You might want to look at Mason City, Iowa. North Iowa Area Community College is in the town and it's 1/2 way between Des Moines & Minneapolis/St. Paul.

To those who offered constructive advice, thanks. I have hit realtor.com for months and know there are many, many places around the country that have decent housing for well under $100,000. We are just trying to find the right "fit" for us re: climate/job/housing. Since I am very familiar with the southwest and the west coast, I'm afraid I have to turn to strangers for advice about the NE. I appreciate your input very much.

I am sticking it out at my job for one more year because, if I do, we will have medical benefits from it for life when I take early retirement. As the kid has a "pre-existing condition" of which the heat issue is only a portion and she may not be covered as a dependant due to her age on a future employers' policy, we've been cautioned to do this by our legal eagle. Yes, she cannot sweat. Sun is also not her friend. Among other health problems. We're told it's a rare condition. Lucky Kid, huh?

Most apartments/condos here are not a/c'd here unless you are in the more upscale ones. We have a portable a/c in her room (Windchaser 9000, a wonderful machine that we can wheel from room to room, as needed, and exhaust through a window hose) and so she's comfortable in the house. It practically blows icebergs out the vent - a wonderful invention. Cools the whole back of the condo down. God forbid we have rolling power outages again this year. We now have a car that has AC (we didn't the last time) so I guess we'd go drive around until the power comes back on. We had a 3 hour power outage today and, thankfully, the Kid was at work (a/c'd!) and safe. It got very warm in here. While I know that can happen anywhere.... Yeah, well, a mom is a mom, what can I say?
: )

Back to the search: I already do two hours' commute bumper to bumper each way. So, two hours or less on an open highway getting into a city or town from the sticks for work would be an absolute delight. I will have $75,000 in cash to plunk down on a home, and another good chunk-o-change to stash for retirement/emergencies.

Given that our home would be paid for outright, we will be able to live on $8 - $10 an hour even if I have only part-time work available, as there will be no mortgage payment - only taxes, house insurance, and utilities that must be covered. As we'll have the medical things covered, I will have more flexibility in what jobs I can accept, including those with no benefits. Which means I can settle in places others may not consider desirable. Like the sticks. Which, if it's not hot in the summer, would be just fine. If the Kid whines about being bored, at least then she can go outside and do it! : )

I may have to reconsider the South - I hadn't really realized (duh!) that part about everything being a/c'd there. A guy I know in Arkansas in a decent sized community recently bought a 2,000 sq.ft. home for under $60,000 and walks to work. He says it's really nice there. Other than the summers. I guess if everything is a/c'd the kid would be ok in a place like that. Would really rather have to not depend on a/c, but it may be our only option. Will have to investigate further.

Again, thanks for the suggestions! We'll find a place, it's just going to take a LOT of legwork. Appreciate the website info. Will also look at Canada. I have dual EU citizenship, but I don't think that will help much even though Canada is part of the commonwealth (it is, isn't it?).


N

PS Wet heat or dry heat, as far as the kid is concerned it's all equal. Since she can't sweat to cool off, humidity or the lack of it has no impact on her. She can't tell the difference and neither can her body. So humidity is not really a factor in our equation (although I hate it, personally). We're looking for as few days of "heat" per year as possible, plus the other factors.

Again, thanks. My project for tonight is the State College area of PA, and Canada. Appreciate the tips! - Nan

Nannersone, I wish you good luck in your search. In central MO one can buy a decent house for under 75000--I happen to live in one. So one certainly doesnt have to pay 200000 for a house. (I'm not recommending MO for you--it does get very hot here.)

As for relocating to the south or lower midwest, I personally would nor recommed that in your situation. One cannot stay in the AC constantly and when it is extremely hot, moving between the outside and the AC can just about make anyone feel sick.

Might there be somewhere in upstate NY that would work? I visited Rochester several times years ago; there were 6 foot snow drifts in january, and it was very cool in the summer. People joked that they had 2 seasons, winter and the 4th of July. Rochester Institute of Technology might offer employment. Maybe there is affordable housing in some of the smaller towns.

On realtor.com there are 502 properties listed as between $50,000-$75,000 in the Buffalo NY area.

Hi. Yes, and the Albany area has a lot, too. Does anyone know anything firsthand about the areas? (That is, what it's like to live there?)

Thanks. - Nan

There was a thread about moving to Albany awhile ago. Do a search on Fodors for this. Can't help with Buffalo except for weather reports in the winter about "lake effect" snow. Both towns have SUNY campuses.
Good luck.

Nannersone, don't even think about the south.

You guys in Southern California have nothing on our humid heat. I can take dry heat, not humid heat.

The humidity causes all your pores to open up.

How does your daughter deal with the bathroom after taking a hot, hot shower? That is what the south is like at least four months of the year.

It was 87 degrees here at midnight last night. It doesn't cool down at night.

I would try for the upper elevations.

BTW, in areas that have housing for $75,000 there aren't any jobs that pay $8-$10 an hours. You are looking at minimum wage for the jobs available.

Albany NY would be a great bet, SUNY campus, State Gov't for other job options, cool weather mostly.

also Springfield MA, or the Amherst area,lots of universities and on the outskirts fairly low cost housing.

re-visit portland me, it's a charming city on top of meeting other requirements.

I live an hour northwest of Albany and you could easily find a house in your price range around here. (Fulton or Montgomery county -- both depressed areas) I'm not as sure about house prices right in Albany which is a growing area with lots of employment opportunties in the tech area.

Winters are LONG here, so maybe that would be a benefit for your daughter's condition.

Thanks, All. Of course we'll find something. People have told me for years that this or that was impossible, and I've gone right ahead and done it anyway. : )

I think our present plan is probably best right now. Go visiting next Spring. We were going to Pittsburg, etc., but I think we'll also do a swing through Albany, Buffalo, Rochester. There are many, many university jobs in those areas. Worst case, we'll see a lot of pretty countryside, and the Kid can meet some real "Yankees" to talk about.

Again, appreciate the help. Have a lovely 4th. - Nan

I would talk to an accountant about your plan to pay cash for a house and not owe anything. You might be better off in taxes to owe a bit on a place...