Where to go? There are lots of options
Three years ago, our only child, working for Lowe's in SoCal, quickly figured he'd never be able to buy a house there. So he got a transfer to Evansville IN. Same salary, housing prices about 70% less, and in less than a year he had his starter house.
We figured we'd follow when we got "old" but Covid and the RE bubble convinced us to pull the trigger early. Sold the 3100-sf mostly empty place (bought 1994 $218k) for nearly $700k, moved to Evansville, rented an apartment for six months to make sure we could tolerate the summer weather, and then bought a perfectly nice one-story, 2000-sf place with losts of renovations for $199k. We haven't seen a tax bill yet, but last year's was $1350 and we're expecting under $2000.
Evansville is a city of 116k but -- I think this is important -- it's a 2-hour drive from any other city that large or larger. That means all the major store chains are here, there are two humongous healthcare systems and lots of chain and local restaurants, some of them surprisingly good. The city library has eight branches (vs one in SoCal for same population), etc. There are theater companies and a small but decent orchestra. (There are two universities here.) Gas is currently 3.10.
Or you can live "in the county" -- ten minutes from the city -- and get the same house on two acres with a pole barn and maybe a tractor thrown in, for a little less money. If that's not modest enough, drive across that they call the "Money-Saving Bridge" into Kentucky, and for the price of a 10-minute drive you can get a further 15% of the cost of almost everything.
Indiana is not California nor Florida, and there is a little cultural adjustment to be made, but nothing you haven't done when traveling to other countries for vacation. It helps if you don't have strong political views either way. The public schools are generally not as good, but you're retired. Spring and fall are nice, summer is kinda steamy and the lows might be 72. Winter is milder than the Northeast, where I have had some experience. The drivers are no crazier than SoCal (except that EVERYONE runs red lights, and it's expected), and the roads are way emptier and in much better condition.
We actually came for the family connection, not the prices, and I'm not pitching this particular town for you, but there are lots of Evansvilles in the US. They do tend to be in the midwest and states like OH and PA, the weather is not "coastal" and it's kinda flat here, but if you're flexible and want a less-expensive retirement, you can find one you like. Find one of those "America by night from space" photos and look for a good-size bright spot surrounded by some darkness. Visit in the summer and go to an actual pie-eating contest at the county fair.
Covid? Interest rates? Stock market?
