedroom. That should get him. I'd wait for Thanks giving dinner to ask him though.

 

[stillhustlin]

Did Hurricane get filled up with OC transplants? When I was looking at St. George back in '05 some Mormon friends' told me to look there.

Yup, Hurricane is just as bad as St George. Colorado city az and Hilldale Ut(30 min past Hurricane) still have opportunities but prices have come up a ton in the last couple of years. They used to be where the fundamentalist Morman church (polygamist) ran out of but it’s changed a lot since they have pretty much gotten out of there. It’s an incredibly pretty area.

 

[DaveH]

Did Hurricane get filled up with OC transplants? When I was looking at St. George back in '05 some Mormon friends' told me to look there.

drove through there just a few weeks ago on my way to powell. there is some growth but nothing compared to st george. 2021 stats show a population of 20,000 in Hurricane. there is more in line at the homeless foodbanks in LA.

 

[rush1]

We have been casually looking around at possible states to possibly escape too in the next 5yrs.

I keep hearing everyone preach how it is so much cheaper to live in these other states and when I look into it it’s only slightly cheaper.
Then I have people saying it cost 1/2 as much to live here than California… I can’t seem to pencil that out anywhere.

I keep in mind that not everyone can take a CA paycheck with them which will be a deciding factor if we stay or leave. My position pays significantly less outside CA on the low side 20k less and on the high side about 60k less.
I can not find a state where I can save that much per year. My house is 450k so I will not save anything on the sell high buy low aspect.

So old wise ones where are these mythical states where everything is so damn cheap?

I cant find them either . its just easier to stay in California and where blinders

 

[dread Pirate]

Real Estate & Homes For Sale - 1143 Homes For Sale | Zillow

Zillow has 1143 homes for sale. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place.

www.zillow.com

Branson Missouri comes to mind. Even has a lake or two nearby.

 

[angiebaby]

Did Hurricane get filled up with OC transplants? When I was looking at St. George back in '05 some Mormon friends' told me to look there.

I love Hurricane. St. George is too big of a city for my taste. Close enough for shopping, but you don’t have to deal with the traffic and congestion. Plus, every time we go to St. George we are reminded that it seems to have a disproportionate amount of drivers who are rude. Not sure why it is. I like Hurricane.

 

[Neverbowdown]

One more thing I am shocked hasn't been brought up yet is CRIME. Not necessarily the crime we watch committed everyday on the news or right in front of our eyes sometimes, but the criminals who are being cited and released with "Orders to Appear".
Even more detrimental than that is the criminals that Newscum is cutting loose every single day in DROVES.
If there is any way Prison Administration/Reception Center Counselors can find a way to make an Attempted Murder or Vehicular Manslaughter charge NON-VIOLENT........they can Parole MONTHS AND SOMETIMES YEARS before they have served a full sentence. This impacts our kids, our kids kids and so forth and so on.
If none of the other reasons the inmates on this thread have provided you for justification for leaving the Golden State, that one should hit where it counts. Talk about the quality of life, this political appointee has all but removed our rights to protect ourselves and is getting ready to tax the shit out of people who still can arm themselves by the Federal Constitution, this state has been handed over to the very liberals who voted this POS into office.
Let them have it and save your future generations from the REAL PANDEMIC in our future.
For whatever my opinion is worth....

 

[Wheeler]

I love Hurricane. St. George is too big of a city for my taste. Close enough for shopping, but you don’t have to deal with the traffic and congestion. Plus, every time we go to St. George we are reminded that it seems to have a disproportionate amount of drivers who are rude. Not sure why it is. I like Hurricane.

It was on my short list as well as a couple of lakes in Texas but decided to move to the river house and become a Parkabilly.

I should have stayed in the OC or left for Utah. Oh well. I'll try to make a better choice this go round.

 

[WildHorses24]

Yup, Hurricane is just as bad as St George. Colorado city az and Hilldale Ut(30 min past Hurricane) still have opportunities but prices have come up a ton in the last couple of years. They used to be where the fundamentalist Morman church (polygamist) ran out of but it’s changed a lot since they have pretty much gotten out of there. It’s an incredibly pretty area.

