-is the commute 1/2 an hour each way, meaning 1 hour total driving each day ?
- What do you mean by your living with co-worker who is "not adapt at living alone" , do you mean "not adept" ? , does it matter - you arent living alone, you're living together in the same place...
I suggest locating the neighborhood you want to move to 1st, find the local real estate offices, ask if they perform property management, and if so, get their list of available rentals. Combine that with searching the MLS listings for duplexes
Maybe open an IRA in a low fee account 1st. Then put money into the 401K if you can find a relatively low fee vehicle, in the Hancock offerings. Cram $$ into there, and offset it with the $70K in savings if your finances get tight.
Why not just pay off the old medical bills, and get that over with ?