Property taxes are considerably higher in Texas than in California.

I guess 1JAr has never heard of Proposition 13.

Interesting comparison.

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debat...or-the-future/

Ackislander, didn't realize you were in my hometown in the winters. I agree with everything you said about Richmond. Summers are hot, but they don't unglue us. The cultural arts scene is wonderful; never a week without interesting options. Name artists come, just on weeknights sometimes. Modlin Center for the Arts at University of Richmond is wonderful. Richmond Ballet is top notch. There are lovely condos within walking distance of the JCC that go for ~$200. Easy to get to DC by train, mountains are 1.5 hours to the west, beach 2 hours to the east.

Website findyourspot dot com is a fun site which asks about 40 questions about lifestyle, cost, weather and then gives you a list of about 20 places they think you should live. Mine had some that made sense and some that made me think the computer was on drugs - but it was fun.

Before you discount Texas completely, check into Austin.

Before you discount entire states completely - as red or blue states - take a look at the purple map.

http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2012/

<i>Property taxes are considerably higher in Texas than in California.</i>

Property tax <b>rates</b> are higher in Texas than in California. But, the cost of housing serves to mitigate the impact on the actual amount of taxes one would pay. One should also bear in mind that Texas lacks an income tax and sales taxes are typically around 1% point lower than in California.

San Diego would be the ideal and it IS in your price range.

A quick look yielded many 1 BR condos for under $250K - all central and near all the things you want - including this one near Balboa Stadium - http://www.trulia.com/property/31142...Diego-CA-92101 or this one in Mission Hills - http://www.trulia.com/foreclosure/30...Diego-CA-92103

San Diego or no - getting all the things on your list may mean downsizing in terms of square footage.

Worth it for many - that's why desirable areas are still expensive for smaller homes. Many (though by no means all) feel they will have a better quality of life living in an equally priced 600 S.F. condo in San Francisco than in a 4000 S.F. single family home in Waco.

<i>Worth it for many - that's why desirable areas are still expensive for smaller homes. Many (though by no means all) feel they will have a better quality of life living in an equally priced 600 S.F. condo in San Francisco than in a 4000 S.F. single family home in Waco.</i>

That's not even comparable.

Otherwise, in Waco, there must be a lot of Nordstroms, cultural centers, hospitals, lots of small owner-operated restaurants and, best of all, a huge Jewish community. :)

Sarasota, FL