Drove through Colorado City/Hildale on a long off road trip a couple years back. Residents looked pretty interesting, houses appeared to be unfinished like mexico. Beautiful country though my only experience is the 389 and dirt roads into town from Tuweep.

 

[Wheeler]

Too bad Utah is closed

I've got my whites all nice and folded in my dresser drawer. They'll let me in.

 

[Willie B]

Yup, Hurricane is just as bad as St George. Colorado city az and Hilldale Ut(30 min past Hurricane) still have opportunities but prices have come up a ton in the last couple of years. They used to be where the fundamentalist Morman church (polygamist) ran out of but it’s changed a lot since they have pretty much gotten out of there. It’s an incredibly pretty area.

…The Polymigamists have left Colorado City???…I find that hard to believe… I went through there in 2007… Towing my Hallett… the place, really creeped me out…it was definitely polygamist… No name on the church not a name on any of the business’s… except there was a name on the market and the pizza place and that was all… The majority of the houses were unfinished… Each house had like four small separate rooms.for the wives…. People started following me around as I drove through the town…
… I went into the market and bought an ice cream… The women were not allowed to look anybody in the eye, and all the women in the store stared at the ground. A man came out of the back room with an X-Acto knife, cutting small pieces of usless cardboard???…The creepiest part was a little girl about 6 to 8 years old with glasses…who just stared at me… from about 2 feet away …With a look in her eye of like help me …After I had made my escape from there… I felt so creeped I had to pull over and take a shower… Yeow

 

[Wheeler]

…After I had made my escape from there… I felt so creeped I had to pull over and take a shower… Yeow

That's the first thing Liberals do after leaving Yorba Linda.

 

[jet496]

The midwest

I automatically was going to say Iowa because I was born & raised there & was always cheap. Tons of rivers, hunting, cheap, at least I thought it was cheap. Called my sister plus looked on the internet & turns out houses have skyrocketed. So that being said, I don't recommend it, especially if you're not used to hot humid summers & freezing ass cold winters.

450k gets you what you'd pay for a $800k house here in So Cal.

 

[Willie B]

That's the first thing Liberals do after leaving Yorba Linda.

…Only been to Yorba Linda once… didn’t feel he need to pull over and take a shower… Good thing as my 70 Torino convertible… Well, it simply didn’t have a shower…

 

[stillhustlin]

…The Polymigamists have left Colorado City???…I find that hard to believe… I went through there in 2007… Towing my Hallett… the place, really creeped me out…it was definitely polygamist… No name on the church not a name on any of the business’s… except there was a name on the market and the pizza place and that was all… The majority of the houses were unfinished… Each house had like four small separate rooms.for the wives…. People started following me around as I drove through the town…
… I went into the market and bought an ice cream… The women were not allowed to look anybody in the eye, and all the women in the store stared at the ground. A man came out of the back room with an X-Acto knife, cutting small pieces of usless cardboard???…The creepiest part was a little girl about 6 to 8 years old with glasses…who just stared at me… from about 2 feet away …With a look in her eye of like help me …After I had made my escape from there… I felt so creeped I had to pull over and take a shower… Yeow

Yes, after all the Warren Jeffs stuff went down the government took ownership of the trust that owned all the real estate. Jeff’s had all members transfer their real estate into a trust that was owned by the church. A lot of them are up in Cedar City and surrounding areas. Going to college in Southern Utah I had a couple of friends that were raised in the church. We work with a lot of them in the construction industry as well.

 

[Willie B]

Yes, after all the Warren Jeffs stuff went down the government took ownership of the trust that owned all the real estate. Jeff’s had all members transfer their real estate into a trust that was owned by the church. A lot of them are up in Cedar City and surrounding areas. Going to college in Southern Utah I had a couple of friends that were raised in the church. We work with a lot of them in the construction industry as well.

… I grew up with quite a few Mormon kids and have some Mormon friends to this day…They don’t seem, and never did seem to express an opinion about the polygamists… yes, indeed… I think the Jeff’s deal was shortly after me just having to take a look at Colorado city… To see if that sect really did exist???…

 

[Orange Juice]

We have been casually looking around at possible states to possibly escape too in the next 5yrs.

