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Old 12-28-2021, 12:15 AM
 
Location: San Francisco, CA
1,386 posts, read 1,500,957 times
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I am curious to know what folks here think about retiring cheaply in Arizona. I am in search of a retirement solution for two family members (sisters with one another). One is retired and the other plans to retire in early 2022. They currently live together, along with a recently retired third sister and their elderly parents, in rural San Diego. The recently retired one owns and will be selling so she can live in her second house (near Pahrump, NV) full time. The parents will likely move to Yuma to be near their two sons. Thus the two remaining sisters will need a home.

Budget with my assistance is $200K for a traditional house. Open to non-traditional arrangements (pair of trailers, buy land and build, etc.) at the right price. Must haves include at least 2 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms, close proximity to basic necessities, less than 30 minutes to medical services, and enough outdoor or garage space to work on a car. No need for nightlife or fancy restaurants.

The top contender so far is Yuma since they have family there. However, summer weather is challenging and they are "over" living so close to the border (Border Patrol flyovers, etc.). Kingman is a second contender but seems too small and conservative, even for them. (One brother previously lived there and doesn't like it, which is why he relocated to Yuma.) Would somewhere further east (Phoenix, Tucson, etc.) be an option?
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Old 12-28-2021, 03:47 AM
 
Location: Boydton, VA
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IMO, and as a former resident of Yuma and Sierra Vista, both will check all the boxes you mentioned. SV will be noticeably cooler at 4000' elevation. I never found BP (or border crossing) activity in either place to be a problem.
Living close to the border has advantages...cheaper medical, dental care, Rx and eyeglasses.
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Old 12-28-2021, 03:34 PM
 
Location: Seattle
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OP, we bought in Rio Rico, 40 miles S. of Tucson and maybe 8 or some from the border. Haven't been disturbed by border activity, my guess is it's not as busy as San Diego.

Cooler temps and affordability was the reason.

Yuma summer is to much for me.
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Old 12-28-2021, 03:57 PM
 
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Yuma definitely. Depending on the medical care they'll need, Yuma Regional Medical Center isn't a bad little hospital - and Los Algodones, right across the border, is known as the "Dental Capital of the World". I used to get dental care there when I lived in California. That's all that little town does! (well, plus optometrists, pharmacies and liquor stores). Seniors and snowbirds come from far and wide to get stuff done in Algodones - two of my crowns are courtesy of there and I saved boatloads of cash compared to dental care in the US.

Phoenix's COL is zooming into the stratosphere, and Tucson is beginning to feel some of that as well.

Look at the foothills area of Yuma.
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Old 12-29-2021, 11:52 AM
 
Location: Verde Valley, Az
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Former Yuman here, I would look just to the East of Yuma, in the Wellton area. My niece just bought 5 acres and put a Modular home on it. Pretty decent price, esp compared to other places. Yuma is 30 min away, and the "Foothills" area of Yuma is only 15 min and has a lot of what you need in terms of everyday needs--Groceries, hardware, etc.
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Old 12-29-2021, 03:59 PM
 
Location: San Francisco, CA
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Helpful advice so far. Thanks, and feel free to keep it coming! One of my family members is in Yuma this week and will check out the Wellton area since they haven't been out there before.
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Old 12-29-2021, 04:15 PM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,754 posts, read 58,116,312 times
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Quality of life (year round...?)

I would look to SE AZ (SV is a good choice, but there are others.. Bisbee / Chiricahuas...Dragoon / Cochise)
Summers are usually MUCH better in SE. (Temp / moisture wise)

Consider buying something already in place (MH on acreage with shop / power / water / septic) This cuts down your time, work, and costs. I often buy trashed MH on nice view acreage and add a shop / RV hookups. Usually I scrap the MH and find a <$10k replacement, or add apartment to shop. Having a shop allows you a place to live and store treasures while you build a home. (I've done several)

My next home will likely be Rammed Earth. Very inexpensive and suitable for SE AZ. Lots of solar! (I already have my windows bought)

(A cabin, not a showhouse...) ~1200 SF, not 7,000sf
https://onekhttps://azarchitecture.c...-home-arizona/
https://homes.trovit.com/rammed-earth-house-arizona
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Old 12-29-2021, 05:19 PM
 
Location: San Francisco, CA
1,386 posts, read 1,500,957 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StealthRabbit View Post
Quality of life (year round...?)

I would look to SE AZ (SV is a good choice, but there are others.. Bisbee / Chiricahuas...Dragoon / Cochise)
Summers are usually MUCH better in SE. (Temp / moisture wise)

Consider buying something already in place (MH on acreage with shop / power / water / septic) This cuts down your time, work, and costs. I often buy trashed MH on nice view acreage and add a shop / RV hookups. Usually I scrap the MH and find a <$10k replacement, or add apartment to shop. Having a shop allows you a place to live and store treasures while you build a home. (I've done several)
Yes, this will be year round. I might fly out and "vacation" in SE Arizona to see what it's like. Never been south or east of Phoenix before.

Seems like buying a property with an old MH and changing things up as described could be a good way to go. AZ seems pretty reasonable about this. Not like here in CA where it takes an act of congress to do something to your home.
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Old 12-29-2021, 05:23 PM
 
Location: Boydton, VA
4,604 posts, read 6,376,805 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davdaven View Post
Helpful advice so far. Thanks, and feel free to keep it coming! One of my family members is in Yuma this week and will check out the Wellton area since they haven't been out there before.
There are next to no services in Wellton, which means travel to Yuma for everything, which will get old very fast.
I forgot to mention, Yuma has a Sams Club, and Sprouts...Costco is 30+ miles away in El Centro...Sierra Vista has none of those, which means a 90 mile trip to Tucson, as shopping in SV is limited.
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Old 12-30-2021, 09:00 PM
 
Location: San Francisco, CA
1,386 posts, read 1,500,957 times
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Wellton has been crossed off the list. Yuma is still a strong contender, but alas, now they are talking about buying old trailers and renting in a trailer park. Not sure how that will go since one of the sisters has a pit bull and they are practically impossible to have in a rental situation. The other sister is happy to know Yuma has a Sprouts since that is on her list of wants.
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