Ask the Pack:OT: Best Place to Live

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

For info, guys, what area/state would you want to make your last home at? I'm looking for some ideas, and we might not go anywhere because my wife really likes the place where she works. We bought this home in 2019 because we thought we were just off the edge of town. Austin, Round Rock, and Georgetown have expanded this way and started an extension of the 183 Tollway right in front of the neighborhood. The City has just moved out here with us.

We were already considering the I-20 corridor east of Dallas around the Tyler/Longview area. We would be much closer to family and friend in Mississippi, still don't think I can move back to Mississippi. We will still be close to Dallas or Shreveport if we need it.

I can change my mind in the right area—extra points for no state income tax.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

For info, guys, what area/state would you want to make your last home at? I'm looking for some ideas, and we might not go anywhere because my wife really likes the place where she works. We bought this home in 2019 because we thought we were just off the edge of town. Austin, Round Rock, and Georgetown have expanded this way and started an extension of the 183 Tollway right in front of the neighborhood. The City has just moved out here with us.

We were already considering the I-20 corridor east of Dallas around the Tyler/Longview area. We would be much closer to family and friend in Mississippi, still don't think I can move back to Mississippi. We will still be close to Dallas or Shreveport if we need it.

I can change my mind in the right area—extra points for no state income tax.

Florida panhandle or Alaska. Idaho and western Montana tempt the crap out of me as well.

 

[dawgstudent]

I would live as close to Starkville as possible but not pay Starkville real estate prices.

 

[mstateglfr]

san luis obispo, ca
santa rosa, ca

Haven't been to either. If I had gobs of money, pretty sure either would be fun as hell to live in for the scenery, weather, and outdoor activities.
...living in either place would be fun as hell until the fires get me.

Not too sure where else in the US I would want to live unless family all moved too. Chattanooga area?

Outside the US?- Belize.

 

[L4Dawg]

If money was no object, either Louden County VA, the Isle of Mull, Salisbury Close, or Norwich Close. If you came back here, North Lee County.

 

[Augustus McCrae]

I hear Equatorial Guinea is nice.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Outside the US?- Belize.

Outside the country has been something I’ve been thinking about off and on.

Unfortunately the places I like are in countries where I’d have to jump through too many hoops to be a permanent resident (Ireland and Spain).

I’ve heard good things about Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama, but I’d have to visit the places first.

In state: Hattiesburg.
Out of state: The Carolinas.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

For info, guys, what area/state would you want to make your last home at? I'm looking for some ideas, and we might not go anywhere because my wife really likes the place where she works. We bought this home in 2019 because we thought we were just off the edge of town. Austin, Round Rock, and Georgetown have expanded this way and started an extension of the 183 Tollway right in front of the neighborhood. The City has just moved out here with us.

We were already considering the I-20 corridor east of Dallas around the Tyler/Longview area. We would be much closer to family and friend in Mississippi, still don't think I can move back to Mississippi. We will still be close to Dallas or Shreveport if we need it.

I can change my mind in the right area—extra points for no state income tax.

No better place than Cashville in my opinion

maybe Boise?

 

[eckie1]

For info, guys, what area/state would you want to make your last home at? I'm looking for some ideas, and we might not go anywhere because my wife really likes the place where she works. We bought this home in 2019 because we thought we were just off the edge of town. Austin, Round Rock, and Georgetown have expanded this way and started an extension of the 183 Tollway right in front of the neighborhood. The City has just moved out here with us.

We were already considering the I-20 corridor east of Dallas around the Tyler/Longview area. We would be much closer to family and friend in Mississippi, still don't think I can move back to Mississippi. We will still be close to Dallas or Shreveport if we need it.

I can change my mind in the right area—extra points for no state income tax.

I can vouch for the fact that Longview and Tyler are nice towns. Hopefully, you’d be able to still work in your industry from there?

The TX side of Texarkana isn’t so bad, either…. The AR side seems to be a far different story.

Outside of that, you’re gonna be in TN or FL to dodge state income taxes. I don’t know how bad the property taxes are in East TX compared to the big cities. They’re out of control in DFW.

 

[ll Martain ll]

Honestly, anywhere near San Antonio or Austin is a pretty good landing spot. New Braunfels or San Marcos would be towards the top of my list in Texas. Growing like crazy, access to the hill county and both Austin and San Antonio.

Pass on East Texas. I'd rather just live in MS.

