Where the Heck Should I Move To? Please Help!

Where the Heck Should I Move To? Please Help!

Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes

Hi, Bigger Pockets,

I wanted to get some leads to some cities that could be ideal for me to move to and invest in. I currently live in Los Angeles and would really like to live somewhere different.

I grew up in northwestern Pennsylvania, which was a good place to grow up. We had Lake Erie to enjoy and woods to play around in as well. It’s a great place during the spring, summer and fall months.

The reason why I moved away from Erie is because I don’t like snow and dreary days (they typically run from November to March/April).

I would like to move somewhere that has the following attributes listed below. If any of y’all know of any areas or cities that has the traits, please let me know. I would be super grateful.

A place where:

-There are lots of woods—I really enjoy hiking and being outside

-I like water that has waves—so it’s near a decent-sized lake or an ocean

-Land is relatively cheap—I would like to live on a decent-sized plot of land

-It either doesn’t snow or it very rarely snows

-People are friendly

Those are the main needs. I truly hope I can find a place that suits my likes. The U.S.A. is so large it’s tough to know where to search and so I wanted to ask y’all, since Bigger Pockets users are all over America (and beyond).

Again, thank you, fellow BPers. I appreciate it very much.

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Craig CurelopBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Post Falls, ID · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
9y

@Karl B. - When reading this, Florida was the first place that jumps out at me. However, if "lots of woods" is what you value the most then maybe Florida isn't for you.

Colorado meets a lot of these criteria. Though there is not much water with waves, there is TONS of wonderful hikes and people are super friendly and active. 

Sure it snows, but it does not stick. At least in the Denver area it doesn't. If you want snow, you go to the mountains. 

I have similar criteria as you and I live in Denver and am very happy. 

You also might want to consider northern CA. A few hours north of San Francisco, like Sacramento area? There are a lot of hikes, it's pretty warm, people are nice, and it's not far away from the ocean. 

See this reply in the discussion

213 Replies

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  • Rental Property Investor · Bay Area · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Vancouver area is a great choice, nice weather, nice pacific ocean wave on one side , and magnificent Rockies on another side.. NO snow ... and delicious spring water from Rockies ... just stay away from the area close to city Centre where they're pricy but other than that, it's awesome! Good luck and please share your plan when it's decided!!
  • Investor · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2017 · 26 posts · 13 votes
    9y

    @Karl B. I'm interested to know if you have made a decision after all of the suggestions. If so, please share!

    I would agree with North Cal but rules and regs there are getting uncomfortable for some. I live in Colorado Springs and love the mountains and hiking but find that there is a shortage of water, large lakes etc.

    I've lived in southern Alabama on the Gulf Shores and loved it, but possibly a shortage of woods and trails for you there.

    If you want to check off your full list you might want to get bold and creative and look into Summerland, Penticton and Kamloops in British Columbia, Canada. Its a far stretch but throwing it out there as it fits all your requirements in excess. Beautiful large lakes and rivers, mountains and forest trails, great real estate investment opportunities, cheap land on the Canadian dollar (25% discount right now) and extremely friendly people who say "Eh" a lot ;0)

  • Investor · Wellington, CO · Member since 2017 · 79 posts · 30 votes
    9y

    @Wesley Jeanette side note: I don't know why sometimes the "@" function works and sometimes it doesn't but this was the best I could do.

    In Wellington, unless you want to buy new construction, the inventory is very slim pickings. It's a small town to begin with and most of the people who have the decent older homes have lived in them for a long time and they aren't planning on selling.

    Journey Homes is really going to town with their projects: Berthoud, Wellington, Severance, Windsor, and I think Johnstown right now. I know that they have built in Pierce, too, which is way out on the Hwy 85 cooridor. There is a builder called Hartford Homes in Wellington right now in addition to Journey. I looked at some of their models and they had OK floor plans but they hiked the price up by $20,000 over three weeks on me, so, obviously, I walked away from that.

    Fort Collins is just ridiculous but I think I will try to buy there next.

