Aussie thinking about buying real estate in USA

-
80270133-6C2A-425B-9FB7-95C13DD44983.jpeg
6BC635A3-9B0B-49DC-AA28-254434068A94.jpeg
California is a beautiful state and the weather can’t be beat in the USA.
The area you're looking at, at least near the coast is stunning, as I spent some time in Morro Bay. The Santa Cruz area north around the Monterey peninsula is spectacular also, as mentioned earlier.
The cost of living is obviously quite expensive. Probably about anywhere in the US is cheaper.
The humidity is almost nonexistent in that area, and I literally quite hurting there.
 
I’m looking at properties in the Yucatán peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo Mexico to spend winters, and will be spending multiple weeks there around January and maybe February again.
Can’t beat the weather and the prices are cheap, and the people indigenous to the area are great. So much to do also, a person could spend a lifetime exploring and I haven’t touched on the old mopars floating around that country.

393ECD5E-DC51-4EF8-9336-9C35F5A40E80.jpeg


5271A69A-E6B9-4BFA-B6B3-3DCEE83919FB.jpeg


28B4C092-4A97-486B-BBA6-9DECC724E413.jpeg
 
If you value your freedom stay away from "The Peoples Republic of California ". I think middle Tennesee , western North Carolina and west Georgia is beautiful (Blue Ridge Mountains) . People are friendly but private , you get 4 seasons but not severe and real estate is affordable . Taxes are nominal . Like snow ? Welcome to New England . lol. High taxes , high real estate prices and rude people
 
...I was taken with Georgia mentioned by Greymouser. Could get a real nice house close to the coast (brunswick) for 200k - 300k. I discounted the East coast as I thought it would be to cold in winter but those day time temps seem ok to me...
If you can't take heat & humidity, you won't like most of the Southeast U.S. in the Summer.
 
Politics and money aside, it is hard to beat California for natural beauty and variety of terrain. There's a reason it's the most populous state. Golfer's paradise. Mediterranean climate in places, likely Paso Robles has it. If you are well off, it could be for you.
What is a Mediterranean Climate?
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the input and the common thread is stay away from Ca. I did look at real estate in some of the other mentioned places and yes I see that Ca is a lot more expensive in comparison. I was taken with Georgia mentioned by Greymouser. Could get a real nice house close

If you can't take heat & humidity, you won't like most of the Southeast U.S. in the Summer.

What he said.
But, I've never been to the Northern Territory or Queensland and maybe he could relate it to that area.
(Except without the salties.)
Really coastal Georgia is nice in the winter.
(What he said he was interested in).
That's why all the money came down there in the winter.
Jekyll Island Historic District | Guide to Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Crane Cottage, Horse Stables and History Museum, Jekyll Island Museum, Jekyll Island History and more.
But summer is miserable. The No See Um will eat you up if you get away from the ocean breeze.
And the water isn't really for swimming.
It's all churned up with like a 7 foot tide. And the paper mills......
If he takes a trip there, stay at the Methodist Center.
It's cheap if you find an vacant time to go.
Epworth by the Sea | A Conference, Retreat & Vacation Center

Now, did anyone suggest the Redneck Rivera?
It's more reasonable then Cali.
If he is more the Bondi beach type.
180115111824-an-bondi-beach-4-large-169.jpg



PCB.gif
 
Honestly politics aside Ca. Is great.

If the cost is a concern the Santa Cruz, Felton, Gilroy, Hollister, Pacifica areas are all very nice beach towns and the cost will be much lower than were you are looking.
 
Californian here. South bay area. (About 2 hours north of where you are looking)
My first concern would be cost. Its very expensive. taxes on new homes, utilities ect.

Traffic!!
Not sure about down there but its bad here.

Did i mention expensive?

But you get California, THE best state as far as range and beauty in terrain.

We have beaches (not crowded if you just look), surfing, mountians, rivers, fishing, hunting. It is a beautiful place to live.

Im not sure if you have ever been but i live on HWY 17 out side of Santa Cruz, Ca.
Im in the mountains, can walk to a huge lake, dont have to lock my door and be at the beach in 15 minutes or in the city in just a few more. It may be an area worth looking into.

I would take a good look at Felton Ca. Or anywhere in that area. Its nice and rual but close to everything.
But can I bring two ladies and visit?
How much is gasoline and speeding tickets in California?
 
People move from Ca. NOT to there. There are reasons.

Winter home? Coast of Ga, S. Carolina. They can have Fl.

Winter home? after hurricane season?? Maybe check it Corpus Christi area.

If you think S. Da. is mild, maybe check out the Mountains of N. Carolina. Easy drive to the coast, some winter buy nothing like the Dakotas!

Like the Greymoser said, that little nook of Ga. and.. Screw the bugs!!
 
If you think the state of California can't reach out and **** you across an ocean, you're wrong; they'll work overtime to find a way.
 
91 is around 4.20 a gallon.

I live in a one room house so i dont have any extra beds but you and anyone here is always welcome at my shop!

Speeding tickets? I have no idea but i would guess at least 500? I am very careful where and when i smash the loud pedal..
But can I bring two ladies and visit?
How much is gasoline and speeding tickets in California?
 
I don’t know a whole lot about the problems Ca has, but property taxes look lower than what we pay, granted properties are significantly higher. Income taxes look higher though.
If you had a vacation home there, and put it on Airbnb when not there, it could be lucrative.
 
one million dollars or two and that's before taxes. LOL
You can have California.
I spent too much time between Oceanside and San Diego when I was in the corps.
I believe I missed the best of the state if there are any.
There are a lot of Californians moving to Idaho and it isn't for money. lol
 
91 is around 4.20 a gallon.