Other places that would be pretty high on my list in a vacuum:

-Chicago (preferably in the city)
-Nashville (have friends there)
-Knoxville TN
-NW Arkansas
-Grand Rapids MI
-Pittsburgh
-Somewhere in the Carolinas, maybe Greenville/Spartanburg or Charlotte
-MS Gulf Coast (to be near family, I just wish they had more flight options)

I've learned im drawn to places that have outdoor options. Dallas is not that, and I don't think I could live here forever.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Honestly, anywhere near San Antonio or Austin is a pretty good landing spot. New Braunfels or San Marcos would be towards the top of my list in Texas. Growing like crazy, access to the hill county and both Austin and San Antonio.

Pass on East Texas. I'd rather just live in MS.

Other places that would be pretty high on my list in a vacuum:

-Chicago (preferably in the city)
-Nashville (have friends there)
-Knoxville TN
-NW Arkansas
-Grand Rapids MI
-Pittsburgh
-Somewhere in the Carolinas, maybe Greenville/Spartanburg or Charlotte
-MS Gulf Coast (to be near family, I just wish they had more flight options)

I've learned im drawn to places that have outdoor options. Dallas is not that, and I don't think I could live here forever.

Too 17ing Hot for far too long. It gets hot everywhere, but it stays hot here a very long time here every year.

 

[Bobby Ricigliano]

M

I hear Equatorial Guinea is nice.

Is that the place with the decent IPAs?

 

[POTUS]

The location isn’t as important as being close to your people. Good friends, family, church, etc. make any place great.

 

[wrapit]

I'm live in the DFW area too, just north of DFW airport. Left Mississippi in 1996. DFW area is good for schools, pro sports, shopping, jobs (although that's becoming less with work from home options); not so much for outdoor activities. Tennessee seems to be an attractive option from my recent visits.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

If I go anywhere it would probably move back near Starkville. With remote options, moving to another city doesn’t have much appeal. I’d agree with the previous poster, church, family and friends make a place great. Without community anywhere can be awful.

 

[fedxdog]

-no income tax state
-mountains, rivers and lakes
-large airport/city within one hour drive
-good interstate access
I’m thinking south of Nashville
-change my mind

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

san luis obispo, ca
santa rosa, ca

Haven't been to either. If I had gobs of money, pretty sure either would be fun as hell to live in for the scenery, weather, and outdoor activities.
...living in either place would be fun as hell until the fires get me.

Not too sure where else in the US I would want to live unless family all moved too. Chattanooga area?

Outside the US?- Belize.

Thanks, but I don't have a lot of money. That'd be Fishwater. I could probably live in Northern California just couldn't afford it.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Thanks, but I don't have a lot of money. That'd be Fishwater. I could probably live in Northern California just couldn't afford it.

Truth.

The Bay Area is beautiful but…

 

[RockyDog]

Colorado Springs

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Colorado Springs fits the bill but the real estate is really getting expensive. North Carolina has been expensive for a while and is full of Yankee retirees. I lived in DFW for 40 years and know what you mean with the heat. Retired last year and moved to Ridgeland and the city west of I-55 is as nice as any small city. If you are retired on a fixed income you will have minimal income tax in Mississippi as social security is not taxed. We bought some mountain land outside Knoxville for cabin living but sold it because it was to remote but was a beautiful area. Hot Springs, Ark is also an up and coming area that is nice and besides the spas they have a casino and race track. Still affordable I believe.

 

[Dawgbite]

We bought a second home in Orange Beach about 8 years ago thinking that was going to be our retirement home but it’s changed so much we are reconsidering. Infrastructure can’t keep up with the influx of people on that island anymore. We are looking north Alabama now. Cull man is a nice town. Scottsboro seems nice. Both are close enough to Huntsville. North Alabama is relatively close to Starkville. There’s good and bad about any place. Home is where the heat is, it’s what you make of it.

 

[JoeSchmedlap]

For info, guys, what area/state would you want to make your last home at? I'm looking for some ideas, and we might not go anywhere because my wife really likes the place where she works. We bought this home in 2019 because we thought we were just off the edge of town. Austin, Round Rock, and Georgetown have expanded this way and started an extension of the 183 Tollway right in front of the neighborhood. The City has just moved out here with us.

We were already considering the I-20 corridor east of Dallas around the Tyler/Longview area. We would be much closer to family and friend in Mississippi, still don't think I can move back to Mississippi. We will still be close to Dallas or Shreveport if we need it.

I can change my mind in the right area—extra points for no state income tax.

