USA -- low budget repatriation specific locations that aren't horrible

[craigt3365]

It will be a shock. It took me some time, but now, I love the desert. Low humidity. You can actually leave potato chips out in a bowl for days and they won't go bad! Of course, you have to sleep with a bottle of water by your bed...or invest in a humidifier. Our neighbor installed a whole house humidifier. It was nice.

[55Jay]

It will be a shock. It took me some time, but now, I love the desert. Low humidity. You can actually leave potato chips out in a bowl for days and they won't go bad! Of course, you have to sleep with a bottle of water by your bed...or invest in a humidifier. Our neighbor installed a whole house humidifier. It was nice.

Speaking of shocks, the good old high desert finger "tap tap tap, Zap!" procedure before you fully grasp the car door handle.

[craigt3365]

It will be a shock. It took me some time, but now, I love the desert. Low humidity. You can actually leave potato chips out in a bowl for days and they won't go bad! Of course, you have to sleep with a bottle of water by your bed...or invest in a humidifier. Our neighbor installed a whole house humidifier. It was nice.

Speaking of shocks, the good old high desert finger "tap tap tap, Zap!" procedure before you fully grasp the car door handle.

I remember pulling a blanket up at night and seeing a mass of static electric sparks in the process. At night, it was pretty neat! During the day, not so neat!

[bangmai]

It will be a shock. It took me some time, but now, I love the desert. Low humidity. You can actually leave potato chips out in a bowl for days and they won't go bad! Of course, you have to sleep with a bottle of water by your bed...or invest in a humidifier. Our neighbor installed a whole house humidifier. It was nice.

Speaking of shocks, the good old high desert finger "tap tap tap, Zap!" procedure before you fully grasp the car door handle.

must have been the electronics in your GM...I never noticed it, but then again, I don't do the Khmer Shuffle when I walk. However there was a static electricity related explosion at the TRW airbag factory in Phoenix one time...a pile of small metal scraps...it was a mess. Humidifying is ok in the winter, but you can't use it with air-con, but if you have a programmable thermostat, you can control the heat so it doesn't come on and blast for two hours in the morning...the people who turn it off completely at night, then turn it on in the morning, have this issue..along with sore throats.

Be careful what you wish for as far as the green lawns...that could mean your house is in an HOA, which means you can get fined for leaving your garage door open, or not having your hose rolled up, and you will need their approval for everything from shingle color to mailbox style. All cities have blight laws, so it's really best to let them take your complaints....google HOA nightmare....lol.

Edited December 15, 2015 by bangmai

[craigt3365]

It will be a shock. It took me some time, but now, I love the desert. Low humidity. You can actually leave potato chips out in a bowl for days and they won't go bad! Of course, you have to sleep with a bottle of water by your bed...or invest in a humidifier. Our neighbor installed a whole house humidifier. It was nice.

Speaking of shocks, the good old high desert finger "tap tap tap, Zap!" procedure before you fully grasp the car door handle.

must have been the electronics in your GM...I never noticed it. However there was a static electricity related explosion at the TRW airbag factory in Phoenix one time...a pile of small metal scraps...it was a mess. Humidifying is ok in the winter, but you can't use it with air-con, but if you have a programable thermostat, you can control the heat so it doesn't come on and blast for two hours in the morning...the people who turn it off completely at night, then turn it on in the morning, have this issue..along with sore throats.

My friend's was part of his central heating and AC system. Pretty cool. My friend lived in a very nice house and eventually put in a swamp cooler for use during the summer. Worked out great.

[bangmai]

In the above house at 4300 feet, I had swamp; no a/c, low electric bills. The say stucco is actually better than brick for the heat...another thing midwesterners insist on with their lawn; a brick/block house...makes a good pizza oven, sleeping at night can be tough.

[Jingthing]

In the above house at 4300 feet, I had swamp; no a/c, low electric bills. The say stucco is actually better than brick for the heat...another thing midwesterners insist on with their lawn; a brick/block house...makes a good pizza oven, sleeping at night can be tough.

That's interesting.

