DQOTD: Would you pay $100K to avoid winters?

[REWahoo]

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Up front cost for used 90s.f. mfg home ...

...Depends on what one needs.

Most of us need more than 90 s.f. - that's taking the "tiny house" movement to a new level!

 

[IMATERP]

Most of us need more than 90 s.f. - that's taking the "tiny house" movement to a new level!

My recently enclosed Patio is 150 Sq ft. I can't imagine living in 90 sq ft.

My cat wouldn't even be happy in 90 sq ft.

 

[Red Badger]

The Smokey Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Outer Banks are worth the 100K!

Toss in the Saurtown mountains, legal moonshine, 150 vineyards and the 100 state parks and its pretty close to heaven (except the high taxes part).

Took a job to move to the Lake Norman area (exburbs north of Charlotte). One of the best decisions we ever made.

 

[ivinsfan]

I hear that.

Very true it is comfy indoors anywhere these days. Driving and shoveling snow are manageable, falls are an increasing concern. But most of all we love to be outdoors and be active, and absolutely hate being cooped up for months on end - been there, done that for 24 straight years.

Well here is what someone from West Central MN did, and believe me I know about winter and not being able to go outside. Take a quick look at "wintertime" in southern Utah...We've gone there for about the last 15 winters..good sized metro, a quick drive to Vegas, more outside hiking paths, trails, national and state parks then you can get thru in a lifetime.

St George is the area I'm referring to..for a Jan-March rental with a little bit of looking a 3 bedroom at least 2 bath standalone home or condo, should set you back more then about 6K total. We paid 2K to stay 30 days in a 5 year old 3 bed, 31/2 bath townhome setting on a nationally known golf course.

We come and go as we please with no commitment beyond one rental and best of all no worries about making the wrong decision as to buying and selling homes. Our situation is different then yours my DH still farms and we can't be living full time anywhere but here.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I grew up not far from you in Wisconsin and the weather does suck. I would not go back there even though the COL is cheaper then Northern NV. wE have a mild 4 seasons which I love with tons of sun. Our property taxes are really low but other things are not.

 

[euro]

We don't live IN Chicago, in the burbs about 50 miles out where all costs are surprisingly low, great schools, yet crime is almost non-existent...and Lake Michigan is a (long) bike ride away.

If you are willing to live THAT far out of the city, then you can find dirt cheap places to live in NC. Even at 25 mi outside of the Triangle or Charlotte. Are you comparing apples to apples?

 

[ERD50]

Chicago winters bleed the life out of people. I was there for a week and a half recently and didn't see the sun for days at a time. If I still lived there I would become a snowbird after mid-October until at least May 1st.

I'm certainly not going to try to 'sell' anyone on places with 4 seasons, but I really don't mind the winters here.

Winters usually are sunny, though we did have a spell of overcast this past one. Generally, the colder the clearer - overcast/fog hold the heat in, and cold air can't hold much moisture. I think I'd do better with winter here than the long overcast periods I hear about in some parts of the Pacific NW.

On the flip side, I hate, hate, hate heat and humidity. You could not pay me enough to move to FL, though that is heaven for many people. We get terrible heat and humidity here, but only for short bursts.

For one thing, you can learn to 'embrace' winter. A winter hike, or cross country skiing can be a lot of fun. So quiet with fresh snow absorbing all the sounds, wildlife peeking out, searching for food. Crisp air, it's exhilarating!

But not everyone's cup of tea (goes better with hot cocoa)!

-ERD50

 

[RunningBum]

The winters you can expect in the Carolina's are fairly short, you never have to shovel snow, but you'll need more than a tee shirt.

This post is just to give someone an idea about what the weather here is really like.

...

Well, that's not true. The last year I spent in Raleigh we got 20" of snow in one storm, and it sure didn't melt in a day. There were more than a few other snows where it was worth getting the shovel out in the dozen+ years I lived there.

 

[imoldernu]

Most of us need more than 90 s.f. - that's taking the "tiny house" movement to a new level!

900

What's an extra zero, more or less, between friends.

