Trying To Decide Where To Re-Locate

[Quiganomics]

Wife and I recently decided we've had enough of these Wisconsin winters and being that she works remotely and I can run my business from virtually anywhere, and the kids are homeschooled, it's time to start looking. Fortunately we have nothing tying us anywhere, so unfortunately that leaves a lot of options for two people that are indecisive. We've narrowed our potential landing states to be:

Missouri
Oklahoma
Louisiana
Kentucky
West Virgina

We're looking for something 5+ acres to build a barndo on, of the listed states, which would you choose, which area, and why?

 

[SmokyMose]

Wife and I recently decided we've had enough of these Wisconsin winters and being that she works remotely and I can run my business from virtually anywhere, and the kids are homeschooled, it's time to start looking. Fortunately we have nothing tying us anywhere, so unfortunately that leaves a lot of options for two people that are indecisive. We've narrowed our potential landing states to be:

Missouri
Oklahoma
Louisiana
Kentucky
West Virgina

We're looking for something 5+ acres to build a barndo on, of the listed states, which would you choose, which area, and why?

Why not Indiana? Just kidding.
Of those five I would have to say Kentucky. You still have winter but nothing like you've been dealing with. One of my cousins and her husband moved there after they retired and love it. They're in eastern Kentucky. They ran an accounting office so you can assume the area is economically favorable.
Downside? Tornados....

 

[SmokinEdge]

Why not include Arkansas in there? Beautiful state.

 

[Timber II]

I’m in Southeast Missouri. Central Missouri down south to a good bit of Kentucky and Tn has turned into the tornado and ice storm belt. I’ve been here forever so just deal with the threats, but it’s something to consider. Good luck in your search.

 

[Colin1230]

From that list Kentucky would be the hands down winner. That said, Kansas City area is nice also. Centrally located, beautiful airport and at the intersection of two major interstates. Oh, and the Cheifs and Royals to boot.

 

[realdocBBQ]

I think you've got a great set of choices there - here's my advice living in OK.

Choose a rural area, within 30-60 minutes of a larger city/metro. Not necessarily HUGE city, but larger. Easy access to things like theater, events, Costco, major regional airport (not necessarily international airport). After many, many years of living in OK, the lower cost of living in these areas, with better access to 'city stuff' without being IN the city is a great balance. Real estate is cheap(er), cost of living overall, ability to access and source things from 'country folk' like meat and goods from local farmers, being in a smaller town (say, sub-40k or so?) and getting to know people, make connections that make your life easier - tradesmen, church members, all kinds of stuff.

I honestly am absolutely flabbergasted why anyone would want to live in a giant metro, or even in a large suburb in close proximity. To my mind, you get all the downsides (traffic, costs, headaches, taxes) and almost NONE of the benefits.

I live 45 minutes from Tulsa and I think this is a great area and a great mix. There are lots of areas that match this lifestyle.

Look at individual states' taxes as well as the 'direction' their political leadership seems to be heading - it's a factor for your future. I.e., while I love Texas in general, I am fairly concerned that the major metros like Dallas may be driving the state into a more kind of... purple... direction. You can lean whichever way you like, but while the middle of the road may seem like a good thing, it can also affect the momentum for the future - a lot can ride on the influx of people from another area.

Honestly, the LAST thing I want is my area becoming the mecca for people from California (no offense) IF those people are going to keep to their ideals that led to the policies that chased them away to begin with, eh? Just my personal feelings. I'm pretty conservative, and I like my area being that way, too.

Just my $0.02 - which is worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[Abigail4476]

I think you've got a great set of choices there - here's my advice living in OK.

Choose a rural area, within 30-60 minutes of a larger city/metro. Not necessarily HUGE city, but larger. Easy access to things like theater, events, Costco, major regional airport (not necessarily international airport). After many, many years of living in OK, the lower cost of living in these areas, with better access to 'city stuff' without being IN the city is a great balance. Real estate is cheap(er), cost of living overall, ability to access and source things from 'country folk' like meat and goods from local farmers, being in a smaller town (say, sub-40k or so?) and getting to know people, make connections that make your life easier - tradesmen, church members, all kinds of stuff.

I honestly am absolutely flabbergasted why anyone would want to live in a giant metro, or even in a large suburb in close proximity. To my mind, you get all the downsides (traffic, costs, headaches, taxes) and almost NONE of the benefits.

I live 45 minutes from Tulsa and I think this is a great area and a great mix. There are lots of areas that match this lifestyle.

Look at individual states' taxes as well as the 'direction' their political leadership seems to be heading - it's a factor for your future. I.e., while I love Texas in general, I am fairly concerned that the major metros like Dallas may be driving the state into a more kind of... purple... direction. You can lean whichever way you like, but while the middle of the road may seem like a good thing, it can also affect the momentum for the future - a lot can ride on the influx of people from another area.