If you stay in Texas, I’d move somewhere just west or just north of Tyler (Hideaway/Lindale or Mineola). Tyler is growing fast, maybe too fast. It’s got great shopping, restaurants, medical care, etc. There is not a comparable small city anywhere in the state of MS as nice. You are only 90 minutes away from downtown Dallas and just less than 7 hours from Starkville and MSU. There is also a nice MSU alumni base in east Texas. Longview isn’t bad either, and it’s 45 minutes closer to the mother ship. Hallsville, just on the east side of Longview, is your best bet there. 1 hour to downtown Shreveport, 50 minutes to downtown Tyler, 2 hrs 15 minutes to downtown Dallas, 3 hrs 45 minutes to downtown Houston, 2 hours from Broken Bow, OK, just under 6.5 hours to Dudy Noble Field (and that’s factoring in one petrol station stop/pee break)

 

[PBDog]

san luis obispo, ca
santa rosa, ca

Haven't been to either. If I had gobs of money, pretty sure either would be fun as hell to live in for the scenery, weather, and outdoor activities.
...living in either place would be fun as hell until the fires get me.

Not too sure where else in the US I would want to live unless family all moved too. Chattanooga area?

Outside the US?- Belize.

SLO is not bad but SR would be a disaster to live

 

[Dawghouse]

We were already considering the I-20 corridor east of Dallas around the Tyler/Longview area. We would be much closer to family and friend in Mississippi, still don't think I can move back to Mississippi. We will still be close to Dallas or Shreveport if we need it.

I can change my mind in the right area—extra points for no state income tax.

Way too many variables left uncovered. You say last home but then talk about income tax. Are you going to be working in your "last home" or are you nearing retirement? Most people relocate around retirement age to avoid taxes or be closer to grandkids.

Any recommendations you get from this post will probably lead to you asking again in 5 years because that's the area everyone is moving too now and it'll be full shortly.

TLDR; - you need to provide age, a full family history, all of your/spouses hobbies, current rank on Forbes list, number of kids/grandkids (and whether you like them, and what state they live in), aversion to airplanes, etc before I can comment appropriately. If you don't know all of the above you aren't buying your "last home"


Kinda sounds like you're just pissed you didn't move quite far enough out for your "last home".

Id say if you don't own at least 20 acres in the US you can't be sure it's your "last" home.

 

[Cantdoitsal]

Gonna plug in Ana Marie Island off the Tampa Coast. Spent a week there and kept saying over and over "Man I'd love to live here." Can't vouch for Tampa one way or the other as it was too small a sample size. "I'll never forget warning my ex getting outta the water as there was something big and dark swimming parallel to the beach in waste deep water. Turned out to be an adolescent manatee. So instead of freaking out over a possible shark we hung out with the youngster. Catching fish then walking down the pier a piece and have that pier restaurant blacken 'em up.

 

[HotMop]

Noxapater you uncivilized peasants+

 

[mstateglfr]

SLO is not bad but SR would be a disaster to live

So for Santa Rosa, I really meant the area overall. Why wod it be a disaster?...and are you referring to the city proper or area overall?

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I'll take it all under consideration

 

[57stratdawg]

I think the midsize cities across the Southeast will do very well in the coming decade. Chattanooga, Huntsville, Greenville (SC), Asheville, etc.

I think I would rather be in one of those than a Charlotte, Nashville or Atlanta.

 

[HRMSU]

I love State and my MS roots but like the bumper sticker says Texas I wasn't born here but I got here as quick as I could.

 

[dog99walker]

Retired. Live 55 minutes from the Dude. Like to live a bit closer, but hate to sell what I have. The need to mow less will come some day.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

Big question is what do you like to do? I like to fish. I mostly fish Bass and Crappie. Problem is in North MS, the nearest water I have is 40 miles away. My daughter has lived in a few FL towns and I have done a bunch of inshore fishing when I visit. I much prefer that type of fishing. It is much more like Long Island fishing that I grew up on. So for the retirement I don't have to be on the water, but no more than 5 or 10 minutes to be in it is required. I would prefer inshore fishing, but my wife has to be able to see her sisters who all live in North MS or AL

 

[dudehead]

We bought a second home in Orange Beach about 8 years ago thinking that was going to be our retirement home but it’s changed so much we are reconsidering. Infrastructure can’t keep up with the influx of people on that island anymore. We are looking north Alabama now. Cull man is a nice town. Scottsboro seems nice. Both are close enough to Huntsville. North Alabama is relatively close to Starkville. There’s good and bad about any place. Home is where the heat is, it’s what you make of it.

We almost bought a place on Inneriarity about the time you bought in OBA, but after being there (Perdido) recently we are glad we didn’t. We could not get over the crowds and traffic in that now, even early in the day. Friends that live down there told me there is no longer much of an off-season, crowd wise, anymore either. Made me sad and long for the days of yore.