I noticed a lot of the Tucson houses had brick interiors.

Yes, sometimes looks like a prison cell.

I had assumed it was cooler. No?

[Jingthing]

Frommer's appears to favor Tucson over Phoenix.

It is sounding better and better and I'm kind of surprised it's still as cheap as it is.

I have even identified a general neighborhood focus.

Campbell Avenue Area.

Affordable urban real estate options -- this is north of the University and known for good ethnic restaurants and also being gay friendly.

Sounds a bit like Berkeley, CA.

University District/Midtown -- Northeast of downtown Tucson, this part of the city is actually a collection of different neighborhoods surrounding the University of Arizona. Just to the west of the university campus, you'll find the sort of shops and restaurants you'd expect adjacent to a university. On the east side, you'll find neighborhoods that are home to the historic Arizona Inn and a few other hotels. Stretching north from the university is Campbell Avenue, which has city's the greatest concentrations of interesting budget restaurants.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tucson/668277

Encircled by mountain ranges and bookended by the two units of Saguaro National Park, Tucson is Arizona's second-largest city, and, for the vacationer, it has everything that Phoenix has to offer, plus a bit more. There are world-class golf resorts, excellent restaurants, art museums and galleries, an active cultural life, and, of course, plenty of great weather. Tucson also has a long history that melds Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo roots. And with a national park, a national forest, and other natural areas just beyond the city limits, Tucson is a city that celebrates its Sonoran Desert setting.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tucson/668272

The Performing Arts

Tucson's performing arts scene is just as lively as Phoenix's, and three of Tucson's major companies -- the Arizona Opera Company, Ballet Arizona, and the Arizona Theatre Company -- spend half their time in Phoenix.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tucson/668284

[bangmai]

Glenn/Campbell is a very walkable area, but with the U and UMC very close by, it is pretty high rent. I looked at a condo there two tears ago. 1 br, 500 sf was 60,000 usd...I gave it a miss, but it was ok...the one I could have bought in NE Portland for 54K, would have been a better investment, mostly do to good mass transit in Portland. If I wasn't working; I would look for a lesser known place. I would take Glenn/Campbell over Tempe, but there would be better work opportunities in Tempe. 650 for a decent apartment+ in either...housing cost at 800 per month? No car? Financially, you would be better off in Nogales in the 35K home, living rent free without a car, and taking advantage of fun stuff in Sonora....The capital of Sonora is Hermosillo, and I would consider living there. Foreigners could buy real estate in their name because the rule in Mexico is more than 100Km from a land border r 50 Km from the beaches....for the same reason I like CM more than HH, I would take Hermosillo over all those beach tourist traps. There is Home Depot and Walmart in Hermosillo, a winter league farm team for the LA Dodgers and a big Spanish influence, which means more Gloria Estefan; less Cuntsuelo the tamale maker. Which reminds me of the big differences in the Mexicans in Tucson vs. Phoenix. The Tucson ones have a lot of Apache Indian in them, and they are the short, sanitation worker type, and unfriendly...the Phoenix Mexicans are a lot better heeled and come from wealthier parts of Mexico. Newspaper in Hermosillo: www.elimparcial.com Check out "calsificados" for real estate. Good cuban cigars down there, and prices on "contrabandio" are way too low to even mention here.

[klikster]

Again just across the border in Arkansas not in Tennessee. Toll-free bridge. large community of interest to the OP in Memphis TN.

For those not familiar with the geography, Memphis is an old-line Mississippi River town and Arkansas state is just on the other side of the river. West Memphis is in Arkansas. ... and again Memphis is, well, Memphis.

Memphis is a great town. Fedex, Blues, awesome oak trees and a daily parade of ducks.

[taxout]

Tucson certainly has far more character than Phoenix: the mountains are much closer and the desert there is pretty distinctive. It's also a much smaller place, so you don't feel as lost in the sprawl as you do in Phoenix.

But to me it seems fairly isolated, distant from just about everywhere, and if you want to fly anywhere, especially overseas, you'll be facing a hassle. Further, there's a light pollution ordinance in Tucson to protect a nearby observatory, and that means driving around at night can seem pretty dim, especially as your eyes weaken with age.