Honestly, the LAST thing I want is my area becoming the mecca for people from California (no offense) IF those people are going to keep to their ideals that led to the policies that chased them away to begin with, eh? Just my personal feelings. I'm pretty conservative, and I like my area being that way, too.

Just my $0.02 - which is worth exactly what you paid for it.

As an Oklahoma girl, I second all of this, PLUS Oklahoma is a very friendly homeschooling state (legally speaking and otherwise). And they have NOAH Jags for sports/extra-curriculars and lots of co-ops.

 

[realdocBBQ]

I'd also second the thought of looking at Arkansas or Southern Missouri. NW Arkansas is just a stunning area, but it IS getting a bit more expensive in the Bentonville/Fayetteville area. Lots of other choices around there, though. I am headed to Rolla, MO to work on another smoker this weekend, so I'll get to see a lot of that beautiful country.

 

[yankee2bbq]

I’m in north central Arkansas…in the Ozarks…just south of the Missouri state line. A lot of home schooling here. Cost of living is cheap. Beautiful lakes and rivers near by.

 

[Texascat]

From that list I'd have to say Kentucky first but if you really want to get rid of winter life Louisiana. I grew up in Kentucky and now live just across the river from Louisville, KY so I am a bit biased. If I could go anywhere though I'd move to Texas. I lived there for ten years and I'd say overall it's the best place I have ever lived.

 

[Quiganomics]

To give a little more insight into what we are looking for, when we sell our current home we should have between $225-250k in equity that we would like to use for the new place without needing a mortgage. Our plan is something 5+ acres with a manufactured home on the property that we can live in while we build the barndo that will eventually become our permanent residence, leaving the manufactured home to give to one of the kids when they come of age. Wife's dream is to be able to have the ability to offer our kids a piece of land and home when they get older as home ownership is getting harder and harder for each generation. Politics are also a factor as we are a pretty conservative, Christian family. Many of our values don't align with the direction this state is going which was looked at when we selected the states I listed.

We did look into Arkansas briefly, but the wife was steered away by someone who warned us that crime and drugs have become a HUGE issue in the state, and having 2 kids, 8 and 11, we crossed that one off our list. If there's places within the state that would be a good fit, we would be open to it.

 

[SmokyMose]

I'm surprised you didn't list Tennessee. 3 of my late wife's daughters live there. Decent weather. Not too hot. Not too cold. Conservative politically. Decent property prices from what I've heard. It's a place a lot of people fleeing New York are relocating to. If I were to leave Indiana that would be my preference.
No matter what state you look at, most of the crime is in or around cities. I don't know how it would affect your business, but you shouldn't have much trouble in a rural area.....

 

[Quiganomics]

I'm surprised you didn't list Tennessee. 3 of my late wife's daughters live there. Decent weather. Not too hot. Not too cold. Conservative politically. Decent property prices from what I've heard. It's a place a lot of people fleeing New York are relocating to. If I were to leave Indiana that would be my preference.
No matter what state you look at, most of the crime is in or around cities. I don't know how it would affect your business, but you shouldn't have much trouble in a rural area.....

For crime in the cities, it really shouldn't affect my business as 99% of it is online and home-based. Preferably we'd like to be a good 30+ miles from any city. We have a few properties saved that I'm hopefully going to get time next week to go check out in Louisiana (DeRidder and Plaucheville) as well as one in Columbia, KY, which after researching all seem to be good, quiet areas with little crime.

We did think about TN but just couldn't find much in the price range we're looking at that was worth me flying out to go see.

 

[realdocBBQ]

To give a little more insight into what we are looking for, when we sell our current home we should have between $225-250k in equity that we would like to use for the new place without needing a mortgage. Our plan is something 5+ acres with a manufactured home on the property that we can live in while we build the barndo that will eventually become our permanent residence, leaving the manufactured home to give to one of the kids when they come of age. Wife's dream is to be able to have the ability to offer our kids a piece of land and home when they get older as home ownership is getting harder and harder for each generation. Politics are also a factor as we are a pretty conservative, Christian family. Many of our values don't align with the direction this state is going which was looked at when we selected the states I listed.

We did look into Arkansas briefly, but the wife was steered away by someone who warned us that crime and drugs have become a HUGE issue in the state, and having 2 kids, 8 and 11, we crossed that one off our list. If there's places within the state that would be a good fit, we would be open to it.

