Where in the US should I buy a house??!

[Taya]

That's right! I'm thinking of buying something in the US, since it's way cheaper than where I live.

 

I want your advice! Where should I buy?

 

Keep in mind that:

1) I hate summer

2) I would like to have a "holiday home"/rental property, and I would like it to be in a place that isn't like where I live already ;p i.e. I would like some snow, some mountains, maybe some grass that isn't brown...etc. ;p

3) I don't need to live by the beach, as where I am now I live 10 mins drive from it :)

4) I would prefer a SAFE neighbourhood (that goes without saying I suppose)

5) I saw a house on sale that had 6 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms...woah!! But anything with say 2-3 rooms and 2 bathrooms would be good...the more the better!

6) Price range would be up to $180,000, no more than that preferably! But I could stretch to $200,000 I reckon, if it was really worth it

 

Okay, that's all *g*

[JenniferL]

The house across the street from us is for sale. You should buy that one. Then we can run back and forth across the street telling each other to check the boards.

[Minuet]

Well, seeing as you hate summer I suppose that leaves out most of Arizona.

 

I am sure there is something up near Jade that would suit you.

[Taya]

Kat, we could just get some megaphones and yell out the window instead :)

 

But yeah, GA = summery. ;p

[JenniferL]

I can't really think of many places in the US that don't get hot in the summer.  Though I do think the Southeast is pretty great in general, weather-wise. It's pretty mild year round here, except for August. August sucks.  But since our seasons are opposite of yours, you can just skip summer altogether and only come here during our winter, which lasts about six weeks.

[DPR]

 

That all depends on if we still have water , of course. Brings up thoughts of the three fold land, no?  :(

[bcxanth]

Michigan is nice, especially here on the West side of the state.  We actually have all four seasons! :P  And the scenery is wonderful, especial in the fall when the leaves change.  No mountains though, unless you go up noth, and then they're barely tall enough to be mountains.

[Taya]

Kat, I think you're lying to me. Then again, I've only ever been to Georgia between July and September. :p So what would I know about the rest of the year?

 

Basically if it gets to say, 105 farenheight or more, I'm not a very happy chappette. And humidity is not my friend either!

 

It's not like I'll be in the US most of the year or anything... It'd be every few years at most. :) Still...! I want to enjoy myself when I'm there *lol*

 

Anyway...keep the ideas coming people! hehe

[JenniferL]

Yeah, you've only come during our worst weather. In the spring and fall it's MUCH cooler and the humidity is lower. Just don't come the first week of April. That's when the pollen comes.

[Guest Far Dareis Mai]

I have to agree with Bc on Michigan (and holy cow bc! You live in Michigan?? Me too!). I live right smack in the middle of the mitten, and we get all four seasons (though if you can't deal with three feet of snow or more on the ground in the winter, my area is NOT the place for you!), and they are just beautiful. It is definitely a buyers market out here, as the economy is so bad, people are throwing their beautiful homes at you for dirt cheap. My area also has one of the lowest crime rates in the state, for a larger city. We call our police meter maids because they literally have nothing else better to do. :(

[Barmacral]

Anywhere in Canada. Well, except Toronto.

 

But seriously? Ohio seems like a fairly nice state. Stay away from Detroit, good way to get yourself killed.

[Loreina]

I've always loved Vermont and New Hampshire. Kentucky is nice too.  :)

[Dwynwen]

I would recommend Vermont for you.  My family used to have a summer home there, and we loved it.  It's one of the cheapest and safest states in which to live.  You won't be near the beach, and you would be either near or in the mountains, depending on your preference.  It does not get humid in the summer; in fact, it is nicely cool there.  You would definitely get snow and cold during the winter!

 

Given your list, I would say definitely do not get a house in Southern California.  Most people cannot afford even a medium priced house there.  Things there are super expensive, and you would probably hate the heat level.

[Guest Cairos]

I would say New York.  ;D

I love NYC and its great here. It can get very hot in the summer but it can get really cold to in the winter. Snow comes and goes and upstate New York has mountains that are nice. NYC may be pricey.