I live in a one room house so i dont have any extra beds but you and anyone here is always welcome at my shop!

Speeding tickets? I have no idea but i would guess at least 500? I am very careful where and when i smash the loud pedal..
I wanna visit New York and California, but want to avoid problems. Have wife and daughter, 6.7.
 
What he said.
But, I've never been to the Northern Territory or Queensland and maybe he could relate it to that area.
(Except without the salties.)
Really coastal Georgia is nice in the winter.
(What he said he was interested in).
That's why all the money came down there in the winter.
Jekyll Island Historic District | Guide to Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Crane Cottage, Horse Stables and History Museum, Jekyll Island Museum, Jekyll Island History and more.
But summer is miserable. The No See Um will eat you up if you get away from the ocean breeze.
And the water isn't really for swimming.
It's all churned up with like a 7 foot tide. And the paper mills......
If he takes a trip there, stay at the Methodist Center.
It's cheap if you find an vacant time to go.
Epworth by the Sea | A Conference, Retreat & Vacation Center

Now, did anyone suggest the Redneck Rivera?
It's more reasonable then Cali.
If he is more the Bondi beach type.
View attachment 1715473511


View attachment 1715473512

My wife and I love Jekyll island. We used to go 3 times a year before we moved to Virginia Beach. Now we're in Northwest Georgia and haven't been in a long time.

Jekyll island is very, very peaceful. And, if you want to rent your house (they call them cottages) while you're not there, you will generally get good renters due to the costs! Home prices are high though since they are not allowing any more building. Damn, you have me wanting to go!

Here's my wife and our late Lab, Leo at Jekyll island.
facebook_1582253094969.jpg
 
I don't see where anyone's mentioned that US real estate is at an all time high "seller's market" with many if not most listings selling for above asking price.

So be prepared to bid high, on an already high priced listing.

The last 1200 sf "distressed" property we looked at was listed at 90K and sold for 95.
We estimated it needed about 20-25K of work including a roof.
Houses in that neighborhood on 1/4 acre lots built circa 1999 are valued at 130-145,000.
 
I've been in all 48 states too many times to tell over the last 49 years of trucking. I've met wonderful people in NYC and dirtbags in Malibu... Like Chuck Berry said " dontcha know you never can tell"...

That aside... The Georgia coast is nice during the winter. SC gets a bit colder and damper. CA is gorgeous but the state I first visited in 1973 is long gone...

I love Texas and the area around Corpus Christie has nice weather and the ocean. The last 18 years I owned my own truck South Texas was my preferred destination... warm and friendly and the cost of living isn't bad. The people mind their own business, too. Downfall is lots of drug related crime but you can find rural area that's nice.
 
^^^^ I agree. The illegals now tend to cross and head to the city sanctuaries, I feel. Small town living is cheaper and better, than being too close to the cities and their jobs. Choosing between Tx and Ca. is like choosing between a gold brick and a turd. JMHO lol
 
Id like to visit Oz! maybe we can trade houses for a week.....but a flight of 4 down under could buy me a 67 Dart roller.
 
I hear Medford is nice, what you say?
Pretty much anywhere East of the Cascades in either Oregon or Washington.I live in central Washington , we arr with in 200 mi of the ocean 30 minutes to the woods and about an hour away to the sand dunes. Weather ranges from 100 + in summer and below 0 in winter. We still have 4 distint seasons.But washington taxes are high , second to California. Politics typically
west of the Cascades is perdomitally liberal
East of the Cascades rural farm land small town conservitive.
 
You are all right, California sucks. Now just turn around and move along. Go on, get down the road. Go on, get get get. :)
 
To live in the USA consider re locating to Gnaw Bone Indiana, live and enjoy life, how it is ment to be.

Gnaw Bone, Indiana - Wikipedia

Note that there are three flea markets in town, but that is often seasonal. Fortunately Nashville, that is Nashville IN not Nashville TN is just a hop, skip and a jump away. There are around 1100 people that live in Nashville IN. Nashville IN is so big that they have a shop that sells ice cream in the winter,,. To have a place to go that is not such a big city, less than 4 miles away is Bean Blossom IN. They have their very own covered bridge, nice place for a picnic. So there it is, the perfect get away location, Gnaw Bone IN.

Beanblossom, Indiana - Wikipedia
 
Last edited:
All jokes aside Indiana mostly sucks but the summers are nice if your around a lake, spring is otherworldly.
I went to a car show I’ve heard about for years, for the first time last year. The James Dean fest, and a couple minutes down the road another fairly huge car show called The Ducktail run. 71 and down cars only. 100,000 people and at least 5-6 thousand cars, and a ton more come from all around, for the cruise and various activities. It’s a damn good time.
I’ll be Airbnb it a few days this year. Get a group together.
It seems to be in the middle of nowhere Gas city and another small town.
 
Last edited:
The western tidewater of Va. is very nice. You get 4 seasons but it never gets to hot or to cold thanks to Atlantic Ocean. Can get humid during July & August but their is always an ocean breeze even 45 miles from Atlantic. Winter is mild with occasional snow that melts quickly. Area is protected by outer banks of nc from major hurricanes. Hunting & fishing is awesome and you are only 45min from va. beach & Chesapeake bay. Best thing is the classic car scene is awesome. Property is still affordable as I am getting ready to list my 2400 sq ft home for $180,000.
 
-
Back
Top