Towns/Cities with cheap housing costs??

[grimley1968]

I had to go to Blaine, MN, just north of Minneapolis this past December 20 to purchase my Cessna 152 plane. I can attest that Minnesota is indeed quite cold for someone used to southern Kentucky weather. Granted, we can get below zero in s. Ky, but it's pretty rare (maybe once every 2 or 3 winters), but we don't stay that way for days at a time. Also, when I was in Blaine, it was flurrying the whole day we were there, and endangered my flight out of there slightly. Flurries in Kentucky usually don't add up to anything, but in Blaine it had been flurrying almost non-stop for days by that point, and the temps were cold enough that it all stuck. They had 7" of snow on the ground when I took off.

All that having been said, when we flew over southern Minn., and parts of Wisconsin, etc., I was blown away by the beauty of the tundra-like landscape. I saw tons of little ice-fishing cabins on the lakes there, some people skating on some of the ponds. It really was a sight. And I can see that right now the temps there are as warm or warmer than they are here. Some of the architecture I saw, even on little airport hangar buildings, is very unique to the area. We also ran across some very friendly people. I really think this would be a nice place to live, if you can handle some fairly extreme cold. One good thing about the day I was there was that there was very little wind, so it really wasn't that bad to me. It was about 15 degrees above zero and flurries. We can certainly have that here as well. But also realize I was there almost literally during the winter solstice, so I'm not giving Minnesota a fair chance.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Way down here in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, housing is very affordable, compared to most places. Last year we sold a house in a nice neighborhood, 3100 sqft, pool, security, for under $200,000. That's typical. Then we turned around and bought a house that was "only" 1850 sqft, in the same neighborhood (country club/golf course area) for $120,000. But yes, being so close to the Mexican border and in a sub-tropical climate, we do have problems. Insurance for both cars and homes, for example, are both very high because cars and property can be taken over the border and never seen again. Property theft rates are pretty high. And it's HOT!

 

[Microcell]

That is not always true. I know many towns around Minnesota, including our own, that are BEGGING for people to move here because they can't fill jobs. It isn't the factory jobs they can't fill, it is the entry level business and up jobs. Unemployment rate in our town is zero meaning anyone that wants a job has one. Housing costs in our town are reasonable and in the surrounding really small towns, you can find a house for under $100,000 and many under $50,000 if you want to commute. There are many towns like this around MN.

Yup, and Kansas City has a 3% unemployment rate. They compete for competent people!!! Cheaper housing too, but downside is 10 hours away from mountains and at least 12 to beaches! Our houses start around 100,000 to about 500,000 on average something for everyone!

 

[mickeysgal]

Of course, ya get like 7 months of winter to go along with that!

Not necessarily. There are many smaller type towns in southern Georgia or northern/central Florida that maintain very reasonable housing prices, low taxes, effectively low to no umemployment, has wonderful weather virtually year round and is within driving distance of so much more. Its one of this region's best kept secrets.

 

[Pugdog007]

Housing is very reasonable in Central AL. Unemployment is very low... I can't find CSR & Sales reps when I have open positions (I have 2 open now) and these positions will make around $40k. Which IMO isn't bad at all for basically entry level positions. Taxes are also very low. Mine are $1200 on a $270k home.

 

[Galahad]

I grew up in Indianapolis, and when I visit, the housing prices sure seem affordable to me. I know you can rent a nice apartment for between 3 and $400 a month. And nice homes are available. In fact, if you don't mind an older home, I think some of them are still less than $100k.

And just head out slightly into the country, and the prices drop dramatically. I have family that has a 3 bedroom, 2 bath rambler on about 2 acres with a two car garage. It's about 30 years old, and they'll probably end up selling it for about $95,000 if they're lucky.

I think the job market is pretty rough there though. It is a nice place to live. Not too crowded, but has most of the big city amenities (pro sports teams, symphony, nice shopping, etc.)

We live in Indy. Job market is very good for professional jobs. Manufacturing will never be what it used to be. Housing is a wonderful bargain as lisa said, a great place to live. If you like sports, we have it. If you like the arts, we have it in spades.

Newer homes in desirable neighborhoods can be had for the low $200's. Smaller homes in newer neigborhoods in the mid 100's.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I'll add to the Kentucky thoughts-Central KY around Lexington is inexpensive, but rising quickly. Homebuilders cannot keep up, even with the housing boom slowing nationwide. Our county is projected to double in size by 2015. As long as people keep buying Toyotas, some of which are built here, our town will thrive. Healthcare is a HUGE industry in the area-as the boomers grow older, the demand will be there.

We built over 2K sq ft for 140K, with taxes of less than 1K per year. We doubled our salaries doing similar jobs by moving from Ohio, where real estate is somewhat higher, with double the property tax.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

These posts make me want to move.
Housing costs are not too bad in my area but property taxes are getting expensive and job opportunities are not all that great. But the thing that really kills me is the cost of public universities in Ohio. The longer I live in Ohio the less I like it.

 

[golfgal]

OK, but you do get sub zero temps way too often for most of us! And, don't they drive 18 wheeler trucks accross your lakes in the winter? I know someone who lived there and he told me it was a common occurence.

At our house we had 21" of snow all last winter. We had a week in December with below zero temps and the rest of the winter was above zero. I golfed in February in MN. Heck, I golfed in December a couple years ago in SHORTS. We do NOT drive semi's on the lakes, that is way northern Canada and northern Alaska. I think that person you knew here was pulling your leg. PD--you had a WAY worse winter then we did in MN.

 

[golfgal]

I had to go to Blaine, MN, just north of Minneapolis this past December 20 to purchase my Cessna 152 plane. I can attest that Minnesota is indeed quite cold for someone used to southern Kentucky weather. Granted, we can get below zero in s. Ky, but it's pretty rare (maybe once every 2 or 3 winters), but we don't stay that way for days at a time. Also, when I was in Blaine, it was flurrying the whole day we were there, and endangered my flight out of there slightly. Flurries in Kentucky usually don't add up to anything, but in Blaine it had been flurrying almost non-stop for days by that point, and the temps were cold enough that it all stuck. They had 7" of snow on the ground when I took off.

All that having been said, when we flew over southern Minn., and parts of Wisconsin, etc., I was blown away by the beauty of the tundra-like landscape. I saw tons of little ice-fishing cabins on the lakes there, some people skating on some of the ponds. It really was a sight. And I can see that right now the temps there are as warm or warmer than they are here. Some of the architecture I saw, even on little airport hangar buildings, is very unique to the area. We also ran across some very friendly people. I really think this would be a nice place to live, if you can handle some fairly extreme cold. One good thing about the day I was there was that there was very little wind, so it really wasn't that bad to me. It was about 15 degrees above zero and flurries. We can certainly have that here as well. But also realize I was there almost literally during the winter solstice, so I'm not giving Minnesota a fair chance.

Ok and being a born and bread Minnesotan I was waiting for you to say that it was like -20° when you were here. 15° in late December isn't all that bad. The thing about Minnesota is that you simply learn to dress for the weather. A pair of pants, shirt and sweater with a winter coat and gloves is sufficient for that temp.