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

[NeverSure]

On 7/29/2016 at 5:57 AM, Tagaa said:

-snip-

I've been here almost 10 years. Not one time have I ever looked in my rear view mirror and seen blue lights, with Buford T. Justice swaggering up to my car with his hand on the butt of his pistol. Nobody has ever walked up to my gate & said I can't paint my house the color I like or I can't have whatever kind of fence I want or can't grow vegetables in my front yard if I want. I have an uncle that lives in Peoria, AZ, a suburb of Phoenix. The mini Hitler that runs his HOA is always putting nasty grams in his mailbox because she thinks the bushes need trimming or there are to many dead leaves on the stones in what they call yards, in Phoenix, or some such crap as that. You can have it. I'm stayin put.

 

Why anyone would ever buy property in a PUD that has a homeowners' gestapo is beyond me. In most places in the US you can paint your house the color of your choice, plant a garden in your front yard and landscape how you choose. For the "privilege" of a HOA you also have to pay monthly dues. Perhaps your reward is a community swimming pool and a recreation building with pool tables etc.

I've never run into Buford either. Not once in my decades of driving have I had a traffic citation or otherwise been bothered by police and I've been all over the US. I trust and like the police in the US a whole lot more than I do the mafia in Thailand.

Cheers.

[SpokaneAl]

Why anyone would ever buy property in a PUD that has a homeowners' gestapo is beyond me. In most places in the US you can paint your house the color of your choice, plant a garden in your front yard and landscape how you choose. For the "privilege" of a HOA you also have to pay monthly dues. Perhaps your reward is a community swimming pool and a recreation building with pool tables etc.

I've never run into Buford either. Not once in my decades of driving have I had a traffic citation or otherwise been bothered by police and I've been all over the US. I trust and like the police in the US a whole lot more than I do the mafia in Thailand.

Cheers.

HOAs are not for everyone. The downside is that you may be limited on what you can do to your home. The upside is that they often enforce stuff like preventing your neighbor from storing junk cars/massive RVs etc in his/her front yard etc.

We have lived in homes with no HOAs and now live in a neighborhood with an active HOA where our monthly fees cover landscape maintenance, water, sewer and garbage. We like and enjoy our current home very much and it is nice to know that the HOA is taking care of things for us, especially in that we split our time between Thailand and the US.

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[Jingthing]

51 minutes ago, SpokaneAl said:

HOAs are not for everyone. The downside is that you may be limited on what you can do to your home. The upside is that they often enforce stuff like preventing your neighbor from storing junk cars/massive RVs etc in his/her front yard etc.

We have lived in homes with no HOAs and now live in a neighborhood with an active HOA where our monthly fees cover landscape maintenance, water, sewer and garbage. We like and enjoy our current home very much and it is nice to know that the HOA is taking care of things for us, especially in that we split our time between Thailand and the US.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I've only owned condos (in the USA and Thailand) and have not had any significant negative experiences with them. Of course they can happen but they can also happen in single family homes. Horses for courses ... 

[craigt3365]

I lived near Henderson off and on for years.  My parents moved near Sam's Town (Boulder Hwy and Flamingo) and lived there for years.  Casinos use to be very cheap in Henderson, so we'd go there often.  Now, it's a wonderful small city 1/2 way between Vegas and the lake.  A very short drive to anything you'd like.  Green Valley is just up the road and has several very nice malls.  Transport is quite good with highway access to wherever you need to go.  Problem?  Blistering hot from mid June till about mid September.  Unbearable, IMHO.  Vegas has lots to do, including many places nearby.

[craigt3365]

Tagaa: I've been researching NC quite a bit.  Very reasonable real estate and seems the weather is OK.  Plus, I'm into bluegrass, so perfect for me! LOL

 

I never had problems with the police in the US unless I had broken the law.  Same with here.  HOA are a great idea here or you end up like my friend.  An informal karaoke bar on one side and a new chicken pen on the other.  He's dying to move out now.  Cuts both ways.  Here?  I'll take the HOA any day.  Back in the US, as mentioned, it keeps neighbors from parking their cars on the front yard, doing repair work on the streets and parking that ugly RV right in front of your house! LOL

 

As for healthcare, as has been mentioned before, under 65, it's OK here.  After 65, prices skyrocket or they just won't renew your policy.

