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Pretty much the entire midwest and southern US [0]. Granted, they benefit from basically having no geographical barriers to sprawling and building out ever mor

by mrep 5y ago

Pretty much the entire midwest and southern US [0]. Granted, they benefit from basically having no geographical barriers to sprawling and building out ever more subdivisions and americans don't seem to mind suburbs. [0]: https://www.supermoney.com/inflation-adjusted-home-prices/ https://www.supermoney.com/inflation-adjusted-home-prices/

drdec 5y ago
Don't forget about the rust belt. Our problem is no one wants to live here.
Spivak 5y ago
Why wouldn't American's mind the burbs? In the midwest you get a huge really nice house with a garage, with as much storage and rooms as you could ever desire for hobbies and/or children, lots of land for pets and gardening on the cheap. Like half the cost of a run-down shack in a place like Boston cheap. All ~20 minutes from downtown where there is plenty of parking and a 10 minute walk to your suburb's satellite "downtown." You won't make SV money but cost of living is unreal. I pull well over the 6 figure mark while getting to put ~60% of my take-home pay straight into savings and investments. And I'm not even close to frugal.
- nebula8804 5y ago
  This whole COVID crisis has rekindled what I think many already knew. That neighbors and the overall community as a whole contribute to the value of the house. The crisis is basically over in the urban areas and the blue suburbs. Not so for rural. You can't change how other people think but you can choose to live near like minded people(which is what seems to be happening). Today its dealing with the crisis, tomorrow its something else. I don't know how prevalent this thinking is but it could be on peoples minds as they look at property.
- KingMachiavelli 5y ago
  It depends on the suburb. Midwestern suburbs don't really have the downtown in the same way large cities do. IME they are either just glorified strip malls or touristy places. (TBH I'd really like to know how so many chain restaurants can remain in business... is it just a real estate investment?). Once you account for some states have terrible weather, dysfunctional state governments, higher property taxes, etc. it might not make sense to trade a a net 20% change in overall CoL if it means you have significantly less to do. If your first thoughts are kids, pets, and gardening than sure the midwest is pretty good. If your primary concerns are career advancement, educated social/dating pool, variety in food and music, niche/luxury hobbies like skiing or surfing, etc. then your options for places to live becomes essentially drastically smaller and more competitive. That said there are certain midwest cities that might strike a good balance.

by mrep 5y ago

drdec 5y ago

Don't forget about the rust belt. Our problem is no one wants to live here.

Spivak 5y ago

Why wouldn't American's mind the burbs? In the midwest you get a huge really nice house with a garage, with as much storage and rooms as you could ever desire for hobbies and/or children, lots of land for pets and gardening on the cheap. Like half the cost of a run-down shack in a place like Boston cheap. All ~20 minutes from downtown where there is plenty of parking and a 10 minute walk to your suburb's satellite "downtown." You won't make SV money but cost of living is unreal. I pull well over the 6 figure mark while getting to put ~60% of my take-home pay straight into savings and investments. And I'm not even close to frugal.

nebula8804 5y ago
This whole COVID crisis has rekindled what I think many already knew. That neighbors and the overall community as a whole contribute to the value of the house. The crisis is basically over in the urban areas and the blue suburbs. Not so for rural. You can't change how other people think but you can choose to live near like minded people(which is what seems to be happening). Today its dealing with the crisis, tomorrow its something else. I don't know how prevalent this thinking is but it could be on peoples minds as they look at property.
KingMachiavelli 5y ago
It depends on the suburb. Midwestern suburbs don't really have the downtown in the same way large cities do. IME they are either just glorified strip malls or touristy places. (TBH I'd really like to know how so many chain restaurants can remain in business... is it just a real estate investment?). Once you account for some states have terrible weather, dysfunctional state governments, higher property taxes, etc. it might not make sense to trade a a net 20% change in overall CoL if it means you have significantly less to do. If your first thoughts are kids, pets, and gardening than sure the midwest is pretty good. If your primary concerns are career advancement, educated social/dating pool, variety in food and music, niche/luxury hobbies like skiing or surfing, etc. then your options for places to live becomes essentially drastically smaller and more competitive. That said there are certain midwest cities that might strike a good balance.