Ok, well - $225-250k in cash isn't going to get you into 5 acres and a manufactured home AND building a barndo anywhere that I know. I live in a town of 35k or so. 225-250 is going to get you into a midrange older (30-40y old) home with 3/4 beds and 2 baths. 2200-2800 sq ft. That's in town on a 1/4-1/2 acre lot.

Land you're going to pay $10-20k/acre without utility access (plan $10-25k) or with only one access road and utility access on the property. In other words, that's going to be pretty well undeveloped and mostly undesirable land - unless you're looking for a deer camp.

The days of picking up land for $1k/acre are gone - long, LONG gone. If you're getting it for $5k/acre, it's undeveloped and undesirable AND you're buying it lots of 160-400 acres is my guess.

I wish it were different - I'd LOVE to have some land in the country.

Hell, even your basic doublewide 'manufactured home' these days is probably $100-150k+. Plus setups.

I dunno. If you're planning on 225-250k setting you up in a place to live, on land with no mortgage - it ain't gonna be around here.

 

[Quiganomics]

Ok, well - $225-250k in cash isn't going to get you into 5 acres and a manufactured home AND building a barndo anywhere that I know. I live in a town of 35k or so. 225-250 is going to get you into a midrange older (30-40y old) home with 3/4 beds and 2 baths. 2200-2800 sq ft. That's in town on a 1/4-1/2 acre lot.

Land you're going to pay $10-20k/acre without utility access (plan $10-25k) or with only one access road and utility access on the property. In other words, that's going to be pretty well undeveloped and mostly undesirable land - unless you're looking for a deer camp.

The days of picking up land for $1k/acre are gone - long, LONG gone. If you're getting it for $5k/acre, it's undeveloped and undesirable AND you're buying it lots of 160-400 acres is my guess.

I wish it were different - I'd LOVE to have some land in the country.

Hell, even your basic doublewide 'manufactured home' these days is probably $100-150k+. Plus setups.

I dunno. If you're planning on 225-250k setting you up in a place to live, on land with no mortgage - it ain't gonna be around here.

The barndo is separate from the initial purchase, that will be paid for through other methods. The budget is solely reflecting the land and a place to live in while it's being built.

As far as "you won't find anything like that in your price range", I currently have nearly 30 properties in my que in the states mentioned that are anywhere between 5-15 acres with well maintained double wide manufactured homes on them anywhere between $130-$190k. In fact, just got off the phone with the listing realtor for one and flying out Monday morning to go look at it....9.25 acres, 3 bdrm/2 ba 1400 sq ft 8 year old MH set up with a 500 gal owned propane tank included in Missouri, southwest of Rollo. If you're not expecting the Taj Mahal, they're out there. In fact there's quite a few out there.

 

[realdocBBQ]

The barndo is separate from the initial purchase, that will be paid for through other methods. The budget is solely reflecting the land and a place to live in while it's being built.

As far as "you won't find anything like that in your price range", I currently have nearly 30 properties in my que in the states mentioned that are anywhere between 5-15 acres with well maintained double wide manufactured homes on them anywhere between $130-$190k. In fact, just got off the phone with the listing realtor for one and flying out Monday morning to go look at it....9.25 acres, 3 bdrm/2 ba 1400 sq ft 8 year old MH set up with a 500 gal owned propane tank included in Missouri, southwest of Rollo. If you're not expecting the Taj Mahal, they're out there. In fact there's quite a few out there.

To be fair - I did specify 'around here' or 'anywhere I know' AND I was under the impression you meant building the barndo, as well.

I'm happy you're finding places that suit your needs, though.

 

[mike243]

I would never move anywhere that there was a state income tax, good luck finding your next home.

 

[pineywoods]

On your list it would be Louisiana. You should also include Mississippi, Alabama, North Florida, South West Georgia. You will find conservative values most of the more rural areas of those states. Land prices in some places still isn't as high as other areas. We live about 4 miles from Tallahasse, FL and Georgia is about 10 miles north of us and Alabama is 40 miles. Anywhere near the intersections of these 3 states will be pretty rural but still not that far from the big city when you need to go there. Lots of AG Industry in that entire area. Stay away from the coast at least 75-100 miles we don't generally get the hurricane hits that south of us do but the coast still isn't that far away for beach days or better yet fishing

 

[Fueling Around]

Good luck

...
As far as "you won't find anything like that in your price range", I currently have nearly 30 properties in my que in the states mentioned that are anywhere between 5-15 acres with well maintained double wide manufactured homes on them anywhere between $130-$190k.
...

We're looking to move from Minnesota for the same socialist politics to North Dakota.
We cannot find anything in your parameters out of the metro areas of ND unless we really get into the really remote areas

 

[indaswamp]

Ask me any questions about Louisiana and I will try to help you out.