[craigt3365]

Umbanda: yes, you're making me nostalgic also!  I lived in Carlsbad/Oceanside for 12 years or so.  Had a boat in the bay.  Fantastic times.  But, traffic is insane now.  I know a guy who lives in Pacific Beach.  Has a nice apartment and only 1/2 mile to the beach.  Which is beautiful.  Bike lanes, restaurants, etc.  I just don't like the high tax rate in California!

[watcharacters]

On 7/28/2016 at 6:33 PM, Jingthing said:

Well, there isn't any place that is lower budget by USA standards that doesn't have some horrible aspects to it.

But the two most attractive places I found for my purposes are:

St. Petersburg, Florida (or adjacent towns)

Tucson, Arizona

 

 

Way before I'd choose Tucson, I'd listen to  The Stones and  go with Flagstaff,  AZ.     On route 66...

[ClutchClark]

On July 28, 2016 at 6:44 PM, Scotwight said:

I think there were a number of others mentioned but you have so many people on your ignore list that you may have missed 100 or so suggestions.

 

What a great bit of humor after slogging through this thread.

 

 

[GinBoy2]

HOA's are a Godsend if you are an absentee landlord. I pay $100 a month, covers landscaping, keeping the unruly neighbors yards in order, building insurance, and importantly in deepest darkest South Dakota, snow removal!

[gk10002000]

On ‎11‎/‎21‎/‎2015 at 2:34 AM, BruceMangosteen said:

Las Vegas...

Someone replied a ways back, how to survive there gambling. It's simple really. It's all about money management and discipline.

You say for the sake of discussion want to "earn" $100.usd a day, cash, not taxed, not documented etc... aka "win" it.

You walk up to a craps table and bet $100.usd on the "Don't Pass". You must do this on what they call the "come out roll".

If you lose, you bet $200.usd on the next "roll".

If you lost this second bet, you bet $400.usd on the next "roll".

If you lose this third bet, you bet $800.usd on the next "roll".

All of these bets are on the "don't pass" and on the "come out roll".

Your chances of losing four in a row are slim and none, but if it happens you simply bet $1600.usd on the next and so on, until you win. Doubling the last amount. At that point you win, you have to be willing to walk away with your $100.usd win/earnings and come back the next day. You must also find a casino with fairly high limits, Caesars Palace will take up to

$50,000.usd on this wager so that's a good place to start.

----------------------------

It is "rumored" that there are a lot of gangs and gang violence in Las Vegas. I don't know the specific areas, but suffice to say you need to put security as a high priority, right up there with proximity to a supermarket and public transportation(bus) if you don't plan on buying a car. Motorcycle travel is I'm told, nothing like it is here in Thailand. Good AC, safe area, close the public transportation, shopping and restaurant options, and income. Who could ask for anything more? Forget "women" as you are leaving that aspect way behind when you leave Thailand.

Good luck mate.

yes, the basic approach you describe is called a martingale and while it can be almost infallible, it requires a high range of betting limits and that is why tables have limits, typically limiting the maximum bet to doubling say 6x, sometimes 7 x the minimum bet.  And as you pointed out towards the last double, you are betting huge but only winning the tiny $100.  And even if you did finally win, now you have say 10K and going to the cage with that will now require paperwork to get your cash, even if you just five minutes before bought 10,000 of chips.  The casino is required to fill out the form if you cash in > $10,000.  So there are lots of potential headaches involved

[gk10002000]

 Number one consideration almost certainly should be a tax free state, if not for money saving, for the simple joy of there not even being a tax form to file.  I like simplicity.  If retired, of course a city with decent medical nearby, so I don't think you want a little mobile home out in a park 100 miles from the nearest city that has at least two major hospitals.  If not a tax free state, and if your income is minimal or pension and say maybe largely social security, than there are a few states that don't tax one or the other of those, MS for example.  Florida really is tough to beat.  There really is a large network for us older folks here and there are some pretty cheap cities all over the place.  Public transportation is poor at best, and standing around in the heat and humidity waiting for a bus is not fun.  California does NOT tax social security which is surprising because they whack everything else.  Many choices in the LA basin and Orange county area.  San Diego areas are expensive for living but there are always ways to work that a bit.  Their mass transit lines are an OK way to get around if you are near a stop.

