Deciding on retirement state. Any wisdom to share? (Minneapolis, St. Paul: house prices, income)

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

FWIW, I took your post as one of concern for his well being. Plenty of people are deciding to dial back on social media.

Thanks for noticing. I always appreciate your balanced POV. While you are opinionated (so am I), you do so with tact and professionalism. I get the feeling a forum like C-D helps/challenges your reasoning. As in, if you can't defend your POV, maybe it's not sound. The arguments you put forth are ones that I don't always agree with but I see your logic. i.e. your opinions can help shape mine. So I respect your POV and enjoy your participation.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Thanks for noticing. I always appreciate your balanced POV. While you are opinionated (so am I), you do so with tact and professionalism. I get the feeling a forum like C-D helps/challenges your reasoning. As in, if you can't defend your POV, maybe it's not sound. The arguments you put forth are ones that I don't always agree with but I see your logic. i.e. your opinions can help shape mine. So I respect your POV and enjoy your participation.

Thank you. I find you to be one of the more thoughtful and courteous commenters. I honestly believe that two people can look at an issue and, in good faith, have different views.

[lpc123]

I am curious how you factor in the community "feel" for your retirement decision. For me, I am looking for 'big city' amenities like shopping and restaurants, but small town community. I want to live with people who are more social, yet have enough space so I have privacy of residence (some acreage).



Contradictory goals, to say the least. Hard to get real privacy in a large city, so there are trade-offs for sure.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by lpc123

I am curious how you factor in the community "feel" for your retirement decision. For me, I am looking for 'big city' amenities like shopping and restaurants, but small town community. I want to live with people who are more social, yet have enough space so I have privacy of residence (some acreage).



Contradictory goals, to say the least. Hard to get real privacy in a large city, so there are trade-offs for sure.

Small towns offer the least privacy. You can live out on 40 acres but everyone knows your business.

Next comes the city, where you are generally anonymous in the crowds, but your neighbors can hear you talking in your backyard.

Most private is a single family home on a large lot in the suburbs. Neighbors will recognize your car but not your face.

[lpc123]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

Small towns offer the least privacy. You can live out on 40 acres but everyone knows your business.

Next comes the city, where you are generally anonymous in the crowds, but your neighbors can hear you talking in your backyard.

Most private is a single family home on a large lot in the suburbs. Neighbors will recognize your car but not your face.

Yeah, and therein lies the rub. It is VERY HARD to find a large lot home in a large city/town. For me, I would need at least 1.5 acres with bordering trees and home placement of neighbors spaced far enough that I rarely hear what my neighbors are doing.


And if you do find it, it is priced accordingly (not affordable). So I have been focusing in Alabama, northern Georgia, and Tennessee, at least for now.

[Vacanegro]

Originally Posted by lpc123

Yeah, and therein lies the rub. It is VERY HARD to find a large lot home in a large city/town. For me, I would need at least 1.5 acres with bordering trees and home placement of neighbors spaced far enough that I rarely hear what my neighbors are doing.


And if you do find it, it is priced accordingly (not affordable). So I have been focusing in Alabama, northern Georgia, and Tennessee, at least for now.

Well first you have to decide if you want people around or you don't. It's easy enough to live outside a Med (20K) town and have land and drive in or live in the burbs on a big lot.



Personally I don't want to retire to isolation. I saw that happen with my parents and it wasn't good for them.

[Bamaman1]

Originally Posted by lpc123

Yeah, and therein lies the rub. It is VERY HARD to find a large lot home in a large city/town. For me, I would need at least 1.5 acres with bordering trees and home placement of neighbors spaced far enough that I rarely hear what my neighbors are doing.

And if you do find it, it is priced accordingly (not affordable). So I have been focusing in Alabama, northern Georgia, and Tennessee, at least for now.

I too am one that needs room. I really enjoy cutting grass, and if I cannot cut it in 45 minutes I'll just get a bigger mower or tractor. We are so blessed to have our main house, a second home on a beautiful lake/river an hour away and a RV in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Your idea to focus in Alabama, North Georgia and Tennessee is right on with your priority list. And there are dozens of great towns to consider that have very good quality of life and low cost of living. As I get older, good weather and 4 seasons gets increasingly important.

[lpc123]

Originally Posted by Bamaman1

I too am one that needs room. I really enjoy cutting grass, and if I cannot cut it in 45 minutes I'll just get a bigger mower or tractor. We are so blessed to have our main house, a second home on a beautiful lake/river an hour away and a RV in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Your idea to focus in Alabama, North Georgia and Tennessee is right on with your priority list. And there are dozens of great towns to consider that have very good quality of life and low cost of living. As I get older, good weather and 4 seasons gets increasingly important.

We liked some of the areas around Huntsville and just south of Birmingham. Birmingham even has Whataburger! Just hard to find the right property. We also visited the Chattanooga area. Same issue. Hard to find acreage.



I like the idea of considering medium sized towns in those areas. Just not sure where to begin/where to look. Coming from Texas, it would be a major relocation. Parts of Texas are very friendly, and I am just not sure where to find the friendlier areas in the new places. Yeah, weather is important too, and I hear northeastern TN is the holy grail for good weather days. Being near a lake or river would be nice though not essential. Kayaking is fun.

[ben young]

Stay away ,nine members of the City Council want to defund the police department. Some say its just a thought, Sure ,you want to chance that ?

[Paradox58]

I find the neighborhoods of St. Paul to be absolutely charming, tree-lined streets and big front porches, but I think the price point to live in that area will likely take it off our list of possibilities. We're taking a trip to Western North Carolina in about a month to take a look at Hendersonville and other communities in the area.