 

[euro]

Good point, but we are moving regardless, so the initial out of pocket add would be essentially $100K. DW and I aren't happy with our current house, like you weren't evidently. Either we get a new house where we are for about $350K, or we get the exact same new house further south for $450K.

Adding to my post above, I'll say for 350k, you can get a pretty darn nice place, even in the Triangle, let alone 25 miles out. Of course everything is relative, but unless you are talking 5000sqft McMansion on 5 acres, you will find plenty to choose from in and around the Triangle at that price point

 

[Midpack]

If you are willing to live THAT far out of the city, then you can find dirt cheap places to live in NC. Even at 25 mi outside of the Triangle or Charlotte. Are you comparing apples to apples?

Fair point. Things have changed since we moved here in 1992, when we couldn't wait to drive into Chicago every weekend. Now it's once or month or less, though we'd go more often if it wasn't so far-more congested-more expensive. Though we live 50 miles from Grant Park, we're not looking to live that far from everything in the Triangle. Even Wake Forest, which would be less expensive, gives us pause.

 

[Midpack]

Well, that's not true. The last year I spent in Raleigh we got 20" of snow in one storm, and it sure didn't melt in a day. There were more than a few other snows where it was worth getting the shovel out in the dozen+ years I lived there.

I'll stick with averages, not exceptions thanks. 40" vs 3" on average.

And if I used your exception basis, I was here in Chicago in 2013-14 when we had 82" - 20" even in a single event would be a picnic in comparison...

 

[Midpack]

Adding to my post above, I'll say for 350k, you can get a pretty darn nice place, even in the Triangle, let alone 25 miles out. Of course everything is relative, but unless you are talking 5000sqft McMansion on 5 acres, you will find plenty to choose from in and around the Triangle at that price point

Yes but, and we're getting off track here - the question is paying a $100K premium to avoid winter. Online searches and two realtors are having trouble finding us a small, but very high quality open concept one story in a reasonably safe area not too far out at much under $400K. Believe me, we've been looking for quite a while. So happens it's exactly the same house as here, same builder - $350K vs $450K.

 

[W2R]

So, throw on your nice ski jacket and boots with YakTrax and mittens and hat, grab some ski poles if you have them, and go for a fast, intense, heart healthy powerwalk up the street and back every morning when you get up! That would get your blood moving and might well satisfy your desire to get outside. Sure sounds cheaper than $100K.

Here in NJ it gets pretty darned cold in the winter. Maybe not like the mid-West, but we definitely get some bitterly cold days. Echoing the above, I embrace the cold and do my best to get outdoors year-round. Sure, I'll take a "day off" and stay in the house when the roads are impassable due to snow, but it's just that....one day. Then I'm back out there running, walking or cycling, or even just head out to the coffee shop. If what I just wrote is anathema to you, then yes the best solution is spend that extra $100,000 and seek out the better climate.

For one thing, you can learn to 'embrace' winter. A winter hike, or cross country skiing can be a lot of fun. So quiet with fresh snow absorbing all the sounds, wildlife peeking out, searching for food. Crisp air, it's exhilarating!

Aha! There you go, three of us agree. Midpack, you need to get out there and go for it! Enjoy the outdoors, get some vigorous exercise, enjoy the sunlight, and soon you will not feel so cooped up any more. Or at least, I hope not.

 

[Bestwifeever]

I have three good friends who ditched me here in the Illinois Chicago suburbs and moved to the Carolinas--two to the triangle, one to the coast. They all made beaucoup money on the move, although that is not why they moved, so it must be very reasonable where you live now. If all you want to do is escape winter, why give up your current home if you think it will cost you that much more to move to the south?

You've mentioned you won't do anything until your DW retires too--maybe you have been researching this for too long for too far out when the decision can't be acted on at this point. When you really are ready to move, things will fall into place if that is what you decide you really want to do.

 

[Midpack]

Aha! There you go, three of us agree. Midpack, you need to get out there and go for it! Enjoy the outdoors, get some vigorous exercise, enjoy the sunlight, and soon you will not feel so cooped up any more. Or at least, I hope not.