[craigt3365]

I lived in Vegas for years and rarely gambled.  If I did, my max loss was $100.  Vegas does have some bad areas, but they are fairly well defined.  There are some fantastic communities in Vegas.  Sadly, the weather is unbearable from mid June to mid August.  Nevada has no personal income tax.  Quite nice.

[Jingthing]

Some negative information about Pinellas County where St. Pete, Florida is located.

Although there hasn't been a direct hurricane hit in 100 years, that doesn't mean it won't happen, and apparently their really not ready.

The recent hurricane which didn't hit directly, highlights the problems.

Worth considering strongly in looking at real estate there.

I love the part about the floodwaters containing snakes and gators.

Happy happy joy joy. 

 

Quote

St. Pete's geography — being nearly surrounded by water and quite low-lying — combined with sea-level rise, increasing frequency of large storm events and aging infrastructure make for an alarming scenario for officials, who are grappling with how to make up for decades of ignoring the need to upgrade the tools it uses to reduce the impacts of flooding. 

 

http://www.cltampa.com/news-views/local-news/article/20832574/flooding-more-sewage-dumps-another-sign-of-dire-infrastructure-woes

 

 

[Jingthing]

Florida humor alert.

But it's also REAL!

 

https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan

[Jingthing]

Hi there.

 

Well this thread is still relevant to me and I'm sure other Americans considering repatriation (or just moving within the USA) to some place tolerably "decent" and also relatively lower cost.

 

I had put this ON HOLD because of the election due to a personal priority of access to medical care.

 

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL DEBATE THREAD!

 

Anyway, as we all know there was a very surprising result that will definitely impact on the medical care access system in the USA.

 

Unfortunately, the specific DETAILS of how all that will shake out may not be clear for a very long time. 

 

If you're old enough for Medicare, then this isn't an issue (but I'm not).

 

So the top two choices I came up with before, being in Florida and Arizona, are put into great doubt now as far as access to medical care (as is perhaps all of the nation). 

 

There may be some "islands" of full access even with major changes, such as Massachusetts. However, I've lived there before. Too cold. 

 

So for me this is in limbo again as far as medical care access and if I can't get that, personally I will try to avoid repatriation before age 65, if possible.

For others that don't have my issue around that, either Medicare age or will be getting medical insurance via employment, they still might be interested in parts of this topic about lower budget USA repatriation choices.

 

I mentioned the reality of the political changes because it does impact on many American's repatriation choices. However, please RESPECT that this is NOT a political DEBATE thread. If it degrades into that, it will definitely not stay open. 

 

That said, WHEN there are actual changes in LAW that will impact on medical care access in specific states or nationally, then I think that should be mentioned here because that's relevant to the choices people make. But now we just don't know yet and this isn't a SPECULATION thread.

 

Cheers.

 

Edited November 21, 2016 by Jingthing

[ClutchClark]

9 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So the top two choices I came up with before, being in Florida and Arizona, are put into great doubt now as far as access to medical care (as is perhaps all of the nation). 

 

I don't understand why you will not have access to medical care.

 

Hospitals and physicians and pharmacies, the entire medical care infrastructure will continue to exist.

 

 

 

 

[BruceMangosteen]

22 hours ago, ClutchClark said:

 

I don't understand why you will not have access to medical care.

 

Hospitals and physicians and pharmacies, the entire medical care infrastructure will continue to exist.

 

 

 

 

Because you have to pay for it. Medicaid is means tested which the OP doesn't want to endure. He wants free medical care. I'm sure, almost sure anyhow, the new President will continue to enforce means testing for Medicaid. 

[ClutchClark]

9 minutes ago, BruceMangosteen said:

Because you have to pay for it. Medicaid is means tested which the OP doesn't want to endure. He wants free medical care. I'm sure, almost sure anyhow, the new President will continue to enforce means testing for Medicaid. 

