Only one word of caution. I no longer live in SD, chased off by the higher home prices. I moved to Portland and found that I could buy a >3000 sq. ft. house for less than the cost of a closet in SD. Sweet! Until I got the heating bill. Funny thing is that I drive a Prius. I get it that I don’t want to put gas into a guzzling behemoth, but I didn’t make the connection that a large house is comparable to a large car. Since then I’ve downsized. I miss all the storage, but overall it is a much more responsible choice to live more modestly. Perhaps not as much of an issue in the SD area where the climate is more moderate than Oregon, and you may even pull off not running AC or heat all year. But your utility bills and upkeep are still likely to be higher. Just passing on what I’ve learned…
