Best place to buy a home?

Question

I know this is a subjective question and I'm not sure if this is the right category to ask, but here it goes anyway:

I currently live in an inner suburb of an awful large city. It's crowded, there's lots of crime, pollution... let's just say it's awful. I've grown up here my whole life with my parents, but now I'm finishing a bachelors degree and plan to move.

I would like to move to an area that is spread out (less people than a suburb, but not in the middle of nowhere), low cost of living, low cost of homes, low property taxes, decent schools (in case I stay to raise a family), low crime, a large availability of jobs within at least 30-40 min. commute. Because of where I've grown up I would prefer if I had a property that had a sizable amount of land, with my neighbors not too close to me (currently we live so close to our neighbors that if we talk too loud they can hear us).

In terms of terrain and weather I would like an area with a lot of greenery, I don't like desert terrain (like Nevada, Arizona, etc...), I strongly prefer cold to hot (so probably in the north), I'm OK with rain and snow, but if it happens frequently it could turn a 30-40 min. commute into a long nightmare every morning.

Any suggests/help? Feel free to mention personal areas, or give sites that can give more information.

Answer 1

Unfortunately what will really determine this is.. where you can find a job.....

Smaller cities in the upper midwest,( Minneapolis, Moline,Des Moine) would have the qualities you want, (except for the temp, so would St Louis, and KC)

Housing prices will be better in the older suburbs.There would be larger tracts available farther out but all the financial advantages would go away..

Answer 2

.    You are describing Seattle.  Probably Carnation, Washington.