 

You better not be telling me that someone who spends large hours on TVF and who has lived overseas and contributed nothing in the way of US taxes expects to go back to the US and receive free or highly subsidized healthcare?

 

Time for someone to get a job. 

 

 

 

Edited November 22, 2016 by ClutchClark

[BruceMangosteen]

4 minutes ago, ClutchClark said:

 

You better not be telling me that someone who spends large hours on TVF and who has lived overseas and contributed nothing in the way of US taxes expects to go back to the US and receive free or highly subsidized healthcare?

 

Time for someone to get a job. 

 

Good thing Trump intends to bring jobs back  ;-)

 

 

Hello...just the facts mam....medicaid is means tested. The OP indicated in addition to his concern about the area being "gay friendly" he doesn't want to spend his fortune gained on his condo sale here in Pattaya for medical care back in the USA. I think the figure $50,000.usd was mentioned but don't quote me. Assume for the sake of this discussion, you do have $50,000.usd banked, and will get Social Security within five or ten? years, it might be possible taking in room-mates and not going out for decent meals, no car, and most of all, fully subsidized healthcare. 

[MajarTheLion]

14 hours ago, BruceMangosteen said:

Because you have to pay for it. Medicaid is means tested which the OP doesn't want to endure. He wants free medical care. I'm sure, almost sure anyhow, the new President will continue to enforce means testing for Medicaid. 

 

BINGO! I find the concept of shopping for a place to live with such significance ostensibly based on where you can take the maximum amount of free stuff at the expense of others to be quite deplorable.

[lannarebirth]

1 hour ago, MajarTheLion said:

 

BINGO! I find the concept of shopping for a place to live with such significance ostensibly based on where you can take the maximum amount of free stuff at the expense of others to be quite deplorable.

 

Yes, having to shop for a place to live just to receive healthcare is indeed a deplorable state of affairs. Better there was non profit oriented healthcare available to all, everywhere, through our public tax contributions. Access to healthcare should be a right of all Americans.

[MajarTheLion]

1 hour ago, lannarebirth said:

 

Yes, having to shop for a place to live just to receive healthcare is indeed a deplorable state of affairs. Better there was non profit oriented healthcare available to all, everywhere, through our public tax contributions. Access to healthcare should be a right of all Americans.

 

What makes you think "non-profit" would make things any better? And why do you think government is the solution to making anything more affordable when their track record is demonstrably horrible. We're talking about people who pay half a billion dollars for an airplane.

[jimmyyy]

NH has no income tax, no tax on food.  Rent may be a bit high depending on where you want to live. 

[BruceMangosteen]

1 hour ago, lannarebirth said:

 

Yes, having to shop for a place to live just to receive healthcare is indeed a deplorable state of affairs. Better there was non profit oriented healthcare available to all, everywhere, through our public tax contributions. Access to healthcare should be a right of all Americans.

You must have missed the point about it being means tested. Medicaid is "free" to all who have nothing. The myth about it remains intact but facts are facts. The USA has National Health Care and it's called "Medicaid". If you have money/assets and don't want to pay for insurance it's simply too bad, your choice, you suffer. I get tired of reading how people want to keep their "wealth" and think others paying taxes should and will pay their bills. We all care about the indigent but hiding assets or refusing to buy insurance is another matter. 

[ClutchClark]

17 hours ago, BruceMangosteen said:

Hello...just the facts mam....medicaid is means tested. The OP indicated in addition to his concern about the area being "gay friendly" he doesn't want to spend his fortune gained on his condo sale here in Pattaya for medical care back in the USA. I think the figure $50,000.usd was mentioned but don't quote me. Assume for the sake of this discussion, you do have $50,000.usd banked, and will get Social Security within five or ten? years, it might be possible taking in room-mates and not going out for decent meals, no car, and most of all, fully subsidized healthcare. 

 

I would agree the only way to begin stretching out $50K USD for 5 years would include not spending a dime on healthcare but even then its impossible unless:

 

1) The person finds employment, or

2) They intend to apply for every type of gov't assistance out there (food stsmps, etc)

 

But I would think the presence of $50K in the bank would prevent those programs. I think the total in cash allowed to qualify is more like $3,000 (but you can own a house and a very expensive car). 

