Sorry to add to the 500 posts that are already just like this... But I do think everyone's situation is different, so I'd like some advice.
I'm about a year out from finishing school, and I plan to seek a job I can work either partly or fully remote, even if it pays a bit less. My commute to my current job stresses me out to the point of hives, and I want to spend more time with my aging dog (and future dogs) and minimize my need for my car.
That being said, around that year mark, I'd also like to look into moving. I am currently in Richmond, VA and I do not like it here. I spend my free time on Zillow and talking to friends about moving and what they like/dislike about places they've lived.
Here's my background:
I have lived in:
Ohio: Born and raised. Not keen on going back unless it's very southern Ohio where there's no Lake Effect snow. My parents are still there, but I do not anticipate long term care needs that would *need* to remain in Ohio. I have a sibling who lives an hour from them, or their house which they bought for 25k can sell for ~80k if they need to move nearer to me. They're both in their early 60's current and in good health.
Florida: I lived in Gainesville. I loved the small town and the bike-ability of it. Summer is ROUGH and nature is trying to consume everything down there, but I do still have very close friends in the area.
Virginia: I live in the Richmond area. The city is too spread out and not bike-able. The city is very segregated and the areas that seem to be *trying* to desegregate are really just gentrifying. The traffic makes me unhappy, and it snows too much here for me.
Wants:
> A very small home to own. Less than 1000sq ft with some land for chickens. Less than 100K (my house in FL was 59k)
> Genuine Bike-ability.
> A relitively small town (thinking less than a 30 minute drive from end-to-end)
> Very little snow. I'm in central VA and it snowed 5-6x this year. That's too much, at least in a town that has very poor handling of snow. I might not mind this as much if I work from home, but I feel like there are way more power outages here for different weather than there ever were in Florida (land of the hurricanes).
> Social capital. There need to be things going on that are less than an hours drive, that don't cost $25 at the door. Farmers markets, Crossfit gym-ish type stuff/November Project groups (yes, this costs a lot, but it's social capital), Donation-Based yoga in the park, Hiking, etc.
> Outdoor opportunities: I enjoy moderate hiking, moderate gardening, bonfires, kayaking, cooking- the slow life/that kind of stuff. Florida had *some* of these perks, but a lot of bugs for outdoor yoga, a lot of snakes and gators for hiking, etc.
> LCOL. I have a degree in Psych. with an Operational/Industrial focus and post grad certificate in Non-Profit Management and credentials to use the QMHP (qualified mental health professional) after my name. I've never made over 50k.
Any suggestions? Me and Zillow have been keen on looking at 30k houses in Indiana/Texas/Tennessee, and other Small-Town-USA type areas, but I'm not quite sure and just kind of tossing ideas around. As I mentioned I have a while to choose/plan.
Note: I've slowly realized that I do want to be a home owner vs. renter. I grew up in the same house for 18 years (my parents still live there, it was built in 1890) and when I left for FL at 18, I moved around 10+ times until I bought my home where I lived the last three years there and I had such a sense of peace coming HOME (if that makes sense) each day. In VA I have moved nearly a dozen times, always chasing the next best place for cheaper. I've never paid over $500 here for rent, but I'm EXHAUSTED from moving every year or really every 6-ish months. I recently moved to a MIL Apartment on a small farm outside of the city and within a week of living there was like "oh... I love this (besides having to share the land/space)... I want to be away from the city (I had been in the city for most of my moves).
Edited to add: Single, no partner, no kids, no plans for either. No ties to current town.