Posted on 06/19/2023 4:13:21 PM PDT by ducttape45
Good evening fellow Freepers.
This is going to be an unusual posting. Long and short, I am recently retired, and I've been looking for someplace to retire.
I currently live in central Indiana, and I've been looking here but I'm not finding much. With the current housing market being the disaster it is, it's really hard to find someplace else to live. I know this problem is everywhere so I know Indiana is not the only state where people are suffering housing issues, but it also seems like there is a huge racket going on in Indiana to steal from the elderly when it comes to public or senior housing. I've discovered the following while searching for affordable housing in Indiana:
1. I make too much money to live in senior housing. Yep, I make over the allowable limit to get into senior housing. I won't go into how much monthly income I have coming in, but it's not that much.
2. Public/HUD Housing: They want 30% of your income. To me, that's a crime. That percentage should be no more than 20-25%.
3. Basic Market Rent: A one bedroom, one bath unit here costs on the average $900 - $1200 a month, many time more. For instance, in Kokomo, decent housing/apartments costs for such a unit is $1200-$1500 a month. That's a crime.
4. Crime: Lower priced housing, if it can be found, are crime infested. An apartment complex I once lived in about 15 years ago is now awash with crime; shootings, break ins, etc.
That list could be longer but that's the jist of what I'm encountering. Good, safe housing in Indiana, unless you can find a nice small town to live in, is nearly impossible to find.
All that said, I know that crime is everywhere. I know I'll not find a utopia to call home, but I also know there are better places to call home and with the lower taxes in South Dakota, and many friends saying it's a good place to retire to, I'm trying to find someone there who might be able to help put me in contact with folks/organizations to help me find a decent, affordable place to live, preferably in the western part of the state, west of the Missouri River.
Ok, I hope I didn't ramble too much. I'd prefer that anyone with information that can help me Freepmail me so the information remains somewhat confidential.
Thank you all for your time and assistance.
Thank you, I’ll check that out. That’s what I’m looking for.
Plenty of wind the other three seasons, too.
You’re Welcome. I know them both personally, Great people and they know a lot of people out here. The wife was our agent and the husband was my brother in laws. Happy Hunting!
I suggest Belle Fourche (pronounced Bel-Foosh). Its French name means “beautiful fork.” This derives from the confluence of two rivers and a creek.
Population is 5,600.
It is 27 driving miles from Sturgis.
I have left BF in the morning in light snow and encountered a blizzard at Sturgis which caused immediate closing of the Interstate. It may not get the heavy snow of Sturgis but is still close enough to Sturgis and Rapid City for expanded shopping and services.
Ok. I got it. Prayers for you brother. I am less familiar with that area so I will defer to others
Yep, I get nervous when there is no wind.
I got that my list as well! I’m the type to stock up on things if I know I’ll be stranded due to inclement weather so as long as I can get what I need before the storms hit, I’m good. Thanks for the suggestion!
The Northern Hills get more snow. We get plenty in the south, but it does not stay around as long.
I had cousins in Hot Springs when I was growing up, It was a nice town, but some people say there’s not much going on there. Last I heard, there’s something of a doctor shortage, but that’s true in most small towns these days. At least Rapid City has lots of doctors, about an hour away.
There are some nice small towns in Wyoming too. I have a nephew in Lander. It seems pretty nice there.
Start driving west. Get through illanoy as fast as you can. Iowa should check all your boxes especially far northeast corner. Driftless area with great scenery/countryside/trout streams/hunting etc. Politically it’s like I designed it myself. Repub through and through. Great governor, senators, congressmen, constitutional carry, gun friendly, no tax on pensions etc. I don’t know SD but..like Iowa.. should be very American in traditional sense.
Though the state, truly, leans, strongly, Conservative, except Philly, Hburg and Pgh, the state government is completely corrupted by Rats.
I'm going 30 minutes south, to WV.
Hoot Springs does not have much housing available. People like it there. :)
Since you mentioned owning an older car, I’ll share my only South Dakota experience. Two weeks ago my wife and I drove the length of South Dakota. I can see why you would want to live there.
We had a little car trouble brewing. I thought it was a bearing but it turned out to be ridiculously minor.
We decided to keep driving to rapid city, mainly because we knew we could find a mechanic and rent a car if needed.
South Dakota takes rural to a new level. If your car fails you’re toast. Hence, I’d consider being near one of the few cities.
If you do Rapid City, Al’s D&I is an amazingly ethical mechanic.
Colorado is California in the Rockies.
I have thought about Iowa but I would like to find something a little more scenic. That said, when have I have ever exactly gotten what I wanted! LOL Way I look at it, I'm for whatever God wants to bring my way. As long as I'm in His will, I know that wherever I end up I will be content.
Rpaid City up Spearfish is the area that I want to concentrate on the most. That way, yes, I can be close to a good mechanic when needed. I’m sure I’ll eventually purchase another car, but I want to get resettled before doing that. When I do make a move, and if it’s out to SD, I’ll be pulling the car with the moving truck. I definitely won’t drive it that far. Thank you for the advise though, it is very welcomed!
I’ve been thinking about WV too. Money goes really far there. The problem is good healthcare without being in a city. That’s the situation with a lot of places tho.
Check out Bella Vista, Ar (and all of Northwest, Ar) while you are looking.
At least it’s not like Cheyenne....
Less hail too.
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