 

Said person would need to keep $47,000 of that money in a Thai bank account or similar that would not be easily traceable by financial records searches. 

 

Ofcourse, he would need to find an unlimited data package if he were the kind of person addicted to an internet forum (like I am this damned TVF)  

 

it seems they might stretch their money further in Thailand.

 

 

[ClutchClark]

23 minutes ago, MajarTheLion said:

 

What makes you think "non-profit" would make things any better? And why do you think government is the solution to making anything more affordable when their track record is demonstrably horrible. We're talking about people who pay half a billion dollars for an airplane.

 

Yes, if you want something screwed up then let uncle Sam get involved  but they have done halfway decent with Medicare and Veterans Benefits. 

 

One would have to hope the current greed factor of the insurance industry is greater than the resulting increased cost of gov't ineptitude. 

[ClutchClark]

10 minutes ago, BruceMangosteen said:

You must have missed the point about it being means tested. Medicaid is "free" to all who have nothing. The myth about it remains intact but facts are facts. The USA has National Health Care and it's called "Medicaid". If you have money/assets and don't want to pay for insurance it's simply too bad, your choice, you suffer. I get tired of reading how people want to keep their "wealth" and think others paying taxes should and will pay their bills. We all care about the indigent but hiding assets or refusing to buy insurance is another matter. 

 

Bruce,

A person can have an expensive house and car and still qualify for Medicaid if they have less than $3,000 cash AFAIK.

 

But if its an elderly person attempting to get into a nursing home on Medicaid then they cannot have those assets and the typical practice is a "spend down" where they give away their assets to their children.

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2016 by ClutchClark

[lannarebirth]

2 hours ago, BruceMangosteen said:

You must have missed the point about it being means tested. Medicaid is "free" to all who have nothing. The myth about it remains intact but facts are facts. The USA has National Health Care and it's called "Medicaid". If you have money/assets and don't want to pay for insurance it's simply too bad, your choice, you suffer. I get tired of reading how people want to keep their "wealth" and think others paying taxes should and will pay their bills. We all care about the indigent but hiding assets or refusing to buy insurance is another matter. 

 

I wasn't referring to Medicaid or means testing. I was referring in general to the sorry state of healthcare in America for everyone. I think the US should adopt a Universal healthcare scheme for everyone regardless of their means.

[ClutchClark]

2 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

 

I wasn't referring to Medicaid or means testing. I was referring in general to the sorry state of healthcare in America for everyone. I think the US should adopt a Universal healthcare scheme for everyone regardless of their means.

 

I support a Universal Healthcare but Obamacare has exposed a few major problems towards that goal:

 

--A large segment of society wants the benefits without contributing.

--Healthcare Industry costs (Hospitals, Pharma, Physicians, etc) are incredibly expensive compared to all other countries.

--These Industries are very powerful and own too many legislators through lobby payouts.

 

Individuals could still purchase a supplemental insurance plan if they desire.

 

Edited November 23, 2016 by ClutchClark

[lannarebirth]

5 minutes ago, ClutchClark said:

 

I support a Universal Healthcare but Obamacare has exposed a few major problems towards that goal:

 

--A large segment of society wants the benefits without contributing.

--Healthcare Industry costs (Hospitals, Pharma, Physicians, etc) are incredibly expensive compared to all other countries.

--These Industries are very powerful and own too many legislators through lobby payouts.

 

Individuals could still purchase a supplemental insurance plan if they desire.

 

 

Obamacare has exposed many problems indeed. Namely, it won't work if there is no cost containment and if young healthy people opt out the system is overburdened by more sick and unemployable people than it would otherwise be. Also the fact that he arbitrarily postponed (after the ACA became law) large pools of people from its mandate has also contributed to its failure. I'm not sure how it can be saved frankly.

 

All that said, I still favor the adoption of a Universal Healthcare scheme. One much more robust than the ACA that will require new laws or repeal of old laws with respect to payouts to Hospitals, Pharma and Physicians. Maybe something on the order of Medicare for all, which still requires supplemental insurance but is much more manageable for the majority of citizens. I think it is something a society that considers itself civilized should have for its citizens. JMO