That may have been true three or four years ago; like everyplace else, prices have fallen since the great crash. In addition, much depends on what your basis for comparison is. As I live in the DC suburbs, prices in Lexington still seem remarkably low to me. If you are coming from (say) Oklahoma or eastern Kentucky, prices will seem high in Lexington.
I envy anyone who has the chance to move there. It is stunningly beautiful, with the views of the mountains and all the historic houses.
I’ve got 10 years to pick a location to settle in Virginia, and that is ASSUMING it is still a red state by then, and not entirely polluted by the DC liberals that are multiplying like malignant cancer cells. I found Lexington to be a nice compromise for location and history and beauty. I really don’t know that I want to be in the snowy hills though...
Like I said, I have a long time to pick and I’ll likely rent a year or two before buying.
Now that Lexington is discovered, I really don’t expect house prices to be “great” vs other lower cost town in Virginia. That said, I will just be thrilled if Virginia is still a nice Conservative state in 10 years when I’m coming up on retirement!
I’ll find somewhere I like, I am sure. I’m looking forward to the change from California to Virginia. I always feels so comfortable on the east coast. California may have the best weather in the nation, but it has some real downside too.