Msowero Western US Retirement Picks

I am pursuing my final career – and I am quite comfortable
working a 40-hour schedule for the first time in my life. I take
my time and pick my clients carefully.

I get to take a day off here and there for golf, and I travel
around the western states every couple of months. Over the past
two years I have been keeping an eye out for the perfect spot to
retire in the Western US.

I now live in a small community near the Bay Area in Northern
California. I’ve lived here for 20+ years, and it has been
great. The Bay Area is vibrant, has a good climate, and is home
to some of the most creative people on the planet. But it
certainly isn’t paradise.

It is an expensive place to live. The highways are congested.
The boarders of the US are out of control and that has hit
California hard. The government is dysfunctional, and we pay a
premium for that. While we have good weather, it is great half
the year and somewhat over-rated the other half. My business has
changed over the past five years. I can do about 80% – 90% of it
from anywhere. That’s the beauty of information and
communication technology.

Let me share with you what I have found as I looked for better
working/ retirement locations in the western US. – Portland,
Oregon area; especially Southern Washington – Prescott, Arizona
– Northern Baja, Mexico – Hilo, the big island of Hawaii –
Boise, Idaho

Southern Washington: I recently visited a friend who built his
dream house on a few acres in Southern Washington, about 30
minutes from Portland. His 2,500 square foot house cost about
the same as a ¼ acre lot in the Bay Area. He is within easy
drive of a good airport and Oregon has no sales tax. He can
explore the Cascades and reach ocean or skiing in a few hours.
Yep – it rains a lot, but not as much as Seattle.

Prescott, Arizona: This gem is home to 30,000 people, who enjoy
mountain vistas and a temperate, sunny, four-season climate
thanks to its mile-high elevation. If you aren’t real fussy, you
can find a nice house for 0k. If you are a little fussy or
want some land, expect to pay 0k or better. Prescott is an
old, established town with historic buildings and strong family
culture. It’s true that absentee Californians have snapped up a
good bit of the real estate up. But they have been are running
around most of the west buying spare homes and putting them in
the “bank” for future use

Northern Baja, Mexico: Don’t write this one off too fast,
especially if you are in So Cal. and want a second home near the
beach. It is not as crazy as it sounds You can live near the
beach in Rosarito and get an absolutely great ocean view or
ocean front house for a fraction of the price of a house located
two hours north in San Diego county. South of the Border
property even has financing available from this side of the
border.

Hilo Area on the Big Island: One of the best deals in the United
States has been discovered and land prices are climbing rapidly,
but guess what? Land in Hilo is still inexpensive. If you are
looking for a slow pace, it doesn’t get any slower than Hilo.
This area is absolutely beautiful yet not a prime location for
vacation resorts and condos. Condos on Kauai, Maui, and the
other side of the big island run 0 – 0k, yet a Hilo acre
lot can be purchased for to k, and houses for 0k. If
you want some privacy, like to garden, and have dreamed of
building a hideaway on an tropical island, there is still time
to do it in the USA. It rains almost daily in Hilo but showers
are short and the 75 to 80 degrees temperatures makes the
showers and lush green growth a real delight.

Boise is rated as the second best city to do business in the US
by Forbes Magazine. It has a population of about 400,000, and
median house prices around 5,000. Boise is an excellent
gateway to the natural beauty of the Northern Rockies. For those
of you not quite ready to hang it up, but looking for an
interesting, affordable small city environment, Boise deserves
your serious consideration.

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