 

[PooPopsBaldHead]

Get out of TX @IBleedMaroonDawg

If you are young and focused on your career, it's wonderful, but I know you are about to take that next step in life and there are much better options. I encourage you to look beyond those state taxes too. Texas was very affordable during and right after the last economic cycle, not so this time.

I'm a through and through Texan, but I am never going back except for football games and funerals... That state has crossed the Rubicon. It's where California was 30 years ago... Extremely urban, overcrowded, infrastructure is failing, costs of living are skyrocketing, and the rural/ag/blue collar backbone of the state has been overwhelmed by yuppie condo dwellers and suburban neighborhood golf cart bros.

I just spent the better part of June traveling all over TX (even drove through your town on the way out of Austin... they're turning 183 in Leander into a toll road... WT17?) after being gone for 3 years. Here's what I saw: The weather is completely inhospitable. The traffic is intolerable. The lakes are the color of diarrhea. The beaches are covered jellyfish, brown sand, and water ruined by muddy silty Mississippi river runoff... Plus it's 17ing expensive.... I'll explain.

I live in a place with 6% max income tax. On 100k of household income we would have $4000 of state income tax after deductions. On a $400k house, my property taxes would be $1200. And on the same house my homeowners insurance would be $500... In TX that would be 0, $4500, $2000. I will tell you without hesitation that across the board for us, our COL went down after getting away from those property taxes and insurance and moving to an income tax state.

Another thing I noticed in June... I always thought cheap gas in TX vs what I pay was a benefit for TX. Well after pulling my RV across the country I was blown away by how terrible my mileage was in the oppressive heat and low elevation of the eastern half of Texas. I got 11 MPG driving across Wyoming and barely over 9 mpg in TX. Even crossing pulling the Tetons and continental divide at 10% inclines didn't kill my mileage like that heavy, soupy, Texas air.

Get the 17 outta TX. It's all hat and no cattle these days. My in laws all are in the East Texas area you mentioned, it sux too. If you like that psce of life, go to Tupelo like you mentioned a few weeks ago.You'll save money and have a better quality of life.

And 17 Texas A&M and Buc-ees.

 

[Raiderdawg]

I think the midsize cities across the Southeast will do very well in the coming decade. Chattanooga, Huntsville, Greenville (SC), Asheville, etc.

I think I would rather be in one of those than a Charlotte, Nashville or Atlanta.

I am actually eyeing lake property just outside of Chattanooga now. Land costs are slightly lower than the metro Atlanta area (where I am now), but the major difference is property tax and no income tax. It’s so much lower than metro Atlanta. My property taxes are crazy.

To the OG poster, for a last home, Tennessee makes so much sense for me. Which area depends on what you want (close to metro area, lake/mountain home, or walkable to a small town with shopping/restaurants). East TN has all of those in a decent price point.

 

[msualohadog]

Echo this. We just moved to the North Georgia mountains. 27 holes of golf, 3 lakes and a pontoon boat, 3 pools with a beach area. Dozens of wineries and quaint tourist towns. Moved out of ATL 3 years ago and will never go back. Weather not balls hot is a huge bonus too. Housing is very affordable.

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

For info, guys, what area/state would you want to make your last home at? I'm looking for some ideas, and we might not go anywhere because my wife really likes the place where she works. We bought this home in 2019 because we thought we were just off the edge of town. Austin, Round Rock, and Georgetown have expanded this way and started an extension of the 183 Tollway right in front of the neighborhood. The City has just moved out here with us.

We were already considering the I-20 corridor east of Dallas around the Tyler/Longview area. We would be much closer to family and friend in Mississippi, still don't think I can move back to Mississippi. We will still be close to Dallas or Shreveport if we need it.

I can change my mind in the right area—extra points for no state income tax.

If money was no object Key West from October through May and Sausalito from June through September.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

ID, WY, MT area. I don’t know enough about each to say for certain. If I could get a couple hundred acres for cheap within 30-45 minutes of town/work id be the happiest person alive. No neighbors. No noise. No busy hwy. No people. I’d miss saltwater fishing, but id just polish up my rifles and before an avid hunter again to keep me busy.

 

[PooPopsBaldHead]

Don't sleep on the areas just north of Jackson... Took this photo about a month ago about 15 miles north of Downtown Jackson. Don't know the name of the river, but I don't think it's the Pearl.

 

[Shmuley]

Don't sleep on the areas just north of Jackson... Took this photo about a month ago about 15 miles north of Downtown Jackson. Don't know the name of the river, but I don't think it's the Pearl.

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