Beautiful but out of reach....OR IS IT?
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8/1/2006
I read the comments about housing and cost of living. I too would like to be at a place where everything is cheap and also beautiful and strong economy. I do not believe such a thing exist. If it's cheap and beautiful, it's in the middle of nowhere. If it is beautiful and accessible/ strong economy it will not be cheap. However cheap is a relative term since Brookings compares to San Diego for climate comfort and it is not crowded it is way cheap! I am waiting to sell in Phoenix area to move to my purchased 6 acres w/ houses in Brookings and I can tell you that even though it was allot more than I wanted to pay, it was way cheaper than Phoenix. How much is quality of life and comfort index worth? No sales tax, low utility cost (plus cooling is almost non existent and heating is minimal), good to low property tax rate and assessments, coastal life, car insurance w/ the same carrier through AAA was exactly half of Phoenix and car tags are about $60.00 for two years instead of by value which saves me 3-500.00 per vehicle a year and true service stations one of only two states left (to my knowledge) that does not allow you to pump your own gas (every time I have been there still cheaper than Phx by a little). I say it is actually well within reach @ $250-$550k for a nice house depending on location and land size (again I paid more and it was outside of town by Whaleshead Beach), in a small community that has a lot going for it.
However, if cheap is the goal for housing you could go to Texas at say Austin or Mount Pleasant just due East of Dallas (some of my older relatives are purchasing there right now) but look out for comfort index of only 20. Heat, humidity, crime, poor economy, sales and high property tax rates, low air quality and long allergy season. Save $100-$200k on initial housing cost but pay to keep it cool and de-humidified (on the inside anyway).
If anyone can find high comfort index (no snow, low summer heat 80's, 40's average winter, rainy season in winter, 2 weeks of foggy weather late summer), low utility cost, good water and air quality, accessibility (close to large thoroughfare), beautiful w/ trees and or ocean, not even counting other cost of living factors......and then add cheap housing cost, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE IT IS CAUSE I'M BUYING.
Ran | Phoenix, AZ