After working for 42 years with the same company...I retire in September. We really don't care to stay put where we live (I won't mention the city since this will just cause controversy). My question:
I'd love to live in an area where I can satisfy the following criteria:
a nice single story home on approx. 1/3 lot for $600,000 or less (size of home isn't as important as the lot size and privacy)
I prefer the western states because I hate the humidity where I know live!
I want an area with lots of grass and trees, rolling hills, good air quality...
Living on a lake would be a real plus!!
I'd like to pay cash for a home and will need to cover all other expenses on $5,000 total per month (no outstanding debts). I'm 64 but healthy and pray to live at least 20 more years! Just my wife and myself and a cat which my wife is attached to.
Any suggestions? No real hobbies....
Thanks from Phil.

My cousin and her husband just momved from Sand Diego area to Bellingham WA. The very small, dumpy (by their description although they did work hard at sprucing it up) ranch house they bought 8 years ago on a tiny lot sold for $300,000 (they paid $150,000). In Bellingham they got a nice 5 bedroom house with LR and family room on a one acre lot in a nice community with trees etc and the overcast but temperate Northwest weather - cosst the same price ($300K) as the one they sold in Sand Diego. I have heard good reports on Bellingham from other folks who've been there previously.

Note to the spelling police - I know it's San Diego and not Sand Diego but it's early and my keyboard fingers are slow and heavy.

My friends parents have just retired and purchased land and a house on a lake in Northern Idaho near Sandpoint. It is gorgeous. (no cracks about skin heads- they arn't in the Hayden lake area!

C'mon up here to Canada!! You could buy a fabulous place here and your $5000 U.S. would go so far...I live in Ontario and am biased as there are lots of great places here. But BC is also a beautiful province. And we love cats!!

Here's a thought - put yourself, spouse and kitty in the car, stop the papers, have the mail picked up, and spend the months of September and October toodling around the west looking at towns and collecting real estate magazines from the supermarkets. I can think of dozens of towns that could meet your needs, but only one will do for you.

If you want a big lot on a lake for $600K you can call a lot of shots except in some metro areas (Seattle, SF, LA, SD etc.) But you may not want to be two hours from a museum or a big hospital, or have to rely on feeder flights from Podunk airport as your only way out. Lots of variable, so start shortening your own list by spending some time to do LookyLou touring.

Pagosa Springs, CO.

Coeur d'alene Idaho

Lake Oswego, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. Close to a pretty, liveable city, nice lake.

My friends just moved to Coeur d'Alene and they say its beautiful.

Where is "Coeur d'Alene"....never heard of it?? (what State?)

Idaho. Pretty area with nice golf courses and water.