  • Saint Paul, MN · Member since 2017 · 1 post · 0 votes
    9y
    You know what!? If you limit yourself not knowing the world. Then you'd not get the best of the world. So expand the horizon and look around the world. New Zealand can be a good start which has all and more of the characters you need.
  • Wholesaler · Kamloops, British Columbia · Member since 2016 · 16 posts · 4 votes
    9y

    @Stephen Kleyn.  I'm sorry we Canadians say eh so much :). 

    Yes Kamloops is a great place to live.  

  • Tauranga, Bay of Plenty · Member since 2015 · 13 posts · 3 votes
    9y

    Hmmm Karl I certainly would agree with Breezy's recommendation.  New Zealand does fit most of your criteria, loads of hiking spots, friendly people and most places close to a lake or the ocean. But cheap land..... not so much. Think Auckland is either no1 or 2 as the most unaffordable city in the world. And where I live in the Bay of Plenty it is not unusual  for a 350-400 metre squared section to go for around $350,000-400,000NZD.  Three quarter acre section a little bit further out of the city is going for around $600,000.  So you might need to go out into the sticks a bit to get some affordable land here. Our building costs are pretty high as well.  Roughly between $2000 and $3000 per square metre depending on the quality of the finish. Sorry I haven't done the conversions to imperial.  Anyway happy to help if you have any other questions about NZ.  😎

  • Lender · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2017 · 83 posts · 33 votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Susan Maneck:
    Originally posted by @Dominic Balconi:

    Manta, Ecuador. Or Puerto Cayó, Ecuador if you prefer private beaches.

    Allow me to explain.

    Uses USD

    Cost of living is 1/3 of the US

    70 Degrees all day and night, year round, with little to no rain

    Stunning blue and green ocean views

    Live in a beachfront residence for $600 a month

    Large expat community if you don't speak Spanish

    Community-driven culture, people are very friendly

    Amazingly beautiful country; most ecologically diverse country on earth

    Voted #1 place to retire 4 years in a row

    Inexpensive, beautiful, and the investment opportunities are endless. For example, I'm building a home for 70k total, including all materials, labor, land, etc. I am expecting to sell it for at least 120k. It will be a Duplex.

     There is a reason they call it Ecuador, however. It is on the Equator which means the beaches are hot, hot, hot. However the Andes are always temperate. Also, health care is inexpensive. But I'm not sure how good it is as an investment. Rents relative to property are cheap and real estate deals are pretty much cash only. Also, interest on a savings account is 5% and you only need to bring 30K with you in order to immigrate. 

     Actually, I must say you are incorrect about the "hot, hot, hot" factor. Ecuador simply being on the equator does not mean it is very hot. I have lived there on and off for over 3 years and have never seen temperatures exceed 85 degrees, in any part of the country. I currently live in atlanta where I am certainly not on the beach and it regularly reaches 90+ degrees. Ecuador, specifically Puerto Cayó that I meantioned originally, is commonly overcast, so it rarely gets above 75, plus you have nice shade. While living there, I wore sunscreen 1 time. Probably a poor decision, but I never got sunburned, even walking shirtless on the beach for hours. 

    It is on the equator, so this applies year round. 

    There are at least 30 states where it regularly gets hotter than it ever does in Ecuador, despite it being on the equator. 

  • Carrollton, TX · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Dallas, TX/Frisco,TX it's BOOMING! 🚀
  • Lender · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2017 · 83 posts · 33 votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Nichole Ovens:

    That sounds like a dream. I hope to get to Ecuador in the next year. I need to check out this place!!!

    It is genuinely the most amazingly place I have ever lived. I've been there for 3.5 years on and off. I initially toured almost every country in Central America looking for the best place to settle down and invest. When I found Ecuador, I knew I had found the place. Though, the only caveat to that would be that it is far less expensive to build new structures than buy old ones, plus with building you get to ensure that it is of American quality, rather than the Ecuadorean quality. My step grandfather is my GC down there, and he has built castles in the Czech Republic, so I  certainly in good hands in that regard. 

  • Lender · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2017 · 83 posts · 33 votes
    9y

    Not bad for $600 a month, eh? 

    @Nicole A. 