[JenniferL]

A few years ago, my parents bought a house in a beach resort community in Florida. If you only plan to visit your house sporadically and rent it out when you're not using it, that would be my recommendation. You own the house and pay the bills. The resort handles rental for you, and provides amenities to make it attractive to vacationers.  At your price range, you can probably afford a decent sized condo somewhere pretty nice.

 

http://www.intrawest.com/index.htm

 

 

 

 

[Jhaenara]

If you're looking for snow and mountains, then I'd say possibley Colorado Springs, or somewhere in that area.  Maybe more north for more greenery...  the Springs are pretty dry... but that means no humidity.  Denver being close would be good for flying in and out, and just to have a large city to access.

[Jaydena]

Well Idaho dosen't get really hot in the Summer like Aussie, I live between the Mountains, by a lake, it's a very safe city. We have snow in the Winters and all four seasons.  ;)

[Taya]

So many places to choose from! hehe I also posted about this in my online diary and am getting even more suggestions from that. Arggggh hard to choose!

 

I suppose it does depend on what I'm using the thing for. Mostly it's an investment sort of thing, 'cause I just want to own something bigger than my car. ;)

[JenniferL]

If you're looking for an investment, then I would buy savings bonds or talk to a financial adviser. The housing market in the US is terrible right now. You could get a house fairly cheaply, but there's no guarantee that it would increase in value for several years. Also, a house is an investment you have to visit frequently. My dad has to visit his house in Florida every couple months to go take care of minor repairs. The renters are TERRIBLE on the house.

[Guest Far Dareis Mai]

Kath is right about the economy, it is not a seller's market, and it just started about a year or two ago (at least in Michigan). On the plus side, you could get a great deal on a house depending on the area. On the negative side, if you have plans to sell in the next five or seven years...you may not get entirely what you could get out of it.

 

If you are actually interested in looking at houses for sale, there many many realtor sites throughout the US that show their listings online. Some feature 360 degree tours, and some just have lots of pictures of the house. It would help you whittle down, when you become ready to actually view the homes or whatnot. That is how my husband and I found our house. :D

[Besolyn]

Don’t come to Florida!! Unless it’s just for New Year’s, and even then you may want to bring shorts just in case. The six weeks Kath mentioned shrinks to 3 where I am, and the Florida Keys have NEVER seen frost.

 

My serious contribution is: anywhere in the southern Appalachians is very beautiful with all the seasons, and mountains. North Carolina being my preference. Look up a town called Bat Cave. If you’ve ever seen the movies Dirty Dancing or Last of the Mohicans, both were filmed in that area of NC-very beautiful! Last I heard the Ozark area of Arkansas still had some reasonable prices for land and houses. My uncle was trying to get me to move up there with him. So I don’t know if he was painting me a pretty picture or if it really is “terrific” up there.

[Reile]

The 'in' place for a while was Tennesse.  I know alot of people vacationed there, so it would be easy to rent out your place.  Very pretty area, scenic, etc and lots of touristy type stuff to do as well.  It has warm summers and cool winters.  You get a bit of everything without much of the extremes.  It isn't overly crowded, so not too expensive, but has enough that there is plenty to do, plenty of shopping, etc.

 

http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/travel/tourism.html

 

Hmm... perhaps talking myself into the next move ;)

[Taya]

Well, if I bought it within a few years I wouldn't be planning to sell right away. So that wouldn't be an issue. I'm not really buying to sell as yet, more buying to buy ;p Obviously I wouldn't be living in it. But yeah, I would need an agent to check on it for me as I obviously would not be able to get over there every few months. So that is something for me to consider.

[Jaydena]

The house next door to me is for sale for 180,000, three bedroom, two bathroom, two car garage, only two years old with a huge backyard. The houses here are way cheaper than some other places and if you want to check out where I live, it's going to be on Good Morning America on the 28th of Novemeber, I don't know if you can check online and watch it there Taya. Our lights show is going to be on there and I am getting up at 3 am to go down there and show support for CDA.  :D

[Taya]

That certainly is cheap Jade :)

 

What's CDA??