In any event, I'd tend to avoid areas around the university because I wouldn't want boisterous students for neighbors. Those over-55 communities have their advantages.

Finally, being the larger city, Phoenix has a far wider choice of housing styles than Tucson.

[bangmai]

For going to Asia...you will have to go to LAX or SFO from either PHX or TIA....UAl has quite a few flights out of TIA..they even did non-stop to Washington-Dulles for a while. PHX has 20 times more, but the international lineup is weak, except for Mexico.

[puukao]

almost every big city is EXPENSIVE, relative to Thailand. (US dollars) $1000 minimum a month, $1000 down payment, $600 month in food, $500 utility and stuff, $500 for car, gas, insurance, other insurance........

Vegas....crime. CA....impossible. Portland and seattle, expensive.....TX....Dallas getting expensive.....NM....crime. ... AZ....good and bad. if rich, good. if not, horrible.

There is no magic answers here....either small town, share place with stranger, and start there..... or big city, hate life, apply for all jobs, and see what happens...

of course, all the great places are expensive.

if you elaborate on a budget, then it gets easier....

i feel your pain....

[bangmai]

I went to a market in CM, and was approached by a tour guide w/ decent English. She says, "not the same as your country," expecting me to tell her how great the produce was. I said "nope, I live in Arizona, and Oranges were 7 thb per Kg; you are charging 35 thb per Kg, and you would get shut down for having rats on your premises."

[Jingthing]

almost every big city is EXPENSIVE, relative to Thailand. (US dollars) $1000 minimum a month, $1000 down payment, $600 month in food, $500 utility and stuff, $500 for car, gas, insurance, other insurance........

Vegas....crime. CA....impossible. Portland and seattle, expensive.....TX....Dallas getting expensive.....NM....crime. ... AZ....good and bad. if rich, good. if not, horrible.

There is no magic answers here....either small town, share place with stranger, and start there..... or big city, hate life, apply for all jobs, and see what happens...

of course, all the great places are expensive.

if you elaborate on a budget, then it gets easier....

i feel your pain....

Rents in Tucson don't nearly have to be that high. I can see decent looking 2 bedrooms for 650. Get a roommate, almost free. Yes other things are expensive. Is Tucson really a big city? As I said before, probably my ideal is a middle size city.

Of course I would be looking into buying something with get a roommate potential. Then that income could pay for HOA, real estate tax (cheap there), utilities, repairs, etc.

I am not sure that a place with Tucson's price levels couldn't work out. It's really hard to find cheaper even in small towns. Poor is relative. Sure homeless is horrible or only affording a slum with meth heads everywhere is horrible. Every choice is a risk. Trying a place like Tucson would be an option that at least has the possibility of not being horrible. Moving to an area with nothing that I like would be totally giving up. I think I may hate the desert though so renting for six months and looking around is probably more sensible.

[Jingthing]

For going to Asia...you will have to go to LAX or SFO from either PHX or TIA....UAl has quite a few flights out of TIA..they even did non-stop to Washington-Dulles for a while. PHX has 20 times more, but the international lineup is weak, except for Mexico.

Yeah I hadn't thought about the isolation aspect before. But if I do this and get settled, good chance I will be mostly stuck in place. I will look into routes from their airport. I would think getting to know Latin America better would be good from there.

Another potential benefit from a heavily Latino area is I might have the motivation to learn Spanish better. I suck at languages and who knows maybe eventually I'll want to be an expat again after some years, but this time in Latin America. I think you need Spanish for that. (Excepting Brazil, etc. of course.)

Based on this, Tuscon International Airport is not REALLY an international airport.

That is rather bad.

