Where would you move to ?
 

I am thinking of relocating to try to keep as much of my retirement annuity as possible in my pocket. I see that many others are curious about different locations. Since Pelican members cover pretty much the entire United States (and the world) Maybe we can create a "One-Stop" thread for relocating.

I have been looking, in order of precedence;
1. Carson City, NV
2. Albuquerque, NM
3. Southeast, KY

Tuscon Az.

I was in Carson City, NV for that exact reason the weekend before last. The SW portion of the city is nice, and has some rural aspects that I liked. We may continue looking at other areas, the wife wants to be on or near a lake. Tennessee, like Nevada has no income tax.

Consider Austin TX. No income taxes. Property taxes are higher, but you can decide those by where you live. If you live outside the city limits and "hobby farm", the taxes are cheap.

It does get a bit warm in the summer...

For something closer to what you are used to, consider New Hampshire.

BVI (British Virgin Island) ! not too far but far enough from this republic !!!! LOL

You can live on the cheap in Las Vegas or blow your money. I don't know how income tax affects your annuity, but states with no sales tax are a bargain.

Carson City, NV has a great medical center (Carson Tahoe Regional) and Reno has several great hospitals as well.

I wouldn't move to Vegas, that city is going to hell in a hurry, and as more states allow casinos, it will only get worse.

Excellent point. Proximity to good healthcare should be a big factor in the 'where'.

Of course, I am chained to the Great White for at least 6 months of the year forever to maintain my umbrella. :(

Ian

Being from the midwest, I'm looking at SE Kentucky, which is beautiful, or central/eastern Tennessee, also nice. I'm trying to get my wife to think north of Knoxville, near Crossville. I have to have some big hills, lakes, streams, and all of these are nearby. Plus lots of golf. That part of the country is IMO some of the best areas to retire to just because your so close to almost anything you might want to do.

I spent a week in Albuquerque and was not impressed. Tucson or Phoenix are much nicer.

Have you been to Vegas? Vegas vs craphole Indian casino, that's a real hard decision.......

Have you been to some of the larger indian Casinos? OK has several that rival vegas quality in food and accomodations. Check out the Hard Rock in Tulsa, the Downstream in Quapaw, The Riverwind in Norman, the Winstar in Thackerville.... The list goes on....

I also should have added that I have visited virtually everywhere in the SE US (and most of Canada & all of the majors & many minors in the continental US). The Nashville - Knoxville - Chattanooga triangle gets my vote. The summers are too humid for too long but the winters are mild.

Ian

LV is running 88% occupancy on the Strip..

14% of the homes here are VACANT...unemployment is running right around 12%

The Chinee and Canucks are buying homes...

HP is opening an office complex here...

St Augustine, FL!

LV has some other amenities...a wide variety of good restaurants at reasonable prices, diverse ethnic markets...lots of entertainment..

If you get away from the tourist areas it is a whole different world.

Downside is that it is hot in the summer...

Housing is NOW CHEAP...

Yeah, but that's one casino or two. The cool thing about the strip is the pure magnitude of the place. Miles of opulence, shows, shopping, restaurants, etc. I'm not a gambler, so that's the stuff that I think is cool in Vegas. Have you been?

If you check the odds Vegas still kicks a$$ over every Indian casino I have been in. Though your casual gambler probably doesn't notice, but if I'm going to gamble (I generally don't, but when I do I like table games) I want the best chance at wining.

Vegas = Love to visit but I would never live there.

I was in Kentucky on a work trip, very nice and the people were very friendly... however the snow/cold winters are a deal breaker for me.

St. George or Cedar City Utah.

Better double check that Hugh...Tennessee has no income tax on EARNED income, paychecks. But last I heard it DOES tax "unearned income"...dividends, bonds, capital gains, etc. Not necessarily good for people relying on investment income.

I've been looking around as well but I don't want to own a home and when a city is listed as affordable it primarily has to do with the cost of buying a home and not what it costs to rent. I looked at Laughlin, NV this year and ruled it out due to the casinos and all the nice apartments were outside of town. My goal is to live where I can walk or bicycle where I want or have to go. Portland, OR is a nice city with lots of walking and bicycling paths as well as great public transportation and a thriving arts community and no state tax. Downside is weather and my old bones are liking warm and dry over cold and wet these days so I'm going to check out Tucson.

St. George Utah is very nice. Tucson is as well but there is a little known city that I am leaning towards.

Wickenburg AZ is an hours drive from Phoenix. Its out in the middle of almost no-where, halfway between Phoenix and Kingman, on the road to Vegas.

Prices are excellent, people nice, weather great. Its hard to beat and still a small city...

No state SALES tax, you mean. Oregon more than makes up for it by having one of the highest income tax & fees structures in the nation. Property taxes are also high, and don't kid yourself..as a renter you DO pay those. One person's paradise is another's hell. You couldn't pay me enough to live in "keep Portland Weird"...But, the city planners there would love your lifestyle choice, so you'd fit right in...

My parents retired to Wickenburg, very nice place.
Typical lot is either half acre or full acre. Lots of snowbirds.
Quiet and safe and you can get a huge house for not much $$$.

They have a 3000 sq. ft. house on an acre in the best part of town, they paid $300k back at the top of the market.
It's worth less than that now, but the house in OC they sold for 3/4 mil is too ;)

They also have a cabin on Show-low where they go when it gets too hot back home.

I really like it there but it's too quiet for me.
Might be better iffn I was older, and even though it's higher elevation that Phoenix it still gets freaking hot.
In the winter it can go from 40 degrees at night to over 80 in the day. That's a pretty good swing, even for desert.

Where would you move to ?
 

I vote Tucson. Retired, I would love to avoid natural disaster. AZ seems pretty benign as far as mother nature. Killer bees?

Comparing the Vegas strip to Indian casinos in Oklahoma??? One of the most laughable things I've read on this forum in awhile.

If I were "in a relationship" I"d be in Carson in a heartbeat.. but I'm in Reno for the social aspect..Carson is cheap, there's everything you need (Harbor Freight, Best Buy ,Home Depot).. 25 min from Lake Tahoe, weather is mild , not too hot, not too cold.

Kentucky does have the lowest cost of living in the US.

What? They have the games, the high class accommodations, the shows.... They don't have the crime, and if you are on a budget its closer. ;)

I know plenty of people from OK are skipping trips to Vegas and staying in state.

Thanks Paul, important point.

Which does come with its own price.

Sid may have the Golden Nugget confused with Las Vegas :)

caught me again Zeke!SmileWavy

There is only one VEGAS. Nothing compares. Seriously.

Thailand. Move to Thailand and forget this place ever existed.

+1

Myself and my 11 closest friends were there for 65 hours over memorial day weekend. Any longer and some of us wouldn't have made it out alive. Top 5 all time weekend.

Don't think Sid is old enough to go into any casino...

Carson City - or, better, the area around the towns of Gardnerville and Minden just south of there. Beautiful country in a low-tax state.

how's the sex tourism working out?

I moved to Albuquerque, NM six months ago. Not as a retiree, but working here has been very pleasant. The weather is very very nice, typically 90 in summer, 70 in fall, 50 in winter, 80 in Spring, very dry most the time. Beautiful sunsets and thunderstorms. The city has a small old town feel to it. Awesome fly fishing and skiing few hours away. Housing can be pretty cheap if you are not looking at the best school districts. The place has lots of old cars too (VW bugs, citroen DS, longhood 911s...). Great for biking and hiking (everybody is out in the morning exercising). Hot air balloon fiesta is going on right now.

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