Best place to move?

[bradmacmt]

The people that work in Jackson do not live there, they live in Idaho and commute over Teton pass everyday.

And having driven the pass from Victor to Jackson too many times, anyone who would chose that as a life is a bit nuts. Jackson is one of the least desirable places I can think of to live. Overrun with tourists, the traffic is insane…

 

[bradmacmt]

It's why I said area and commute. For instance, if you ask Grok "Lowest-Priced Homes Within 1 Hour of Jackson Hole, WY", you can get this. Of course, that's less than $3 million.

Key Insights:​

• Cheapest Overall: Afton and Alpine lots under $150k offer the best entry point for buyers willing to build or renovate. Full homes start around $129k in Victor for condos.
• Market Trends: Star Valley (Afton/Alpine) has median prices ~$600k, far below Jackson's $1.2M+. Teton Valley (Driggs/Victor) medians are ~$700k but with more new builds. Expect 3-6% appreciation annually due to tourism and remote work influx.

You’ve obviously never lived there… ever commuted to Jackson from Afton or Alpine every day? Why anyone would chose that as a “life” is beyond me. It’s funny how some call Bozeman “Bozeangeles”… it’s far more livable and affordable than Jackson and the surrounding areas, and Jackson has far more Los Angeles influence than Bozeman. Far more.

 

[Ranger 692]

You’ve obviously never lived there… ever commuted to Jackson from Afton or Alpine every day? Why anyone would chose that as a “life” is beyond me. It’s funny how some call Bozeman “Bozeangeles”… it’s far more livable and affordable than Jackson and the surrounding areas, and Jackson has far more Los Angeles influence than Bozeman. Far more.

True but Bozo catching up by the day

 

[jimh406]

You’ve obviously never lived there… ever commuted to Jackson from Afton or Alpine every day? Why anyone would chose that as a “life” is beyond me.

They probably aren't going to work a typical 5 day week in their professions. But, as strange as it sounds, there are people driving several hours a day one way to work all over the country.

I worked with someone that moved 3 hrs away from work to wind up and wind down every day. Not my idea of fun, but he said it was more of what he was used to in CA.

Maybe they like what they have available to them the rest of the time, and it's worth it to them. Everything has a tradeoff. But, it's their decision of course.

 

[MTlan66]

If you aren’t dead set on moving back out west, take a look at Southwestern Virginia, southern West Virginia, Western North Carolina. There are some nice places around and between Beckley, Lexington, Roanoke, Asheville, etc.

Lynchburg, VA is also young and conservative thanks to Liberty. Good hospitals too. Good hiking nearby and you should be able to find affordable private hunting land if you are patient. The city schools aren’t very good, but there are good places around there in the adjacent areas.

Good luck!

I realize that you said you are set on moving back west, but I couldn’t agree more with this. Try Abingdon, VA. I moved to Montana from that area a year ago for several reasons, but I can assure you the cost of living is far cheaper in SWVA. Great people, beautiful area, the hunting and fishing is amazing. If a chunk of land in the country is your thing, land is quite cheap compared to Montana. I owned a 65 acre valley farm with a 1800 sf brick house, barns etc., and the price it is bringing will buy a 1300 sf house from the ’40’s on a 4000sf town lot here in MT…
Just my .02…

 

[rogerdoger]

And having driven the pass from Victor to Jackson too many times, anyone who would chose that as a life is a bit nuts. Jackson is one of the least desirable places I can think of to live. Overrun with tourists, the traffic is insane…

I agree 100%, found it funny (not for workers) a few years back when part of the pass had a land slide and the poor rich folk had a worker shortage.

 

[Customweld]

I agree 100%, found it funny (not for workers) a few years back when part of the pass had a land slide and the poor rich folk had a worker shortage.

It sure didn’t take them long to get that road back open!

 

[IDVortex]

It sure didn’t take them long to get that road back open!

I mean. If money is involved, anything can be taken care of. Especially if its for the 1%...

 

[Traveler]

You’ve obviously never lived there… ever commuted to Jackson from Afton or Alpine every day? Why anyone would chose that as a “life” is beyond me. It’s funny how some call Bozeman “Bozeangeles”… it’s far more livable and affordable than Jackson and the surrounding areas, and Jackson has far more Los Angeles influence than Bozeman. Far more.

