| I am pursuing my final career - and I am | | | | 30,000 people, who enjoy mountain vistas and |
| quite comfortable working a 40-hour schedule | | | | a temperate, sunny, four-season climate |
| for the first time in my life. I take my | | | | thanks to its mile-high elevation. If you |
| time and pick my clients carefully. | | | | aren't real fussy, you can find a nice house |
| | | | for $350k. If you are a little fussy or want |
| I get to take a day off here and there for | | | | some land, expect to pay $500k or better. |
| golf, and I travel around the western states | | | | Prescott is an old, established town with |
| every couple of months. Over the past two | | | | historic buildings and strong family culture. |
| years I have been keeping an eye out for the | | | | It's true that absentee Californians have |
| perfect spot to retire in the Western US. | | | | snapped up a good bit of the real estate up. |
| | | | But they have been are running around most of |
| I now live in a small community near the Bay | | | | the west buying spare homes and putting them |
| Area in Northern California. I've lived here | | | | in the "bank" for future use |
| for 20+ years, and it has been great. The Bay | | | | |
| Area is vibrant, has a good climate, and is | | | | Northern Baja, Mexico: Don't write this one |
| home to some of the most creative people on | | | | off too fast, especially if you are in So |
| the planet. But it certainly isn't paradise. | | | | Cal. and want a second home near the beach. |
| | | | It is not as crazy as it sounds You can live |
| It is an expensive place to live. The | | | | near the beach in Rosarito and get an |
| highways are congested. The boarders of the | | | | absolutely great ocean view or ocean front |
| US are out of control and that has hit | | | | house for a fraction of the price of a house |
| California hard. The government is | | | | located two hours north in San Diego county. |
| dysfunctional, and we pay a premium for that. | | | | South of the Border property even has |
| While we have good weather, it is great half | | | | financing available from this side of the |
| the year and somewhat over-rated the other | | | | border. |
| half. My business has changed over the past | | | | |
| five years. I can do about 80% - 90% of it | | | | Hilo Area on the Big Island: One of the best |
| from anywhere. That's the beauty of | | | | deals in the United States has been |
| information and communication technology. | | | | discovered and land prices are climbing |
| | | | rapidly, but guess what? Land in Hilo is |
| Let me share with you what I have found as I | | | | still inexpensive. If you are looking for a |
| looked for better working/ retirement | | | | slow pace, it doesn't get any slower than |
| locations in the western US. | | | | Hilo. This area is absolutely beautiful yet |
| | | | not a prime location for vacation resorts and |
| - Portland, Oregon area; especially | | | | condos. Condos on Kauai, Maui, and the other |
| Southern Washington | | | | side of the big island run $500 - $750k, yet |
| | | | a Hilo acre lot can be purchased for $40 to |
| - Prescott, Arizona | | | | $75k, and houses for $150k. If you want some |
| | | | privacy, like to garden, and have dreamed of |
| - Northern Baja, Mexico | | | | building a hideaway on an tropical island, |
| | | | there is still time to do it in the USA. It |
| - Hilo, the big island of Hawaii | | | | rains almost daily in Hilo but showers are |
| | | | short and the 75 to 80 degrees temperatures |
| - Boise, Idaho | | | | makes the showers and lush green growth a |
| | | | real delight. |
| Southern Washington: I recently visited a | | | | |
| friend who built his dream house on a few | | | | Boise is rated as the second best city to do |
| acres in Southern Washington, about 30 | | | | business in the US by Forbes Magazine. It |
| minutes from Portland. His 2,500 square foot | | | | has a population of about 400,000, and median |
| house cost about the same as a ¼ acre lot | | | | house prices around $165,000. Boise is an |
| in the Bay Area. He is within easy drive of | | | | excellent gateway to the natural beauty of |
| a good airport and Oregon has no sales tax. | | | | the Northern Rockies. For those of you not |
| He can explore the Cascades and reach ocean | | | | quite ready to hang it up, but looking for an |
| or skiing in a few hours. Yep - it rains a | | | | interesting, affordable small city |
| lot, but not as much as Seattle. | | | | environment, Boise deserves your serious |
| | | | consideration. |
| Prescott, Arizona: This gem is home to | | | | |