I keep hearing everyone preach how it is so much cheaper to live in these other states and when I look into it it’s only slightly cheaper.
Then I have people saying it cost 1/2 as much to live here than California… I can’t seem to pencil that out anywhere.

I keep in mind that not everyone can take a CA paycheck with them which will be a deciding factor if we stay or leave. My position pays significantly less outside CA on the low side 20k less and on the high side about 60k less.
I can not find a state where I can save that much per year. My house is 450k so I will not save anything on the sell high buy low aspect.

So old wise ones where are these mythical states where everything is so damn cheap?

If you can keep your income the same, Nevada, Texas, and Tennessee will pencil out, with no state income taxes. None of them are that great of a place to live, unless you live in expensive communities. Houston (northwest area) towards college station seems nice.

If you’ve lived most of your life in California, it’s hard to find much better (in the north hemisphere) as far as weather.

Florida is ok, but to find cheap housing ($500k), you need to go inland where there are more bugs, and swamps.

 

[Dalton]

Ohio, but then you’re living in Ohio

 

[CarolynandBob]

Planning a trip to Alabama next year.
AL, MO and TN are the known front runners. AL has alligators, tornadoes and hurricanes. That has me thinking it will be a tough sell.

But still how is it cheaper than CA by a significant amount. From what I see it’s a wash or very minimal savings. That’s without figuring in the pay cut.

I haven't read all the responses.

In TN you do not have income tax. That was an 11-13% jump for us depending on how much money we made. Property tax is a lot less depending on what you have in CA. For example our 330k house in TN the property tax is about 2,200. Insurance is cheaper on the cars and house. Gas hovers around $3 ish a gal. Food seams to be cheaper except for beef. Liquor is a little more. Sales tax is about 9% depending on where you live. DMV is stupid cheap. I think I paid $29 a year for the 2021 Lexus.

Now with all that said we are retired and that probably makes it better. If you are working and have to take less pay then you have to figure that in.

 

[17 10 Flat]

Another consideration for me ended up being distance to family. When I was ready to move one requirement I had NO snow. So parts of AZ, Texas and Florida. All my kids and family were in Michigan. Just before the decision was made my son received a job offer in Florida, he jumped at. So now it made more sense to go to Florida. I see my son on a regular basis, Daughter and G kids in Michigan visit on a regular basis. From house to house about 6 hours total including driving time and flying time. My 2 cents...

 

[angiebaby]

If you can keep your income the same, Nevada, Texas, and Tennessee will pencil out, with no state income taxes. None of them are that great of a place to live, unless you live in expensive communities. Houston (northwest area) towards college station seems nice.

If you’ve lived most of your life in California, it’s hard to find much better (in the north hemisphere) as far as weather.

Florida is ok, but to find cheap housing ($500k), you need to go inland where there are more bugs, and swamps.

I disagree. I think Tennessee is a great place to live . . . in the eastern half at least. I'm not sure why you would say it's not. It's absolutely beautiful, the people are nice, the weather is moderate, tons of lakes and rivers, abundant hiking and mountain biking opportunities, good local music, breweries and distilleries, lots of small towns, or larger ones, if that's your thing. If our kids were not here in the West, eastern TN would be on our shortlist. Home prices have gone up, though, now that the word is out. Why do you think it's not a great place @Orange Juice ?

And I lived in Menifee for much of my adult life, I would not say you can't beat the weather in late July-early October most years. I hated it. I've found people often make these broad comments about how great "California" weather is, but what you really mean is the weather in "Southern California" within 20-30 miles inland from the coast. It's a really big state, and that is a very small portion of it. Is the weather in Indio great? Victorville? What about Susanville? Eureka? But, the great thing about this nation (and California) is it has a diverse landscape and climate. For people who love SoCal weather, awesome. It's there for you, with 24 million of your closest friends. I am sincerely happy you all love it

 

[angiebaby]

Ohio, but then you’re living in Ohio

Most of Ohio is really beautiful, and cheap. The southern part has a more moderate climate. I'd stay away from the lake, and all the big cities. Yuck. But the schools are great. Property taxes explain why.

