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Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

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361–370 of 582 posts

Re: Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

#361
We did something similar with a move to Columbus, GA. Cost of living was super-low, but 200k people means you get theater, airport, etc.

One thing to keep in mind as you get older: smaller places may not have all the medical facilities you need. For example, if you get an unusual cancer or need a transplant, your family will be regularly shuttling you 2-3 hours to the nearest large city.

I think that being ~50-60 minutes south of Atlanta would be nice. It's small enough, but you can hop right up to one of the world's busiest airports and get a flight to about anywhere.

Re: Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

#362
I have a feeling that many towns in Rhode Island might fit your criteria here. The state's culture is generally about things being close to each other as any driving more than 30 min will get you out of the state anyway. Having BOS airport an hour drive away is a blessing too. It's cold in winter though. But I'd say you kinda get used to it.

Re: Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

#363
post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Genuinely curious why you're intentionally misframing things this way. Is it political? Or you just don't like this guy for some reason? He's been robbed (from what I can see a dozen or more times), and in one instance called the police and held the criminal there until they arrived a few minutes later. Everything completely legal, above board, etc. This is a perfect example of someone telling the truth in such a way…

Private bounty hunter businesses are harmful to society.

On the contrary, their lack is what's harmful to society.

Re: Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

#365

My method sure hasn't worked very well... or has it? I was looking for cheap warehouse space to start a business in, and did a nation-wide search for the largest, cheapest building in the entire continental US. I found one that seemed too good to be true. a 220,000 sqft metal warehouse and office complex on 17 acres. I thought the price was a typo at $375k.The agent assured me that the price was correct, and I flew o…

This January 2021 article provided some useful context: https://captimes.com/news/local/neighborhoods/john-fenley-sh...

I mean, is it unreasonable for the city to expect new drawings/specs for a new use of a building that has been unmaintained for at least 15 years? The fact that the property was sold for such a cheap price basically implies that the new owner should expect to invest a substantial amount of money to get everything up to code.

> Fenley said he selected the site because it was “the largest cheapest building in the country.” When he searched the commercial real estate website LoopNet for properties over 65,000 square feet and sorted by price, he thought the price tag of roughly $300,000 was a typo. The 17-acre industrial property was once home to steel manufacturer Varco Pruden but has stood vacant for at least 15 years and “fallen into disrepair,” according to the city’s Planning Commision.

> Pine Bluff City Attorney Althea Scott told the Cap Times by email that the Planning Commission had approved Fenley’s plans for the site in June, contingent on compliance with building and fire codes. But, she wrote, “the applicable codes can only be determined once Mr. Fenley has submitted the requisite engineer/architectural drawing(s) which identifies the anticipated use and occupancy of the structure. To date, required drawings have not been received.”

> Fenley told the Cap Times that such drawings would cost “tens of thousands of dollars,” and his communications with the city have led him to believe that he would need to bring the entire structure into compliance with current building codes before he could use any of it.

Additional context about Murfie; seems like it was sold for a huge discount: nearly a million CDs sold for less than $10,000. No wonder u/pontifier saw an entrepreneurial opportunity:

https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/5/21121594/crossies-murfie-m...

> Finally, after about a month, Murfie’s investors agreed to sell. Fenley purchased Murfie for only $6,000 plus $2,000 for Murfie’s attorney’s fees, according to the agreement obtained by The Verge. In total, he says the endeavor has cost him about $25,000 so far.

> Murfie’s 930,000 discs are still sitting in its Wisconsin warehouse. No one’s been inside since the landlord changed the locks some time ago, but Fenley says he’ll have access “shortly.”

Re: Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

#366
post #340

Let me give you the scoop on the Carolina's. I'm a developer living in the upstate of SC. I am an agnostic liberal which makes me a rarity but I was born here so I can go under the radar thanks to my deep melodious southern accent. Pros - Great climate 10 out of 12 months - Friendly people - Lots of outdoor activities - Beautiful beaches (Fripp Island and Kiawah especially) - Low cost housing (altho going up rapidly)…

"friendly people" but also "hateful racist trumpers"? Well which is it?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

#367
post #4

College towns. Pick some states, and go visit towns with colleges in them. They'll have restaurants and groceries, and those faculty kids have to go to school somewhere. Internet should be passable, too. They won't be the cheapest small town option, but houses should come in well below a million bucks. The one town you mention, Lancaster, PA, is a model of the type.

I'm from Lancaster and I don't really consider the city a college town. State College PA is a college town. Lancaster is just a nice small city with a few colleges in it.

Lancaster would be a different place without F&M. I've always thought college town meant the college supported most if not all of the local population, something like West Chester, the town would still exist without WCU but it would be just like Downingtown then, nothing super special. I think lancaster would be in a very similar spot.

Re: Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

#368
post #340

Let me give you the scoop on the Carolina's. I'm a developer living in the upstate of SC. I am an agnostic liberal which makes me a rarity but I was born here so I can go under the radar thanks to my deep melodious southern accent. Pros - Great climate 10 out of 12 months - Friendly people - Lots of outdoor activities - Beautiful beaches (Fripp Island and Kiawah especially) - Low cost housing (altho going up rapidly)…

"friendly people" but also "hateful racist trumpers"? Well which is it?

I looked up the stats of SC and noticed that more than one person lives there.

Re: Ask HN: How to find a small town to relocate for remote work?

#370
post #344

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Private bounty hunter businesses are harmful to society.

People who rob businesses are harmful to society. Fixed that for you.

It is also true that people who rob businesses are harmful to society. That is completely independent of the terrible outcomes caused by private vigilanteism.
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