Location Location Location?

[LWJ]

Yes. Boulder is not on the list. I went to Grad School there for a short while. LOVED the climate and location.

Weird Boulder thing? In 1988 there was a surf shop in Boulder. Didn't know where the water was?

[JavaBrewer]

Ventura is nice as is inland Ojai, or a bit North Carpinteria, but certainly not a bargain $$. The sky high prices in SB area have extended a ways both North and South. Lompoc, Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Pismo, San Luis Obispo, all nice places to outside city. Also remember Carp/Ventura/Oxnard WERE "low income" just 25 years ago so which neighborhood you end up buying would be especially important. Picture a nice renovated home on a street where neighboring homes have dirt yards and blankets for window coverings...

The wife and I are preparing for a transition and now also considering 1 year lease opportunities both stateside and abroad. Would like to keep that going until our age becomes the limiting factor. We have been to Belize and though a great time vacation not on our candidate list for multiple reasons but primarily it's a very poor country and I would not want to rely on their infrastructure if something goes sideways. People are amazing and friendly though!

We are looking for more Caribbean locations, islands, with accessible diving and snorkeling, and then options in remote countryside's in Italy, France, Spain, etc...

We hope to do our final settlement back in Santa Barbara where it all started for me. But if plans go well that could be 8-10 years down the road.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Not permanent. My people died on the Oregon Trail in the 1840's. I am pretty attached to Oregon and need to stay here with at least a townhome or similar. Did I mention the summers???

Cool stuff.

There was a comment about times zones that I think is very apt: Our operations person, who worked for me in the Navy, lives in Las Vegas and she likes to get up early, thank good. She is a wonder.

I like the idea of a a regional destination. Sierra Vista, AZ, for instance. I love the high desert in the winter, Tucson is close and the outdoor opportunities are off the charts, including the local roads.

Same with Fredericksburg, TX, near Austin and San Antonio. Great countryside great small cities.

South Carolina has some really neat beach towns near Charleston with access to another small city I love.

I guess my point is that with winter rentals and Air BnBs, the options are multiple without having to commit for years. Spread the wealth

Pensacola is another great place for the winter.

Have fun!

[911boost]

Got it, I am 45 minutes from Boulder and have the same weather but not the same housing costs!

You were there in the Big 8 days.

[LakeCleElum]

Colorado....Western slope. Grand Junction, Montrose or Cortez are reasonable and not tourist towns.....Lots of the sun you mention....

[Ryan_Cunningham]

Originally Posted by LWJ

San Diego is killer. And, a budget killer! Property values make Oregon look like monopoly money. Yikes! I need to go the other way!

Baja? A perfect example. I never even considered this.

We moved to San Diego this summer and the two houses that were also for sale on the street but needed complete renovation just sold. In the three months we've lived here our house value has increased by 11%.

It doesn't really matter because we're not selling, but it's nice to know that it wasn't a poor investment!

[MRM]

Paul, what is the weather in Pensacola during the winter? I’ve been there to see the Naval Air Museum many times in the summer but I have no gauge of what it’s like in the winter. If it’s warm enough, I agree that’s a special corner of paradise.

[Tobra]

Uncle Jack lived in Pensacola across the street from the ocean, until the ocean reared up and snatched that house. He moved inland a bit and sold that lot.

PNW winter gloom has you down and depressed?

Seasonal Affective Disorder they call it.

New Mexico, far from Albequerque

For Paul and his humidity poisoning, I am thinking Montana for the summer. You will never want to leave, until Old Man Winter reaches down and slaps you

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by MRM

Paul, what is the weather in Pensacola during the winter? I’ve been there to see the Naval Air Museum many times in the summer but I have no gauge of what it’s like in the winter. If it’s warm enough, I agree that’s a special corner of paradise.

There are some really nice areas in and around Pensacola and the winter weather is generally good. Can get blustery but rarely "cold".

I lived in a house on the beach in Perdido Key for 4 months prior to flight school. I am sure that place has been scrapped a few times since then

https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Florida/Places/pensacola-temperatures-by-month-average.php

[Ryan_Cunningham]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

There are some really nice areas in and around Pensacola and the winter weather is generally good. Can get blustery but rarely "cold".

I lived in a house on the beach in Perdido Key for 4 months prior to flight school. I am sure that place has been scrapped a few times since then

https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Florida/Places/pensacola-temperatures-by-month-average.php

Pensacola is decent in the winter, early spring, and late fall. I too spent my time prior to flight school on Perdido Key, about a mile from Florabama back in 2008/9. Walked back many a late night before beginning my flying journey.

If I recall, we even did the "Polar Bear Plunge" on January 1st and it wasn't bad at all.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Ryan_Cunningham

I too spent my time prior to flight school on Perdido Key, about a mile from Florabama back in 2008/9. Walked back many a late night before beginning my flying journey.

I may have some hazy memories from the Flora Bama as well.

To the OP, another place I love, although I have not spent a winter there, is Hamilton, MT. A guy I ran rivers with is from there and I spent a few day on either end of trips north.

Welcome to HamiltonMontana.com | HamiltonMontana.com

https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/hamilton/montana/united-states/usmt0151

On my list!

[LWJ]

I was in MT this summer with my son catching way too many trout. It was a fantasy trip come true. I VERY much like MT. Missoula was a favorite, but I hear the winter is greyish.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Zeke

The main draw to areas with very high real estate prices are weather and job market.

There is also the consideration of who you are going to talk to. I have a friend who bought an OK place, maybe 1000 square feet on a small lot on the side of a hill, in an ex-pat community in Ajijic, Mexico. He had all the potential other English speaking friends from the US and Europe he could ask for. It was a dinner party every night (which I hated - not into idle chit chat) but it was a vibrant community.
Another friend (who owned a now-deceased hard cover car oriented quarterly magazine) had a FABULOUS place on the Baja with a picturesque native village down the street, dirt cheap servants, and one of those swimming pools where the the water flows over the edge and looks like it goes on forever. He had to practically BEG friends to come visit. I was there twice, it took 12 hours door to door to get there. It was a great place, gorgeous, but it just cost too much time and $$ to go to go visit him often.