I had expected direct flights at least to Mexico.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson_International_Airport

Edited December 15, 2015 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Glenn/Campbell is a very walkable area, but with the U and UMC very close by, it is pretty high rent. I looked at a condo there two tears ago. 1 br, 500 sf was 60,000 usd...I gave it a miss, but it was ok...the one I could have bought in NE Portland for 54K, would have been a better investment, mostly do to good mass transit in Portland. If I wasn't working; I would look for a lesser known place. I would take Glenn/Campbell over Tempe, but there would be better work opportunities in Tempe. 650 for a decent apartment+ in either...housing cost at 800 per month? No car? Financially, you would be better off in Nogales in the 35K home, living rent free without a car, and taking advantage of fun stuff in Sonora....The capital of Sonora is Hermosillo, and I would consider living there. Foreigners could buy real estate in their name because the rule in Mexico is more than 100Km from a land border r 50 Km from the beaches....for the same reason I like CM more than HH, I would take Hermosillo over all those beach tourist traps. There is Home Depot and Walmart in Hermosillo, a winter league farm team for the LA Dodgers and a big Spanish influence, which means more Gloria Estefan; less Cuntsuelo the tamale maker. Which reminds me of the big differences in the Mexicans in Tucson vs. Phoenix. The Tucson ones have a lot of Apache Indian in them, and they are the short, sanitation worker type, and unfriendly...the Phoenix Mexicans are a lot better heeled and come from wealthier parts of Mexico. Newspaper in Hermosillo: www.elimparcial.com Check out "calsificados" for real estate. Good cuban cigars down there, and prices on "contrabandio" are way too low to even mention here.

Some interesting points. Thank you.

Obviously, I am not committed to a specific neighborhood. It just looked promising to look in that area and Campbell Avenue goes quite a ways north further away from the University. Perhaps there are interesting areas NEAR that area.

I would expect to need a basic car but the realistic goal would be not to need to use it for everything.

Are there other neighborhoods/zip codes in Tucson that you think might suit me, more or less?

I looked into Nogales. Seems to not be enough there to make me happy.

As far as Mexico, right now I'm looking only at the USA, and I don't think my future social security check would financially qualify for the Mexico retirement visa (maybe would if I bought real estate as then you need half).

That makes sense about the different character of the Mexicans in the two cities.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

I had considered the advantage of the large size and great variety of housing options in Phoenix. With more choices, of a huge range of budgets, in such a wide area, I figured there was a better chance of finding SOMETHING ... because starting out (if I don't buy right away) it might come down to that, just a roof.

But on the other hand, in the longer term, all I need is ONE place, and at this point I'm pretty flexible on what kind of place that will be be. Not sure I'm exactly super picky on the specifics, even if I had the funds to be. So how much choice does one need? Sometimes in life I find an overabundance of choice a burden.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Jingthing

[bangmai]

In the long run, the renters get killed. I wouldn't blame someone, who refused to buy in an HOA, and that's why there is upside to single family homes in the growing cities. If you keep going north on Campbell; it becomes Catalina Foothills, that's where all the overpaid school administrators from Tucson Unified SD live, because they know TUSD is so low class (even with U of A sitting in the middle of it). Look in North Tucson, near Oracle and Tangerine....it's kind of upscale. Oracle near Speedway is crack motels...did used to have a nice cheeseburge/chips/budwiser for 99 cents at Curves Canaret...now free tacos at midnight, 4.95 steak dinner, free burgers w/fries on Fridays.....5 Dollar lap dances...ok a bit raunchy, but nothing like that in DC or even BKK.....http://curvescabaret.com/cms/

And this would be the equivalent in PHX which was about 200 meters from the 18,000 usd house...http://www.cheetahsaz.com/

I realize it's not your style, but if you saw what they were charging at the regular or even gay places it might be a bit more interesting. 1 Dollar Heinekens? I went in ther 50 times and never did a lapdance...10 there, but would tip 1 usd for two beers, or even sit at the bar, and get left alone.

Edited December 15, 2015 by bangmai

[Jingthing]

The renters get killed? Literally? That sounds harsh.

Talking about HOAs for condos, etc.

What are you talking about? When too many owners don't or can't pay it? Yes I have known condos like that. Is that what you're referring to? Yes fee simple situations avoid that but I'm seeing some of those as well, for small houses, townhouses, manufactured homes.