  • Winston salem, NC · Member since 2017 · 8 posts · 4 votes
    9y
    Come to North Carolina... the best of both worlds here.
  • Commercial Real Estate Broker · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2009 · 13 posts · 50 votes
    9y

    I lived in Tampa, great area, they have the "nature coast up north of Spring Hill, not sure how big a town you want, plenty of woods and awesome airboating swamp people up there, had many a good times on the rivers, to me the best undiscovered area in all of FL. Still have family there.

    I live in Charlotte now and its great as well. the blue ridge mountains are beautiful. Charlotte and Raleigh are arguably both TOP 10 commercial real estate markets in the entire USA, and Charleston is close to that top 10 list.

    Asheville, NC is one heck of a mountain town. picture cool nightspots, breweries and restaurants with hipsters in a great sized downtown, with views of mountains on all 4 sides. a little slice of paradise. lakes and waterfalls to swim in beat the beach any day for me.

    The Charlotte, Greenville, SC, Asheville triangle to me is one of the best regions in the nation. still 3 hours to beach, but i'd rather swim in the mountain lakes.

    Cheap housing, snows maybe 1 time a winter, mild winters, hot summers.

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Nashville, TN · Member since 2012 · 4 posts · 4 votes
    9y

    Hey Karl I live in Nashville and LOVE it. We just hit the charts in a bad way though as one of the fastest growing cities for cost of living, but it's because of exploding housing costs. I've done several flips in outlying areas and always made a good ROI, but finding a good deal on a Nashville property these days is tough. I'd recommend taking a close look at Chattanooga. I built a spec home there a couple years ago and made a terrific profit. IMO Chattanooga is where Nashville was several years back re cost of investment property. I picked up a lot with a 780 sf house on it for $27,000 at a tax auction in spring of 2016. I scraped the house and am holding it to build on in a couple of years, but it's currently valued around $60,000 as a vacant lot. Chattanooga is surrounded by rivers, lakes and mountains (TONS of woods), and is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Its employment, culture and geography are attracting young people in droves. Check it out!

  • Investor / Wholesaler · Nashville, TN · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 667 votes
    9y

    @Cindy Maxson, totally agree. I live in Nashville and am wholesaling and investing there now as well. It's a beautiful place to live too, great option for this gentleman but lake waves only...

  • Student · Boston, MA · Member since 2017 · 7 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Karl B. I would check out Middle Tennessee in the Nashville area. Outside of downtown (15-45 minutes) land is cheap but it is a growing city. There are beautiful trails and woods everywhere. I even just spent last weekend on one of the many lakes around the area. Let me know if I could help you in any way!
  • Flipper/Rehabber · Cardiff By The Sea, CA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 3 votes
    9y

    Karl - I'm from Erie, PA myself.  And although it had some great attributes, I have spread my wings and lived in 6 states and 4 different Countries.  From a mindset, you have to know that you can invest in any market if you do it correctly, using the right tools and understanding the market cycles. Secondly - no place has everything, but sun w/o cold,  woods and water and cheap land  - don't usually all go together.   Tradeoffs & Prioritize.   Rent an RV for two months and spend a week or more in several places and see how you feel being there.   And it's not permanent , so you can move again in 2 , 5, 9 years when your priorities change.  Good luck on the journey.

  • Rental Property Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 19 posts · 8 votes
    9y
    It sounds like you would really like Buford, Georgia. Just north of Atlanta. There is a large lake (lAke Lanier), several mountain ranges to hike, and great weather.
  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Christen G.:

    Tacoma, Wa is starting to come up and fits most of your boxes. Everyone is getting priced out of Seattle and moving South (or North) - and Tacoma has a lot of great inventory. Good luck!

     Hi, Christen. Tacoma seems like a neat place. I've been told it's very unique. Many thanks for the suggestion! I appreciate it.

  • Rental Property Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2017 · 383 posts · 248 votes
    9y

    Yah for sure - I have a duplex there and am looking to buy a triplex as well. Stay to the North of I5 for SFR. 6th street is coming up and Proctor is a hot/hip neighborhood, too.

  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Susan Maneck:
    Originally posted by @Karl B.:
    Originally posted by @Susan Maneck:

    I'm a native of California who has been living in Mississippi for the last 17 years.  As far as a place to invest Mississippi can't be beat, but I don't really want to retire here. I bought a condo in South Lake Tahoe, CA for that purpose which is currently rented because I can't retire until these politicians decide what they are doing with Obama Care. On a whim this summer I visited Lake Almanor near Mt. Lassen in California. I was amazed at how beautiful and affordable that area is. The only thing you won't have are the waves. 