 

[FROGMAN524]

When we leave CaliZona, we’ll be looking for a Lake and/or a mountain house. Somewhere with acreage, no neighbors, no traffic, good gun laws and lower cost of living but that sounds like a pipe dream. Would love to have a shooting range on property and a boat house for the Hallett.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

If you can keep your income the same, Nevada, Texas, and Tennessee will pencil out, with no state income taxes. None of them are that great of a place to live, unless you live in expensive communities. Houston (northwest area) towards college station seems nice.

If you’ve lived most of your life in California, it’s hard to find much better (in the north hemisphere) as far as weather.

Florida is ok, but to find cheap housing ($500k), you need to go inland where there are more bugs, and swamps.

So is the weather just the standard answer about living in California?

 

[mesquito_creek]

It’s 45 degrees this morning in southern Utah. I am heading back down south to Az and going south of the boarder fishing… screw the cold. I’ll be back for the ballon festival first of Nov and then I won’t go north of cave creek until March. Anyone born and raised in Ca/Az really need to spend a winter somewhere before relocating. Cold never leaves your body for weeks on end.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

It’s 45 degrees this morning in southern Utah. I am heading back down south to Az and going south of the boarder fishing… screw the cold. I’ll be back for the ballon festival first of Nov and then I won’t go north of cave creek until March. Anyone born and raised in Ca/Az really need to spend a winter somewhere before relocating. Cold never leaves your body for weeks on end.

It cooled off this week. I’d argue if you live in the high desert of Southern CA, you aren’t enjoying the great weather to begin with anyway. You can get that climate in many places.

 

[mesquito_creek]

It cooled off this week. I’d argue if you live in the high desert of Souther CA, you aren’t enjoying the great weather to begin with anyway. You can get that climate in many places.

I know… the poor people in my family live there because it’s cheaper than Arizona.

 

[C-Ya]

It’s 45 degrees this morning in southern Utah. I am heading back down south to Az and going south of the boarder fishing… screw the cold. I’ll be back for the ballon festival first of Nov and then I won’t go north of cave creek until March. Anyone born and raised in Ca/Az really need to spend a winter somewhere before relocating. Cold never leaves your body for weeks on end.

Where I live……… The only way I can get the crisp feeling of 45 degree air is if I step into the walk-in refrigerator at Circle K. Lol

 

[ChrisV]

Was in Wisconsin for a week. Everything there is pretty cheap.

 

[westair]

I went on a motorcycle trip a week ago through Reno, Carson City, Virginia City and Tahoe .... great ride seeing that part Nevada. Beautiful area! ... went through some really cool small towns ... surprising how Nevada just doesn't have a lot of people outside of the Vegas area...... for boating Lake Tahoe being about 30 min away from just about anywhere in this area..

 

[77charger]

…The Polymigamists have left Colorado City???…I find that hard to believe… I went through there in 2007… Towing my Hallett… the place, really creeped me out…it was definitely polygamist… No name on the church not a name on any of the business’s… except there was a name on the market and the pizza place and that was all… The majority of the houses were unfinished… Each house had like four small separate rooms.for the wives…. People started following me around as I drove through the town…
… I went into the market and bought an ice cream… The women were not allowed to look anybody in the eye, and all the women in the store stared at the ground. A man came out of the back room with an X-Acto knife, cutting small pieces of usless cardboard???…The creepiest part was a little girl about 6 to 8 years old with glasses…who just stared at me… from about 2 feet away …With a look in her eye of like help me …After I had made my escape from there… I felt so creeped I had to pull over and take a shower… Yeow

On our way to Powell for years driving through there was weird we’d see the girls with the old dresses etc.

Use to get that movie feeling as a kid like if you broke down there all gonna come out and get you and convert you to one of them.

The non finished houses someone told me has to do with the taxes non finished wasn’t taxed I think he said. But told
Me insides are all done and nice