Yes I can see Campbell goes north into the Foothills and have already figured out that's where the richer people live.

It seems to me though if not too close to the University, the density of students would be less, even in the same general area.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Jingthing

[bangmai]

Well in AZ, an HOA can actually force a sale for payment....but just their power to assess fees...swimming pool problems....anything with private guard gate will be sky high, unlike Chiang Mai/BKK where they make nominal amounts. Manufactured Homes are often in HOAs with pricey fees...a lot of Sahauro is like that....buyers will have to get the equivalent of a trailer loan to buy....you may not own the land in many cases.

OK. I kust remembered the classy neighborhood, on the South Side of the U. It's the Sam Hughes neighborhood, Uni professors might live there if they've been around a long time...Houses 300K and up...about 1/3 of Berkeley prices, but still not a good place for a slacker.

OK, this is 265K....60 years old...nice lot...near Broadway/Campbell....I could show you an identical house in a working class neighborhood of west phoenix for 80K....so is it worth 185K to live near a U, when you don't work there? But, if you had quite a bit of cash, it would be a sound investment, that you can still live in....there are no more places to build there. http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2135-E-10th-St_Tucson_AZ_85719_M22256-29960

[Jingthing]

Well the HOA fees I'm seeing on the lower priced condos in Tucson are rather low. 100 typical. Not over 200. The real estate taxes are silly low.

Yes of course mobile park lease fees are a different story. They can be shockingly high.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Jingthing

[bangmai]

here is a bit more swanky condo with some decent a,enities...was on a golf course...gc went bankrupt...hoa fee is 260. http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8331-N-21st-Dr-Unit-105_Phoenix_AZ_85021_M26798-06998

[Jingthing]

Yeah, that's nice.

Who's gc?

[bangmai]

gc=golf course....

[Jingthing]

Aha. Too obvious for me. I don't golf!

[SpokaneAl]

For going to Asia...you will have to go to LAX or SFO from either PHX or TIA....UAl has quite a few flights out of TIA..they even did non-stop to Washington-Dulles for a while. PHX has 20 times more, but the international lineup is weak, except for Mexico.

Yeah I hadn't thought about the isolation aspect before. But if I do this and get settled, good chance I will be mostly stuck in place. I will look into routes from their airport. I would think getting to know Latin America better would be good from there.

Another potential benefit from a heavily Latino area is I might have the motivation to learn Spanish better. I suck at languages and who knows maybe eventually I'll want to be an expat again after some years, but this time in Latin America. I think you need Spanish for that. (Excepting Brazil, etc. of course.)

Based on this, Tuscon International Airport is not REALLY an international airport.

That is rather bad.

I had expected direct flights at least to Mexico.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson_International_Airport

I think once you move away from the really major cities you are looking at a short connection flight to one of those cities to get most anywhere. I have not found it to be a big deal and always appreciate starting and finishing my trips in our city in that I don't have to deal with the hassles of getting to/from a major airport like Seattle, San Francisco or Los Angeles, except to pass though via a connecting flight.

[craigt3365]

I think you'll be shocked by the Latino communities in the US. I lived in the West for most of my life. They are typically places you avoid like the plague. Or go into, grab a taco, and get out. My wife and I drove through one in San Diego. This was years ago, and we were on our way to RV in Mexico. Got out to gas up, buy some food, etc, and she asked if we were already in Mexico. It was a bit scary.

I was looking at ways to live cheap so we could stay in the US, and not have to move to Thailand just to live comfortably. I stumbled onto an interesting website of a younger couple who was offering advice for retiring early. They spend part of the year in Chiang Mai, the other in Arizona. And bought a place in an over 50 housing village. Reasons? Quieter, safer, good recreational activities, and CHEAP! Something to think about....

[Jingthing]

Interesting.

Well I lived for years in the middle of Latino communities in the west and wasn't exactly shocked. But no I wouldn't move to SOUTH Tucson or EAST L.A.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Jing, can you recap a bit at this point: What places are still in the running, what places have you crossed off?