My friend Affinity chided me for looking outside of the Bay Area and away from family, when I can very well retire here at home. She was totally right. She wrote a guest blog post on retiring early here. It was one of my most highly-trafficked posts.
I spent some time on Zillow and found the following places. There are some serious deals to be had.
$250,000 – 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Vallejo, CA – 30 minutes to wine country, 40 minutes to SF by car
It’s like a cheap version of Falcon Crest or Dallas, right? Clearly a little dated, but definitely has character. A retired couple like me and Dean have no need for 3 bedrooms, but just wanted to showcase the breadth of what’s available.
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$169,000 – 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in Hayward, CA – 1 hour to wine country, 30 minutes to SF by car
This is perfect! 1 bathroom for me, 1 bathroom for Dean. 1 bedroom for me, 1 bedroom for Dean. Haha! This place is a score at the price. I might have to buy it now. Rent this place out and have it completely paid for by the time we retire. Who I am kidding? We can write a check for the list price, forego the mortgage, save 4% on interest, and rent to college students since Cal State Hayward is across the street! I’m seriously going to ponder this investment.
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$155,000 – 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath home in Concord, CA – 45 minutes to wine country, 35 minutes to SF by car
This price is a steal. I am tasting retirement! 55 here we come.
I don’t understand the food truck craze. There are food trucks sprinkled throughout the Financial District with long lines of people in suits waiting to order and then waiting for their food. If you’re going to wait in the windy corridors of San Francisco without a place to sit, you’d expect maybe a discount? But no, food truck fare is just as expensive and often even pricier than the nearby deli where I can have a seat, wait for my friends, and be shielded by the cold indoors. I also get to use metal versus plastic utensils.