You first.

I have cross country skiis and it's OK on an exception basis, but not in our top 10 of outdoor activities. We're in a snow tweener area, not enough to ski very often, but more than enough to shovel.

We've been here 24 winters, I'm pretty sure we're never going to enjoy it - keep tolerating maybe. If I was a bear, no problem...

 

[W2R]

You've mentioned you won't do anything until your DW retires too--maybe you have been researching this for too long for too far out when the decision can't be acted on at this point. When you really are ready to move, things will fall into place if that is what you decide you really want to do.

Another very wise post from Bestwifeever.

For five years F and I thought we would move to Springfield, we dreamed about it, spent every vacation there, and so on, but we couldn't retire quite yet. After we retired, we put our houses on the market.

But when we were ready to move, we discovered that we just couldn't bring ourselves to do it. Well, mostly him, at first, but then I got on board with staying here and now I am glad we didn't move. Warts and all, New Orleans is our home for now.

 

[W2R]

You first.

Hey, I go to a gym with huge glass walls maybe 30 feet high, exercise equipment on the bottom and an indoor track about halfway up. I can walk in there in comfort if/when I want to, and that's close enough to being outside, for me.

 

[MRG]

Rephrase your question. "Is it worth an extra $100k to live a more comfortable(for us) life".

What's more comfortable for one is or isn't the same but quality of life? Doesn't matter if it's better climate, nicer home, camper, boat..... If it's affordable and a priority the answer is simple.

 

[Midpack]

You've mentioned you won't do anything until your DW retires too--maybe you have been researching this for too long for too far out when the decision can't be acted on at this point. When you really are ready to move, things will fall into place if that is what you decide you really want to do.

Another very wise post from Bestwifeever.

For five years F and I thought we would move to Springfield, we dreamed about it, spent every vacation there, and so on, but we couldn't retire quite yet. After we retired, we put our houses on the market.

But when we were ready to move, we discovered that we just couldn't bring ourselves to do it. Well, mostly him, at first, but then I got on board with staying here and now I am glad we didn't move. Warts and all, New Orleans is our home for now.

It was a good post. DW says she is retiring at the end of the year, so the gears are turning again. We were gung ho, but the reality of prices between our searches and two realtors has us hesitating.

I still like my idea of a year in Europe (not allowed we learned), a year in the Caribbean and a year in New England - and then decide where to relocate to. DW said, have fun, see you in three years.

There have been some helpful thoughts, I'm probably just weaseling...

 

[Ronstar]

I have avoided winters, but it cost more than $100k. So yes I would definitely avoid winters for $100k.

 

[pb4uski]

Midpack, you can't take it with you. Besides, its not like you are spending the $100k... presumably you or your estate will get the $100k back... it is more like you are diverting $100k of your portfolio to an illiquid, non-income producing real estate investment.

 

[MichaelB]

Yes but, and we're getting off track here - the question is paying a $100K premium to avoid winter. Online searches and two realtors are having trouble finding us a small, but very high quality open concept one story in a reasonably safe area not too far out at much under $400K. Believe me, we've been looking for quite a while. So happens it's exactly the same house as here, same builder - $350K vs $450K.

Another way to ask that is, if you don't spend it on a house, what would you spend it on? What is the opportunity cost you are giving up to move to a warmer climate? Does it just go back into the portfolio, or is it 10 trips to Europe (as an example)?

 

[Fedup]

Yes absolutely. I don't like the cold weather. By cold I mean NorCal cold vs SoCal. I'm much happier in SoCal here. Nothing feels better to me to have the sun shines in my skin. The Vitamin D factor.

 

[Nature Lover]

Assuming the decision to move has been made, then avoiding winters for $100k (as a stand alone question)? Absolutely.

I like the recommendation of renting first. A chance to try out the area and figure out what specific cities/neighborhoods are to your liking before you buy could be helpful in ensuring your future purchase best meets your longer-term needs/desires.