There was a story I used to tell folks about my experience with real estate in different areas that I lived:

In 2000 I bought a 3br/2.5ba in Jacksonville FL. 1 car garage on a cul de sac. It was 12 years old but everything had been replaced down to the carpet and the toilets. Fenced back yard that overlooked the 3rd green/4th tee of a golf course. Price: 84,502

In 2002 I bought a 3br/2.5 ba in Virginia Beach, VA. 1 car garage on a cul de sac. Backyard was a cement slab with about a 2 foot border of sod. Only view was that of all my neighbors’ back yards. Price 274,200

In 2005 I moved to CA and rented a 2br/1ba. 1 car garage. No back yard in Coronado. Zillo estimate(Ya, ya, I know) was 1.24M. I think they sold it just shy of 900K about a year ago.

Say what you might about bugs and such but FL does have a few monetary advantages if your pay doesn’t change with location.

Next, they want me to move to DC. Oh, frickin’ joy. (I’ve got some secret plans to move to Borrego Springs, change my phone number and disappear. 😉