     That is a beautiful area! I just did a Google Image Search. It definitely doesn't look like California but it's not too far from Oregon, so that makes sense. Thank you for the suggestion, I appreciate it. It's definitely a place that would be very nice to visit.

     I can tell you are from Southern California. News Flash! Northern California is California. Without us where would you get your water? (Sorry, us Northern Californians keep hoping LA will secede from the state.) >;-> Lake Almanor, isn't that far from Chico or Redding. It is about 200 miles south of the Oregon Border. 

    I'm from Pennsylvania. :-) And I wouldn't mind it if SoCal seceded. I just want to be able to move first. :-)

  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Kevin B.:

    Florida can be great, but if you want all four seasons and less oppressive heat in the summer, check out Wilmington or Charleston areas. Lots of retirees, vacationers, beach culture, tourism dollars and of course friendly Carolinians. If you can get in a surrounding town then land is even cheaper..

     Many thanks, Kevin! I know my sister went to college in Wilmington for a year (I think she went to like three different colleges for undergrad). I will definitely look into more information about the town. I appreciate it.

  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Viq C.:

    Vancouver area is a great choice, nice weather, nice pacific ocean wave on one side , and magnificent Rockies on another side.. NO snow ... and delicious spring water from Rockies ... just stay away from the area close to city Centre where they're pricy but other than that, it's awesome! Good luck and please share your plan when it's decided!!

    Thank you so much, Viq! Are you referring to Vancouver WA or Canada? I have heard great things about both and really should research both. And I'll definitely update the thread once I figure out where I am moving to. Again, thank you Sir. I appreciate it!

  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Stephen Kleyn:

    @Karl B. I'm interested to know if you have made a decision after all of the suggestions. If so, please share!

    I would agree with North Cal but rules and regs there are getting uncomfortable for some. I live in Colorado Springs and love the mountains and hiking but find that there is a shortage of water, large lakes etc.

    I've lived in southern Alabama on the Gulf Shores and loved it, but possibly a shortage of woods and trails for you there.

    If you want to check off your full list you might want to get bold and creative and look into Summerland, Penticton and Kamloops in British Columbia, Canada. Its a far stretch but throwing it out there as it fits all your requirements in excess. Beautiful large lakes and rivers, mountains and forest trails, great real estate investment opportunities, cheap land on the Canadian dollar (25% discount right now) and extremely friendly people who say "Eh" a lot ;0)

     Hi, Stephen. Not yet! It will likely take a few months - I've got a boatload of research to do and I'll definitely be visiting a few places. Moving is the worst and so I want to make certain I LOVE wherever I end up moving to before the move. :-)

    I will definitely check out Summerland and Penticton. Both areas look very interesting. And small towns, which is cool. Thank you for the post. I appreciate it, eh! :-D

  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Trudy B.:

    Hmmm Karl I certainly would agree with Breezy's recommendation.  New Zealand does fit most of your criteria, loads of hiking spots, friendly people and most places close to a lake or the ocean. But cheap land..... not so much. Think Auckland is either no1 or 2 as the most unaffordable city in the world. And where I live in the Bay of Plenty it is not unusual  for a 350-400 metre squared section to go for around $350,000-400,000NZD.  Three quarter acre section a little bit further out of the city is going for around $600,000.  So you might need to go out into the sticks a bit to get some affordable land here. Our building costs are pretty high as well.  Roughly between $2000 and $3000 per square metre depending on the quality of the finish. Sorry I haven't done the conversions to imperial.  Anyway happy to help if you have any other questions about NZ.  😎

    Thank you for the information, Trudy. I appreciate it. At any rate, I definitely want to visit New Zealand someday. I came across the following article which was enjoyable to read: https://youngadventuress.com/2013/10/new-zealand-expat.html

  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Nestor Penado:

    Dallas, TX/Frisco,TX it's BOOMING! 🚀

    Many thanks for the suggestions. Do either have much water? 

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