I’ve heard about Bozeman changes for years and finally went there again a few weeks ago. It was nothing like what I expected. Still seemed like a sleepy small city to me. I’m sure property prices are up but it was no where close to Boulder level in any aspect, which is what all the talk made it seem like to me.

 

[Ranger 692]

I’ve heard about Bozeman changes for years and finally went there again a few weeks ago. It was nothing like what I expected. Still seemed like a sleepy small city to me. I’m sure property prices are up but it was no where close to Boulder level in any aspect, which is what all the talk made it seem like to me.

Sleepy?

 

[Yoteassasin]

Sleepy?

Well if he is comparing it boulder … hahaha

 

[rogerdoger]

It's why I said area and commute. For instance, if you ask Grok "Lowest-Priced Homes Within 1 Hour of Jackson Hole, WY", you can get this. Of course, that's less than $3 million.

Key Insights:​

• Cheapest Overall: Afton and Alpine lots under $150k offer the best entry point for buyers willing to build or renovate. Full homes start around $129k in Victor for condos.
• Market Trends: Star Valley (Afton/Alpine) has median prices ~$600k, far below Jackson's $1.2M+. Teton Valley (Driggs/Victor) medians are ~$700k but with more new builds. Expect 3-6% appreciation annually due to tourism and remote work influx.

Sorry, but I'm not smoking, but maybe that's a consideration for some. It's not legal in all of our neighboring states.

You may find property for 200k but building cost per SF is rather steep in and around mountain areas. I am betting you would struggle to get someone to build you a house for much less than $300sf, and that would have no bells and whistles. A 2500sf would cost $750,000, add the lot in you are at a million, then have the mortgage rate on top of that your monthly payment would be high. You would have two plus hours a day commuting to think about, then look at your gas bill a month, it would be depressing.

Live in NW Montana that is nothing like Jackson and these are the building cost, it is cheaper to try and find a home in the $500-$600k rather than build.

 

[Traveler]

Sleepy?

All of the restaurants except one were empty at 8:00. Downtown was about 12 blocks. Total time from downtown to being at my flight gate was 35 minutes.

I am not saying it hasn’t changed. I’m saying comparisons like “Bozeangeles” are exaggerated.

 

[bradmacmt]

All of the restaurants except one were empty at 8:00. Downtown was about 12 blocks. Total time from downtown to being at my flight gate was 35 minutes.

I am not saying it hasn’t changed. I’m saying comparisons like “Bozeangeles” are exaggerated.

The "Bozeangeles" label has been around since the 1980's. It's a pretty thoughtless term, repeated by people who haven't been here, or if they have, haven't been many other places. All one has to do is travel a bit to realize what an amazing town it still is. Changed? Of course, but still a great place to live, and it's only a 30 minute drive from Montana.

 

[drew272]

You need to think of the bigger picture. For all of these western towns the tradeoff of visiting for hunting vs full time living has already reached the inflection point. I lived in the Springs for seven years and it has already been ruined by the flood of outsiders. The COL is not worth the benefit for the access to the mountains each weekend. You are looking at 2+ hour travel just to get away from all of the like minded people that moved there for the exact same reasons. I would pick an area that satisifes the weekend itch enough but you won't go broke trying to live there. Three quarters of the the engineering firm I worked at were all 20 year olds all with the "same plan". Most were gone in two years when they couldn't afford to do anything, unless you have a trust fund. A million acres of public land in PA/MI/MN vs CO are not the same. Alot easier to get away from people in the east/midwest than out west.

 

[bradmacmt]

You need to think of the bigger picture. For all of these western towns the tradeoff of visiting for hunting vs full time living has already reached the inflection point. I lived in the Springs for seven years and it has already been ruined by the flood of outsiders. The COL is not worth the benefit for the access to the mountains each weekend. You are looking at 2+ hour travel just to get away from all of the like minded people that moved there for the exact same reasons. I would pick an area that satisifes the weekend itch enough but you won't go broke trying to live there. Three quarters of the the engineering firm I worked at were all 20 year olds all with the "same plan". Most were gone in two years when they couldn't afford to do anything, unless you have a trust fund. A million acres of public land in PA/MI/MN vs CO are not the same. Alot easier to get away from people in the east/midwest than out west.

I first visited Colorado Springs in 1996, and thought it was ruined then... no way I would have lived there even then. As to, "a lot easier to get away from people in the east/midwest than out west" that may be true of Colorado, but not everywhere in the West, and that varies region by region within each state "out West." The same is true in the East, though may not be as true in the Midwest.