After wandering around the west for the past four years, searching for where to settle for my retirement, the short list had become:
Note: I might have tested Flag first, but I have two years of ACA left, and the options in Flag are not good -- and quite pricey. UT options are better.
[Yes, I am aware of the strong LDS presence in SLC, and the potential air quality issues with inversions in the winter. Neither bothers me. Utah taxes are also not a major concern.]
ISSUE: There isn't much reliable information online (that I can find with mediocre Google skills) about areas/neighborhoods (most is click bait from realtors or site like The Niche.)
As I enjoy heading to the mountains year round, as well as skiing, and prefer established older neighborhoods with good (safe) walking and biking, my instinct is to rent in neighborhoods North or East to test. (it seems the south and west are the areas of high tech sprawl). But that might be incorrect.
QUESTIONS:
Thus, I am staring at a blank slate -- or perhaps a green field. And with Covid-19, my plans for a two week July visit to have another good look around have been pushed to at least September.
Advice gratefully appreciated!
- Boise, ID (ruled out in a long visit in summer 2019)
- Santa Fe, NM (ruled out after 4 month stay late 2019/early 2020)
- Flagstaff AZ
- SLC, UT
Note: I might have tested Flag first, but I have two years of ACA left, and the options in Flag are not good -- and quite pricey. UT options are better.
[Yes, I am aware of the strong LDS presence in SLC, and the potential air quality issues with inversions in the winter. Neither bothers me. Utah taxes are also not a major concern.]
ISSUE: There isn't much reliable information online (that I can find with mediocre Google skills) about areas/neighborhoods (most is click bait from realtors or site like The Niche.)
As I enjoy heading to the mountains year round, as well as skiing, and prefer established older neighborhoods with good (safe) walking and biking, my instinct is to rent in neighborhoods North or East to test. (it seems the south and west are the areas of high tech sprawl). But that might be incorrect.
QUESTIONS:
- Does anyone here have suggestions for better sources of information about specific SLC areas/neighborhoods? City-Data isn't terribly active
- Better: is anyone here a SLC denizen who might offer advice if I give more specifics about what I'd like in a neighborhood/area?
- I could chat with realtors, but how do you find a realtor if you don't have any local referrals? For my first house purchase 30+ years ago I had friend's local referral, and for the next two purchases agents were assigned via corporate relo. One was great, one was dreadful.
Thus, I am staring at a blank slate -- or perhaps a green field. And with Covid-19, my plans for a two week July visit to have another good look around have been pushed to at least September.
Advice gratefully appreciated!